Symbols and abbreviations
website cross-reference
cross-reference to other sections of the book or to external material
1° primary
2° secondary
↑ increased
↓ decreased
→ leading to
α alpha
β beta
γ gamma
► important
►► don’t dawdle
♂ male
♀ female
~ approximately
°C degree Celsius
± plus or minus
> greater than
< less than
≥ equal to or greater than
≤ equal to or less than
£ pound sterling
® registered
™ trademark
A–a alveolar–arterial
AAMI age-associated memory impairment
AAS admission avoidance scheme
ABG arterial blood gas
ABPI ankle–brachial pressure index
ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme
ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone
AD advance directive
ADH antidiuretic hormone
ADL activity of daily living
AF atrial fibrillation
AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AKI acute kidney injury
ALP alkaline phosphatase
ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
a.m. before noon (ante meridiem)
AMD age-related macular degeneration
AMTS Abbreviated Mental Test Score
ANA anti-nuclear antibody
ANCA antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
AND allow natural death
ARB angiotensin receptor blocker
ARDS adult respiratory distress syndrome
ASA American Society of Anesthesiologists
ATN acute tubular necrosis
AV atrioventricular
AXR abdominal X-ray
bADL basic activity of daily living
BCG bacille Calmette–Guérin
bd twice daily (bis die)
BGS British Geriatrics Society
BMI body mass index
BNF British National Formulary
BNP B-type natriuretic peptide
BP blood pressure
BPH benign prostatic hyperplasia
bpm beat per minute
BPPV benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
CABG coronary artery bypass grafting
CCG Clinical Commissioning Group
CDAD Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea
CDT clock-drawing test
CESR Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration
CGA comprehensive geriatric assessment
CH community hospital
CHD coronary heart disease
CJD Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease
CK creatine kinase
CKD chronic kidney disease
CO2 carbon dioxide
COMT catechol-O-methyltransferase
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COX-2 cyclo-oxygenase-2
CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CQC Care Quality Commission
CRP C-reactive protein
CSF cerebrospinal fluid
CSS carotid sinus syndrome
CT computed tomography
CTPA computed tomography pulmonary angiography
CXR chest radiograph
DBP diastolic blood pressure
DEXA dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
DGM Diploma in Geriatric Medicine
DH day hospital
DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
DNACPR do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation
DOAC direct oral anticoagulant
DoL Deprivation of Liberty
DoLS Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
DPP-4 dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor
DRE digital rectal examination
DToC delayed transfer of care
DV domiciliary visit
DVLA Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
DVT deep vein thrombosis
eADL extended activity of daily living
ECG electrocardiogram/electrocardiography
ECT electroconvulsive therapy
ED emergency department
EEG electroencephalogram
EF ejection fraction
eGFR estimated glomerular filtration rate
ELD external lumbar drainage
ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
EMD electromechanical dissociation
EMG electromyography
EMS Elderly Mobility Scale
ENT ear, nose, and throat
ERAS enhanced recovery after surgery
ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate
EU European Union
EWA early walking aid
EWS early warning score
FBC full blood count
FEIBA factor VIII inhibitor bypass activity
FEV1 forced expiratory volume in 1 second
FIM Function Independence Measure
FiO2 concentration of inspired oxygen
FNA fine-needle aspiration
FT3 free T3
FT4 free T4
FVC forced vital capacity
g gram
G gauge
GCA giant cell arteritis
GCS Glasgow Coma Scale
GDS Geriatric Depression Scale
GFR glomerular filtration rate
GLP-1 glucagon-like peptide-1
GORD gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
GP general practitioner/practice
GPSI general practitioner with a special interest
GTN glyceryl trinitrate
h hour
HASU hyperacute stroke unit
Hb haemoglobin
HbA1c glycosylated haemoglobin
HDU high dependency unit
HFPLVF heart failure with preserved left ventricular function
HHS hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state
HIV human immunodeficiency virus
HRT hormone replacement therapy
HUTT head-up tilt table testing
HV health visitor
iADL instrumental activity of daily living
IC intermediate care
ICD implantable cardio-defibrillator
ICF International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
IDDM insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
IgA immunoglobulin A
IgE immunoglobulin E
IgG immunoglobulin G
IGT impaired glucose tolerance
IHD ischaemic heart disease
im intramuscular
IMCA independent mental capacity advocate
INR international normalized ratio
IOT intermediate oxygen therapy
IP interphalangeal
IPSS International Prostate Symptom Score
IRDM insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus
ITU intensive therapy/care unit
IU international unit
iv intravenous
IVC inferior vena cava
JVP jugular venous pressure
kcal kilocalorie
KDOQI Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative
kg kilogram
kHz kilohertz
kPa kilopascal
L litre
LABA long-acting β2-agonist
LACI lacunar infarction
LACS lacunar stroke
LAMA long-acting muscarinic antagonist
lb pound
LBBB left bundle branch block
LCP Liverpool Care Pathway
LDH lactate dehydrogenase
L-dopa levodopa
LFT liver function test
LHRH luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone
LKM liver–kidney microsome (antibodies)
LMN lower motor neuron
LPA lasting power of attorney
LTOT long-term oxygen therapy
LUTS lower urinary tract symptoms
LV left ventricle/ventricular
LVEF left ventricular ejection fraction
LVH left ventricular hypertrophy
m metre
MAOI monoamine oxidase inhibitor
MBq megabecquerel
MCA middle cerebral artery
MCCD medical certificate of cause of death
MCI minimal/mild cognitive impairment
MCV mean corpuscular volume
MDT multidisciplinary team
MEAMS Middlesex Elderly Assessment of Mental State
mg milligram
MGUS monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
MI myocardial infarction
min minute
mL millilitre
mm millimetre
MM multiple myeloma
mmHg millimetre of mercury
mmol millimole
MMSE Mini-Mental State Examination
MND motor neuron disease
MoCA Montreal Cognitive Assessment
mol mole
mOsm milliosmole
MPT melphalan, prednisolone, thalidomide
MR magnetic resonance
MRCGP Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners
MRCP Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MRSA meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MSU midstream urine
MTI Medical Training Initiative
MUST Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool
Na sodium
NaCl sodium chloride
NCEPOD National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death
NG nasogastric
NGT nasogastric tube
NHS National Health Service
NI National Insurance
NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NIDDM non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
NIHSS National Institute of Health Stroke Scale
NIV non-invasive ventilation
NMDA N-methyl-d-aspartate
nmol nanomole
NOAC novel/new oral anticoagulant
NPH normal pressure hydrocephalus
NSAID non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NSF National Service Framework
NSTEMI non-ST elevation myocardial infarction
OA osteoarthritis
OAB overactive bladder
od once daily (omni die)
OGD oesophagogastroduodenoscopy
OT occupational therapy (or therapist)
PACI partial anterior circulation infarction
PACS partial anterior circulation stroke
pADL personal activity of daily living
PAM-aid post-amputation mobility aid
PCC prothrombin complex concentrate
PCI percutaneous coronary intervention
PCR polymerase chain reaction
PDD predicted date of discharge
PE pulmonary embolism
PEFR peak expiratory flow rate
PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
PET positron emission tomography
pg picogram
PLAB Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board
p.m. after noon (post-meridiem)
PMR polymyalgia rheumatica
po orally
POA power of attorney
POCI posterior circulation infarction
POCS posterior circulation stroke
POP plaster of Paris
POPS Proactive care of Older People going to have Surgery
POSSuM physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity
PPD purified protein derivative
PPI proton pump inhibitor
PPM permanent pacemaker
PPV pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
pr per rectum (anally)
PRN as needed (pro re nata)
PSA prostrate-specific antigen
PT physiotherapy (or therapist)
PTH parathyroid hormone
PUO pyrexia of unknown origin
qds four times daily (quater die sumendum)
RBBB right bundle branch block
RCP Royal College of Physicians
RCSLT Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
RCT randomized controlled trial
REM rapid eye movement
RIG radiologically inserted gastrostomy
RNCC Registered Nursing Care Contribution
r-tPA recombinant tissue plasminogen activator
SA sinoatrial
SABA short-acting β2-agonist
SALT speech and language therapy (or therapist)
SAMA short-acting muscarinic antagonist
SBP systolic blood pressure
s/c subcutaneous
SGLT-2 sodium–glucose co-transporter-2
SIADH syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
SLE systemic lupus erythematosus
SMA smooth muscle antibody
SNRI serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor
SPECT single-photon emission computed tomography
SSRI selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
STD sexually transmitted disease
STEMI ST elevation myocardial infarction
SVT supraventricular tachycardia
T3 triiodothyronine
T4 levothyroxine
TA temporal arteritis
TAB temporal artery biopsy
TACI total anterior circulation infarction
TACS total anterior circulation stroke
TB tuberculosis
TBG thyroid-binding globulin
tds three times daily (ter die sumendum)
TENS transcutaneous nerve stimulation
TFT thyroid function test
TIA transient ischaemic attack
TIBC total iron-binding capacity
TLOC transient loss of consciousness
TMS Tinetti Mobility Score
tPA tissue plasminogen activator
TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone
TTO to take out (discharge drugs)
TUIP transurethral incision of the prostate
TUMT transurethral microwave thermotherapy
TUNA transurethral needle ablation
TURP transurethral resection of the prostate
TVT tension-free vaginal tape
U unit
U, C+E urea, creatinine, and electrolytes
UK United Kingdom
UMN upper motor neuron
UPDRS Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale
USA United States
UTI urinary tract infection
UV ultraviolet
VBI vertebrobasilar insufficiency
VF ventricular fibrillation
V/Q ventilation–perfusion
VT ventricular tachycardia
VTE venous thromboembolism
WBC white blood cell