[Clinical profile and impact of the unscheduled return to Emergency Department by elders]

The characteristics of patients aged 65 years and over that return to the Emergency Department (ED) have not been sufficiently analysed. The aim of this study is to determine the differentiating elements of the elderly that return to ED and evaluate the impact on them of such a return.

Descriptive study where the unit of analysis is the unscheduled return to ED. The analysis of data begins with a description of the entire sample. After that, comparisons are made between the elderly and patients aged under 65 years that return, and between the elderly that return and those that do not return. The significance level for comparison tests is p< or =0.05.

Sixty-one per cent of the reasons for the first visit by the elderly was because of neurological alterations (p<0,001). Only 22% of them had been attended by senior doctors on their first visit (p=0,001). When they returned to ED, 63% of them were admitted to hospital; in contrast to 28% of younger patients (p<0,001).

There are differences between the elderly patients that return and those who do not, and also with respect to young adults. The impact of return on this group of patients is reflected in the high rates of admission to hospital. An adaptation of resources to the special needs of this type of user in ED would be advisable.