Does advancing age modify the presentation of disease?

A group of patients who had died of either cardiac tamponade due to ruptured myocardial infarct, perforated peptic ulcer, or diverticulitis with perforation were studied to determine the effect that age has on the presentation of these three potentially fatal diseases. With advanced age, a decrease in the number of patients who had symptoms typical for the disease that was ultimately the cause of death was found. We also noted a number of patients who did not experience any symptoms, and some patients who experienced symptoms that were not typical of their disease. In many instances, the disparity between disease severity and symptoms had resulted in the disease not being diagnosed either because the patient did not seek medical advice or because the doctor was unable to make the appropriate diagnosis from the patient's symptoms.