Helicopter emergency medical services for elderly patients: clinical outcomes and disease patterns
Dublin Core
Title
Helicopter emergency medical services for elderly patients: clinical outcomes and disease patterns
Subject
Helicopter emergency medical services, Elderly patients, Stroke, Acute myocardial infarction, Prehospital
care, Geriatric emergency medicine
care, Geriatric emergency medicine
Description
Background The rapid aging of global populations necessitates evidence-based optimization of emergency medical
services for elderly patients. This study evaluates helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) utilization patterns,
clinical outcomes, and disease distribution in elderly patients transported to a metropolitan tertiary care facility.
Methods Prospective observational study of 119 elderly patients (≥65 years) transported via HEMS to Istanbul
Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital between January 2021 and January 2023. Data analysis included disease
distribution, transport performance metrics, seasonal variation, and clinical outcomes using descriptive statistics and
inferential testing.
Results Mean patient age was 74.2±8.4 years. Stroke (30.3%) and cardiovascular conditions (47.1%) represented
predominant diagnoses. Mean total transport time was 31.1 min (95% CI: 28.3–33.9). In-hospital mortality was 4.2%
(95% CI: 1.4–9.5%), with 28.6% requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Significant seasonal variation occurred
(p<0.001, η2=0.42), with 74.8% of cases during spring-summer months. Geographic analysis revealed disparities with
73.1% of patients originating from Çatalca region.
Conclusions HEMS represents an essential component of elderly emergency care with favorable clinical outcomes.
Age-stratified disease patterns support development of specialized geriatric protocols. Significant seasonal variation
and geographic disparities necessitate dynamic resource allocation and policy consideration for equitable HEMS
accessibility.
services for elderly patients. This study evaluates helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) utilization patterns,
clinical outcomes, and disease distribution in elderly patients transported to a metropolitan tertiary care facility.
Methods Prospective observational study of 119 elderly patients (≥65 years) transported via HEMS to Istanbul
Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital between January 2021 and January 2023. Data analysis included disease
distribution, transport performance metrics, seasonal variation, and clinical outcomes using descriptive statistics and
inferential testing.
Results Mean patient age was 74.2±8.4 years. Stroke (30.3%) and cardiovascular conditions (47.1%) represented
predominant diagnoses. Mean total transport time was 31.1 min (95% CI: 28.3–33.9). In-hospital mortality was 4.2%
(95% CI: 1.4–9.5%), with 28.6% requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Significant seasonal variation occurred
(p<0.001, η2=0.42), with 74.8% of cases during spring-summer months. Geographic analysis revealed disparities with
73.1% of patients originating from Çatalca region.
Conclusions HEMS represents an essential component of elderly emergency care with favorable clinical outcomes.
Age-stratified disease patterns support development of specialized geriatric protocols. Significant seasonal variation
and geographic disparities necessitate dynamic resource allocation and policy consideration for equitable HEMS
accessibility.
Creator
Mehmet Necmeddin Sutaşır1* , Demet Duman1
, Banu Arslan1
, Ramazan Güven1
and Abuzer Coşkun2
, Banu Arslan1
, Ramazan Güven1
and Abuzer Coşkun2
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01461-z
Date
2026
Contributor
PERI IRAWAN
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Collection
Citation
Mehmet Necmeddin Sutaşır1* , Demet Duman1
, Banu Arslan1
, Ramazan Güven1
and Abuzer Coşkun2, “Helicopter emergency medical services for elderly patients: clinical outcomes and disease patterns,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12061.