[Functional deterioration of basic daily living activities after an emergency service consultation].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of functional decline of elderly patients discharged from an emergency department and to analized functional impairment as a risk of readmission.


METHODS
A prospective cohort aged 75 or older were followed up after discharge from an emergency department between 01-02-95 and 01-04-95. The study protocol included sociodemografics, clinicals, functionals and mentalsoutcomes. We studied the incidence of functional decline in basic activities of daily living, with Barthel Index, and association with the risk of readmission.


RESULTS
The sample was composed by 125 elders (mean aged 81.9 +/- 4.6 years and 60.8% were women). The incidence of functional decline in basic activities of daily living at the visit to emergency department was 20.8% and one moth after discharge was 18.4%. Both activities with more functional impairment were bathing, dressing and movility activities. Functional decline was associated with the risk of readmission at emergency department (Odds Ratio = 4.1 [1.4-11.8])


CONCLUSIONS
20% of patients who are discharged of emergency department present a new functional impairment in basics activities of daily living. Functional decline is associated with the risk of readmission one moth after discharged.
Gutiérrez Rodríguez
J
J
Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital Monte Naranco, Oviedo.
Varela Suárez
C
C
Alonso Alvarez
M
M
Solano Jaurrieta
J J
JJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies
Deterioro funcional en actividades básicas de la vida diaria tras la consulta en un servicio de urgencias.