EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ELDERLY ADULTS HOSPITALIZED IN A SANATORIUM IN THE PROVINCE OF SAN LUIS, ARGENTINA

Abstract

Abstract: Elderly people are considered to be those over 60 years of age. Many investigations had been published on topics that involve this population of this age range, mainly related to their comorbidities and causes of death. The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiological characteristics of older adults hospitalized at the Ramos Mejía Sanatorium, in San Luis, Argentina, during May 2022. All patients admitted to the medical clinic or other services who received interconsultation of the latter, during the referred month. The population was 37 patients, 54% were men (46% women), with an average age of 76 years and a large part of them hypertensive (67.57%) or diabetics (35.14%). Most had medical coverage by INSSJP (National Institute of Social Services for Retirees and Pensioners). The mean length of stay was 10.41 days (SD 10.41). Only 4 patients required admission to the ICU (intensive care unit), for a mean of 5.97 days. The most frequent reason for hospitalization was pneumonia (18.92%). Of the hospital discharges, 21.6% were due to death, which mostly affected women, and the remaining reason for discharge was 56.52% due to resolution of the condition that led to admission. The most prevalent medication used at admission by this population was Metformin, 24.32%. Instead, the medication most frequently administered after admission was Ranitidine, 67.57%. In conclusion, according to the results, it was possible to epidemiologically characterize the elderly population of San Luis, Argentina.

Key words: Aged, Health Services for the Aged, Geriatrics, Medicine, Argentina. Source: DeCS/MeSH.