Differential characteristics in polypathological inpatients in internal medicine departments and acute geriatric units: The PLUPAR study

Díez-Manglano, Jesús ; De Escalante Yangüela, Begoña (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; García-Arilla Calvo, Ernesto ; Ubís Díez, Elena ; Munilla López, Eulalia ; Clerencia Sierra, Mercedes ; Revillo Pinilla, Paz ; Omiste Sanvicente, Teresa

Resumen: Aim
To determine whether there are any differences between polypathological patients attended in Internal Medicine departments and acute Geriatric units.
Methods
A cross-sectional multicenter study was performed. Polypathological patients admitted to an internal medicine or geriatrics department and attended by investigators consecutively between March 1 and June 30, 2011 were included. Data of age, sex, living in a nursing residence or at home, diagnostic category, use of chronic medication, Charlson, Barthel and Lawton–Brody indexes, Pfeiffer questionnaire, delirium during last admission, need of a caregiver, and having a caregiver were gathered. The need of a caregiver was defined when the Barthel index was < 60 or Pfeiffer questionnaire ≥ 3 errors.
Results
471 polypathological patients, 337 from internal medicine and 144 from geriatrics units were included. Geriatrics inpatients were older and more frequently female. Cardiac (62.1% vs 49.6%; p = .01), digestive (8.3% vs 3.0%; p = .04) and oncohematological diseases (30.2% vs 18.8%; p = .01) were more frequent in patients of internal medicine units and neurological (66.2% vs 40.2%; p < .001) and locomotive ones (39.1% vs 20.4%; p < .001) in geriatrics inpatients. Charlson index was higher for internal medicine inpatients [4.0(2.1) vs 3.5(2.1); p = .04). Patients attended in geriatrics scored higher in Pfeiffer questionnaire [5.5(3.7) vs 3.8(3.3); p < .001], and lower in Barthel [38.8(32.5) vs 61.2(34.3); p = .001] and Lawton–Brody indexes [0.9(1.6) vs 3.0(2.9); p < .001], and more frequently needed a caregiver (87.8% vs 53.6%; p < .001) and had it.
Conclusions
There are differences in disease profile and functional and cognitive situation between polypathological patients of internal medicine and geriatrics departments.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2013.07.010

Año: 2013

Publicado en: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE 24, 8 (2013), 767-771
ISSN: 0953-6205

Factor impacto JCR: 2.3 (2013)

Categ. JCR: MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL rank: 37 / 155 = 0.239 (2013) - Q1 - T1

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Area Medicina (Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.)