Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2003 , Vol 6, Issue 3
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS BY ELDER PATIENTS
Aleattin ÃœNSAL, Arif Alper ÇEVÄ°K, Selma METÄ°NTAÅž, Didem ARSLANTAÅž, O’ben ÇiÄŸdem Ä°NAN
Osmangazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Halk Sağlığı Anabilim Dalı, Eskişehir
Osmangazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Acil Tıp Merkezi, Acil Servis, Eskişehir
Eskişehir İl Sağlık Müdürlüğü,Eskişehir
The aim of this study is to evaluate the top five diseases for gender, age group, and seasonal differencies. The study was organized as a retrospective analysis of emergency department (ED) records of the three major hospitals in Eskisehir between 1st. January 1998 and 31 st December 2000. All ED cases who were 60 years of age and older were included in the study. Total emergency visits was found 608,528. Thirteen percent (79,123) of the visits were by elder patients. The increase in the elder patients’ percentage of ED visits by years of age is significant (p<0.001). Mean of age was 68.48±6.47. Top five disease was found as follows: hypertension, pulmonary diseases (bronchitis, amphysema, asthma), cardiac diseases, upper respiratory (URTI) and urinary tract infections (UTI). Hypertension, pulmonary diseases, and URTI showed seasonal difference. The increase in the elder patients’ percentage of ED visits by years of age is significant. Hypertension, cardiac and pulmonary diseases are the most presented diseases. Some diseases shows seasonal difference. When resources of the hospitals and ED’s will be directed, seasonal difference should be evaluated. Keywords : Elder patients, Emergency department, Hypertension, Cardiac problems