title: [Frequency of musculoskeletal pathology among elderly patients and its treatment at a Private Hospital in Mexico City].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The elderly represent a growing sector of the Mexican population and they are expected to outgrow the number of youths in the coming years. Musculoskeletal conditions are a major cause of disability among the elders; they affect up to 80%. In Mexico City 36% of the population uses private health care services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To contribute with epidemiologic data about the frequency of musculoskeletal conditions and their hospital-based treatment in patients ages 65 and over admitted to a private hospital in Mexico City.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male and female patients ages 65 and over, admitted for a musculoskeletal illness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  390 patients were studied; 276 females and 114 males. The age group 65-69 years was predominant. The predominating musculoskeletal conditions included fractures, which represented 29.4%, and gonarthrosis, 23.30%. Patients were treated surgically accounted for 91.02%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the elderly, chronic conditions are more frequent than acute ones; however, fractures are the most frequent diagnosis. There are no studies in Mexico analyzing the frequency of both, traumatic or degenerative conditions, and their treatment in elderly patients admitted to a private hospital. These results will therefore provide epidemiologic information about our population.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Mendoza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soto-Padilla
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gómez-Garcia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies