Hospitalização de Idosos: Avaliação Epidemiológica e de Custos

Abstract

Introduction: Currently the process of demographic transition has caused changes in the population structure. The number of elderly people (≥ 60 years) grew rapidly, causing a series of changes in the economy, the labor market, family relations and, above all, health systems. When the elderly need to be hospitalized, the costs generated by these hospitalizations are much higher when compared to hospitalizations of younger people. Objective: To analyze the epidemiological profile and the hospitalization costs at Hospital Universitário Mineiro. Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study of documentary analysis with a quantitative and descriptive approach, carried out at the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Uberlândia (HC-UFU) from June to August 2016, where 861 medical records doctors. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Uberlândia. Results: Of the total number of hospitalizations, a greater number of elderly males (56%) were observed. The main causes of hospitalization were: diseases of the circulatory system (26%); neoplasms (18%) and external lesions (12%). As for the costs generated with hospitalizations, the month of August was the one that obtained the most costs (R $ 9,011,447.22). Conclusion: The majority of the elderly included in this research had age between 60 and 70 years, predominantly the hospitalization of the elderly in relation to the elderly. The same was observed considering the number of deaths, higher in the male population. However, 80% of the elderly evolved. The main causes of hospitalization were related to diseases of the circulatory system, mainly for the elderly between 71 and 80 years, followed by neoplasias, predominant and elderly between 60 and 70 years and injuries, poisoning and some other consequences of external causes, more common for the elderly aged 81 or over. The understanding of the profile of this population and its main pathologies is very important in the planning and implementation of new policies aimed at improving the service to this population that increasingly need our care and attention. Based on the main causes of hospitalization, the health systems, mainly the basic units, can develop actions to reduce the number of hospitalization of these elderly people through the promotion and prevention of the health of the elderly in their area.