[What is the prevalence of elderly persons at high risk in primary care?].
OBJECTIVE
To find the prevalence in a Health District of elderly people at high risk and the reasons for their inclusion in this category. To evaluate the percentage of patients requiring home care.


METHODS
A crossover descriptive study.


METHODS
Urban health centre.


METHODS



METHODS
patients over 65, TARGET POPULATION: elderly people with their medical notes at our centre.


METHODS
329 individuals chosen by systematic sampling of everyone over 65.


RESULTS
The elderly person is defined as at high risk or fragile when he/she fulfils one of the following criteria: a recent hospital release, physical incapacity, mental deterioration, over 80, in an institution, confinement to the home, living alone or being widowed, and recent change of home. There was 38.07% prevalence of elderly people at high risk. The main reasons for classification as elderly people at high risk were: age over 80, living alone and physical incapacity. There is a significant link between being an elderly person at high risk and female. 31.7% of elderly people at high risk have a physical incapacity which prevents their attendance at the health centre.


CONCLUSIONS
It needs to be bome in mind that almost 40% of the over-65s are included in the groups of elderly people at high risk and therefore need special attention from Primary Care professionals. Our organisation needs to be adapted to the growing demand for home visits, which should cover at least 12% of those over 65 and 31% of the fragile elderly.
Cortés Rubio
J A
JA
EAP San Isidro II, Insalud (Area 11), Madrid.
Méndez-Bonito González
E
E
Koutsourais Movilla
R
R
Utrilla Moro
J
J
Macías Rodríguez
J
J
Casado Aguado
M A
MA
Rozas Barrera
Z
Z
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data