<b>Causes of hospitalization in elderly patients in two general hospitals under Brazil’s public health system</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v32i1.5631

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the main causes of hospitalization in elderly patients (60 years and older) in the cities of Cândido de Abreu and Jardim Alegre, which belong to the 22nd Regional Health Area, Ivaiporã, Paraná State, in general hospitals of the Public National Health System (SUS) in Brazil in the year 2005. Elderly patients were studied in Cândido de Abreu and Jardim Alegre hospitals using data from the Hospital Information System of the Public National Health System (SIH/SUS), using the following variables: gender, age group (60-79 years and 80 years or older) and main diagnosis according to the chapters of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10, 1996 revision. From a total of 1,489 hospital admissions in Cândido de Abreu and 1,103 admissions in Jardim Alegre from January to December 2005, the number of hospitalizations in elderly patients is 376 (25.2%) and 352 (31.9%) respectively. The results show the high prevalence of elderly hospitalization and reinforce the need to prepare capable staff and the assistance the public health system for this elderly population that increases quite rapidly.