Use of emergency departments by elderly patients in a city of Western Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the reasons behind the demographic characteristics of patients presented to emergency departments.


METHODS
The entire patient records of all the hospitals' emergency departments in the city of Eskisehir were retrospectively assessed in this study. The study was conducted between the years 1998 and 2000. Data were evaluated using chi2, t-tests, and percent rates.


RESULTS
Of 608,528 patients visiting the emergency departments, 79 123 (13.0%) were elderly patients. The treatment and discharge rate was 78.3%. Mean admission rate was 21.2%. The death rate during the visits was 0.4%. The proportion of the five most frequently seen diseases was 41.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
Demographical trends show that emergency department visits by elderly patients would increase in time. So, in Turkey, emergency department staff should be trained to provide for the special needs of this population in emergency departments.
Unsal
Alaettin
A
Medical Faculty Public Health Department, Osmangazi University, Meselik-Eskisehir, Turkey.
Ayranci
Unal
U
Alper Cevik
A
A
Metintas
Selma
S
Arslantas
Didem
D
Unluoglu
Ilhami
I
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003710:Demography; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006285:Health Planning; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014505:Urban Population