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Related Experiment Videos

Surgery in the elderly: is age a risk factor?

I W Crandon1, H Harding, R Carpenter

  • 1Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica. ivorcrandon@uwimona.edu.jm

The West Indian Medical Journal
|October 8, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Elderly surgical patients, though fewer in number, face longer hospital stays and higher mortality rates, especially when admitted as emergencies. Early admission and optimized care are crucial for improving outcomes and resource efficiency.

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Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Surgical Outcomes
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The elderly population (60+ years) represents a significant proportion of general surgery admissions at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).
  • Despite comprising only 9.7% of the Jamaican population, individuals aged 60 and older constituted 26.2% of total admissions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the characteristics, outcomes, and resource utilization of elderly (60+ years) versus non-elderly patients admitted to general surgery wards.
  • To identify factors influencing mortality and hospital stay in the elderly surgical population.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, observational study over one year.
  • Analysis of 2375 consecutive admissions, focusing on 623 patients aged 60 and older.
  • Comparison of demographic data, admission type, surgical intervention, hospital stay duration, and mortality between elderly and non-elderly groups.

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Main Results:

  • Elderly patients had longer mean hospital stays (11.5 vs. 8.0 days) and higher mortality rates (8.8% vs. 1.9%) compared to non-elderly patients.
  • Emergency admissions were more common in the elderly (52%), and these patients experienced significantly higher mortality (13.5% vs. 3.7% for elective admissions).
  • Cancer was the most frequent diagnosis for admission and mortality among the elderly.

Conclusions:

  • Elderly surgical patients present unique challenges, including longer hospitalizations and increased mortality, particularly with emergency admissions.
  • Optimizing care and facilitating earlier admission for elderly surgical patients can improve outcomes and enhance resource allocation in healthcare settings.
  • Targeted interventions for the elderly surgical population are essential for improving overall patient care and hospital efficiency.