Healthcare demographics, tackling an age old problem | EBPOM 2025

Recorded at this year's annual Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine (EBPOM) World Congress in London, this conversation deals with a crisis that modern practitioners will recognise; how do we adapt to the needs of a collectively older population? We begin by focusing upon the Australian Intergenerational Report's alarming projections about an aging population and its impact on healthcare expenditure. It's a problem mirrored by many other Western nations. The conversation covers the ARC model, a solution that shows promise in improving postoperative outcomes by offering advanced recovery room care. We also discuss the importance of addressing blood pressure, fluid management, and potential cost-effective healthcare strategies to manage the increasing elderly population requiring surgery. We conclude by emphasizing the need for comprehensive measures beyond the ARC model to tackle the emerging healthcare challenges globally. Presented by Andy Cumpstey with Guy Ludbrook, Professor of Anaesthesia at the University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital and Esrom Leaman is a specialty trainee in anaesthetics at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Research Fellow at the Centre for Perioperative Health Economics & Policy.