[Urologic disease emergency. Clinico-epidemiologic analysis at a district hospital].
OBJECTIVE
To present the results of a one-year retrospective study that analyzed the clinical and epidemiological aspects of urological emergencies, which is not a negligible percentage of all hospital emergencies.


METHODS
Data on all the urological emergencies of the emergency department of our hospital were collected during a one-year period by filling out a form that included sex, age, whether referred or not, disease, etc.


RESULTS
There were 1504 urological emergencies; the urologist was required in 458 of these cases (30.45%). There were more men (837) than women (667). Patient ages ranged from 1-101 years (mean 53 years); a higher incidence was found for those aged 65 years. By age groups, there were more patients aged 61-80 years (575 patients). Most of the patients came to the hospital on their own initiative (1114) and 390 had been referred by their primary care physician. Renal colic (670 cases) was the most common diagnosis in both males and females, followed by cystitis, which was prevalent in the females (67.35%). Other conditions seen were urinary retention, hematuria, etc.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a higher prevalence of males that consulted for urological conditions at the emergency department and there was a higher incidence in patients in the 6th and 7th decades of life, which is similar to the findings reported in other studies. Renal colic was the main reason for consultation for both genders and for all age groups, except those younger than 20 who presented more scrotal and penile involvement. Infective conditions involving the lower urinary tract (cystitis) and pyelonephritis were prevalent in the females. The large number of patients that were discharged from the emergency department and who consulted on their own initiative shows their confidence in the emergency services and that they could have been attended to at other health centers and did not have to come and unnecessarily strain the hospital emergency services.
Parra Muntaner
L
L
Servicio de Urologia, Hospital del Bierzo, Ponferrada, León, España.
López Pacios
J C
JC
Piñeiro Fernández
M C
MC
Sanchez Merino
J M
JM
Menéndez Colunga
M J
MJ
Astorgano de la Puente
C
C
Sousa Escandon
M A
MA
García Diz
B
B
Lorenzo Torvisco
J M
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004630:Emergencies / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*