Authors
Abstract
Background: The burden of diseases in later life is high and the elderly are affected by multiple illnesses, frequently leading to hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to draw an overall picture of the clinical situation in elderly patients hospitalized for acute care.
Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study performed in a three-month period in 2010 in Ahvaz Petroleum Hospital. Two hundred consecutive elderly patients admitted to the hospital were assessed for medical history, BMI, CBC, blood chemistry, and ECG, and were tested by Geriatric Depression Scale, Abbreviated Mental Test Score, Activities of Daily Living, and Informant Questionnaire of Cognitive Decline in Elderly questionnaires.
Results: Mean age of patients was 71±8 years, and 67% were female. There was a history of depression in 9%, sleep disturbance in 70%, hearing problems in 23%, vision problems in 59%, memory impairment in 20%, overweight/obesity in 74%, cancer in 9%, and pain in 36% of patients. Ischemic ECG changes, abnormal Hb, positive CRP, and abnormal BUN/Creatinine ratio were seen in 30%, 34%, 20%, and 25% of patients, respectively. Forty-nine percent were on more than five drugs and 17% were ADL-dependent. Seventy-eight percent had normal GDS score. Abnormal AMTS scores suggestive of cognitive impairment were seen in 10%. Sixty-six percent were transferred to medical wards, while 34% were transferred to surgical wards.
Conclusion: The existence of multiple simultaneous disturbances in hospitalized elderly patients necessitates proper training of physicians and medical staff for acute care services in the field of geriatric medicine.
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