Jurnal Internasional vol.12 issue 1 2022
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
The characteristics of geriatric patients managed within the resuscitation unit of a district-level emergency centre in Cape Town
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Title
Jurnal Internasional vol.12 issue 1 2022
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
The characteristics of geriatric patients managed within the resuscitation unit of a district-level emergency centre in Cape Town
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
The characteristics of geriatric patients managed within the resuscitation unit of a district-level emergency centre in Cape Town
Subject
Elderly
Hyponatremia
Polypharmacy
Comorbidities
Mortality
Hyponatremia
Polypharmacy
Comorbidities
Mortality
Description
Introduction: The world's population is aging and this trend is also seen in South Africa. This increase will
invariably affect acute care services. The geriatric population attending emergency centres have not been
described in the South African setting. The objective was to describe the characteristics of geriatric patients
presenting to the resuscitation unit of a district-level hospital in Cape Town.
Methods: All patients (≥65 years) managed within the resuscitation unit of Khayelitsha Hospital over an 8-month
period (01 January–30 August 2018) were retrospective analysed. Data were collected from the Khayelitsha
Hospital Emergency Centre database and by means of a retrospective chart review. Summary statistics are
presented of all variables.
Results: A total of 225 patients were analysed. The median age was 71.1 years, 148 (65.8%) were female and all
were residing in their family home. The majority (n = 162, 72%) presented outside office hours, 124 (55.1%)
arrived by ambulance, and 94 (41.8%) had presented to the emergency centre within the previous year. Only half
the patients (n = 114, 50.7%) were triaged as very urgent or higher. Most patients (n = 169, 75.1%) were
admitted by in-hospital services and the in-hospital mortality was 21.8% (n = 49). Diseases related to the cir-
culatory system (n = 54, 24.0%) were the most frequent primary diagnosis and acute kidney injury were the most
frequent secondary diagnosis (n = 101, 44.9%). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (n = 176,
78.2%) and diabetes (n = 110, 48.9%), and 99 (44%) had three or more comorbidities. Polypharmacy (≥5
medications) occurred in 100 (44.4%) patients with 114 (50.7%) using medications from three or more different
classes. The prevalence of hypernatremia was 2.6% and for hyponatremia 54.4%.
Conclusion: Geriatric patients managed within the resuscitation unit of a district-level hospital had a high return
rate, multiple comorbidities and a high prevalence of polypharmacy and hyponatraemia.
invariably affect acute care services. The geriatric population attending emergency centres have not been
described in the South African setting. The objective was to describe the characteristics of geriatric patients
presenting to the resuscitation unit of a district-level hospital in Cape Town.
Methods: All patients (≥65 years) managed within the resuscitation unit of Khayelitsha Hospital over an 8-month
period (01 January–30 August 2018) were retrospective analysed. Data were collected from the Khayelitsha
Hospital Emergency Centre database and by means of a retrospective chart review. Summary statistics are
presented of all variables.
Results: A total of 225 patients were analysed. The median age was 71.1 years, 148 (65.8%) were female and all
were residing in their family home. The majority (n = 162, 72%) presented outside office hours, 124 (55.1%)
arrived by ambulance, and 94 (41.8%) had presented to the emergency centre within the previous year. Only half
the patients (n = 114, 50.7%) were triaged as very urgent or higher. Most patients (n = 169, 75.1%) were
admitted by in-hospital services and the in-hospital mortality was 21.8% (n = 49). Diseases related to the cir-
culatory system (n = 54, 24.0%) were the most frequent primary diagnosis and acute kidney injury were the most
frequent secondary diagnosis (n = 101, 44.9%). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (n = 176,
78.2%) and diabetes (n = 110, 48.9%), and 99 (44%) had three or more comorbidities. Polypharmacy (≥5
medications) occurred in 100 (44.4%) patients with 114 (50.7%) using medications from three or more different
classes. The prevalence of hypernatremia was 2.6% and for hyponatremia 54.4%.
Conclusion: Geriatric patients managed within the resuscitation unit of a district-level hospital had a high return
rate, multiple comorbidities and a high prevalence of polypharmacy and hyponatraemia.
Creator
Natalie Simakoloyi, Elaine Erasmus, Dani ̈el Jacobus van Hoving
Source
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afjem.2021.11.005
Date
28 November 2021
Contributor
peri irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Citation
Natalie Simakoloyi, Elaine Erasmus, Dani ̈el Jacobus van Hoving, “Jurnal Internasional vol.12 issue 1 2022
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
The characteristics of geriatric patients managed within the resuscitation unit of a district-level emergency centre in Cape Town,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed November 21, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/1867.
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
The characteristics of geriatric patients managed within the resuscitation unit of a district-level emergency centre in Cape Town,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed November 21, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/1867.