Characteristics and outcomes of patients oldest old admitted to a private

INTRODUCTION:  The increase in life expectancy is a worldwide phenomenon, and the age group with the fastest growth is the group including individuals who are 80 years of age or older. In Brazil, while the average yearly geometric growth rate of the general elderly population (≥ 60 years) is approximately 3.3%, the rate among the oldest segment of that group is 5.4%, one of the world's highest.¹ In the aging process, it has increased demand for costly health interventions. ² This study intends to describe and analyze the epidemiological profile of oldest old patients (≥ 85 years) admitted to the Hospital Albert Einstein

METHODS:  This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in Hospital Albert Einstein, located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Population were oldest old patients (≥ 85 years) hospitalized from 2008 to 2013

RESULTS:  The oldest old patients grows every year and represented in 2013, 4.3% of admissions. The demographic changes of the last few years demonstrate the aging trend and increased number of admissions of patients in this age group. (Table 1) A comparison of the characteristic of the age group is shown in Table 2. In all age groups the females and hospitalizations for clinical condition were more prevalent. The admissions for circulatory and respiratory causes were the most frequent, followed by neoplasm. The number of readmission was highest in the age groups 91-95 and 96-100 years, and the length of hospital stay and hospital mortality were higher in the age groups 96-100 and >100 years

CONCLUSIONS:  It is essential that healthcare professionals and institutions an effective organization of health systems promote the oldest old suitable to their conditions, limitations and potential health care, so you can identify their real needs and thus better utilization of resource.