Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2011 , Vol 14, Issue 2
ANALYZING INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ADMISSION CAUSES OF ELDERLY PATIENTS TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS
Esma ÖZŞAKER1, Fatma DEMİR-KORKMAZ1, Meral DÖLEK2
1Ege Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Yüksekokulu Cerrahi Hastalıkları Hemşireliği Anabilim Dalı İZMİR
2Ege Üniversitesi Araştırma ve Uygulama Hastanesi Acil Servis Anabilim Dalı İZMİR
Introduction: This descriptive study was carried out with the purpose of analyzing individual characteristics and admission causes of the elderly patients to emergency departments.

Materials and Method: The sample of the research is composed of 169 elderly patients above age 65, who were admitted to the Emergency Department of Ege University Research and Practice Hospital between June 1, 2003 and June 1, 2005 and who volunteered to participate in the research. The data were collected with a questionnaire form prepared by the researchers and with face-to-face interview.

Results: Mean age of the elderly patients was 74.50±6.53. Respiratory system problems (%21.3) were the most frequent causes among these admissions, followed by gastrointestinal problems (%18.3), cardiovascular system problems (%16.6), and trauma (%15.4). It was found out that 52.7% of the patients had excretion problems, 51.5% had vision problems, 49% sleep problems, and 72.8% had at least one chronic disease.

Conclusion: It was determined that the most common reasons that bring the elderly people to the emergency departments were respiratory system problems, gastrointestinal problems cardiovascular system problems and trauma. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of these problems in the emergency department has a life saving role for elderly patients. Keywords : Aged; Emergency Service, Hospital; Databases as Topic