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Updated: May 24, 2025
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Contrasting clinical and care features in British and Spanish Acute Geriatric Units (AGUs)
Gemma Cuesta Castellón1, Francisco Javier Gómez Pavón2, Joan Espaulella Panicot3
1Associate Physician in Geriatrics Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Vic, Barcelona, Spain.
Purpose:
Compare service delivery and clinical outcomes in Acute Geriatric Units (AGUs) between the United Kingdom and Spain.
Methods:
Prospective observational study of consecutive patients admitted to AGU in two English and four Spanish hospitals 15th September to 15th November 2022.
Results:
650 patients (476 from SP and 174 from the UK) with an average age of 85.4 years in Spanish hospitals and 83.5 years in British hospitals. Similar frailty prevalence (73.1% Spain, 77.7% UK) but differences in medication, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic use, and therapy evaluations. Spain had shorter average stay (8.3 days) and higher mortality (14% vs 7.6% UK). No significant differences in advance care planning.
Conclusions:
UK patients were younger, more independent, with fewer health issues. UK hospitals provided more therapy, fewer antipsychotics, and lower mortality despite longer stays. Calls for further research, including cost-effectiveness analysis and long-term studies.
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