Characteristics of very elderly patients in the emergency department - A retrospective analysis

Elderly people, defined by age 65 years and older, made up 18.45% of the Swiss Population in 2018 and their number is projected to rise continuously. Data investigating specific characteristics of this patient subgroup, especially in the emergency setting, is scarce.

Demographic data of admission records from all patients aged 65 years or older admitted to our emergency department (ED) between January 1st 2015 and December 31st 2018 were investigated. Retrospective chart reviews of patients admitted in 2018 were conducted. Comorbidity burden was assessed by Charlson Comorbidity Index. Risk factors for death, longer hospitalization and placement in a nursing facility were identified by multivariate regression.

The prevalence of elderly patients (≥65 years) admitted to the ED between 2015 and 2018 was rising from 33% in 2015 to 37.8% in 2018. In 2018 709 patients were 90 years and older (3.6%). Age above 90 years and high comorbidity burden were identified as independent risk factors for death. Polypharmacy, hyponatremia and high comorbidity burden were independent risk factors for longer hospitalizations. Advanced age and high comorbidity burden were independent risk factors for placement in a nursing facility.

The number of elderly patients admitted to our ED is continuously rising. There was no difference in overall disease burden, number of medications and hospital length of stay between octogenarians and nonagenarians. We identified risk factors for mortality, long hospitalizations and need of placement in a nursing facility.