Perfil do idoso vítima de trauma atendido em uma Unidade de Urgência e Emergência

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the epidemiological profile of elderly victims assisted at the Emergency unit of a university hospital. This is a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study. Data treatment was performed using descriptive statistics, charts and tables. Most victims lived in de Campinas (93.5%) and were females (66.7%) with ages between 70 and 74, and presented comorbidities (77.8%), of which arterial hypertension was the most common. As for the type of accident that resulted in the trauma, the highest incidence was falling from their own height (79.6%). The resulting lesions were characterized by the predominance of superficial lesions (22.7%) followed by mild brain injury (15.1%). As to the victim's destination in the first 24 hours, 49.1% were discharged and 22.2% were admitted for surgery.

The profile of spinal injuries in the elderly population

“…The present study shows that the SI affects elderly women more, with an average age in accordance with that found in other studies 1,3,4,7,11,12,14 . As to the etiology, the main mechanisms of SI in the elderly were falls from their own height, followed by falls from heights and falls.…”

“…As for the falls from heights, the findings of this study (24.3 %) were similar to the 19% of Jahana and Diogo 12 , but much higher than the 6% reported by Lima and Campos 1 . This difference may be related to the used definition of falls from height, which in this study was considered as all falls that occurred at a level higher than the elderly subjects' own height, while Lima and Campos 1 considered only falls from ladders, roofs and stairs.…”

“…The prevalence of falls from height found (37.7%) is much lower than the 80% found in 2 studies conducted in Campinas (SP, Brazil) 1,12 . This large difference between the percentages of falls from one's own height in the three studies (42.3%) may result from the different locations where the data were collected, the conditions of the collection period and/or its total time.…”

“…The technological advances and improved quality of life allow individuals in old age to continue carrying out activities attributed to younger age groups 1,2 . The increase in longevity, associated with the increase in the elderly population in Brazil and also the more active life style of the elderly, has led to increased cases of trauma in the geriatric population 3,4 .…”

“…From this scenario emerges the need for more studies, considering that the traumatic event in the elderly affects the collective and family spheres, denoting high costs, in economic terms and in terms of the suffering of the victim 1,10 . Although it is noted that in the literature the theme trauma in the elderly has been increasingly exploited, this problem remains little discussed in the academic and public health areas.…”