Background
To report the social and medical situation of centenarian patients who required emergency hospital care during the last 8 years. Method
Retrospective study of patients aged over 100 years attended at the Emergency Department of a general hospital. The percentages of admissions and mortality rates were then compared with those among patients aged over 65. Results
A total of 51 consultations from 41 patients were recorded, with a mean age of 101.2 years. The number of consultations increased gradually with time (p = 0.008).
Centenarian patients attended at a general hospital
 
  Key words
 
 
  
   centenarians
  
 
 
  
   admission reasons
  
 
Background
To report the social and medical situation of centenarian patients who required emergency hospital care during the last 8 years.
Method
Retrospective study of patients aged over 100 years attended at the Emergency Department of a general hospital.
The percentages of admissions and mortality rates were then compared with those among patients aged over 65.
Results
A total of 51 consultations from 41 patients were recorded, with a mean age of 101.2 years.
The number of consultations increased gradually with time (p = 0.008).
Ninety-three percent of patients lived with their families, predominantly in the rural setting.
The most prevalent conditions included the prostatic syndrome (among males), heart failure and chronic obstruction to the airflow.
Only 20% of patients had <dis>dementia</dis>.
Sixty-four percent of consultations required hospital admission, with a mortality rate of 20.5% in this group of patients.
The most common discharge diagnoses were heart failure and acute cerebrovascular accident.
Conclusions
A gradual increase in hospital care is likely to be excepted among centenarians, who have an acceptable health status, although with a high risk of mortality during hospital admission.
Background
To report the social and medical situation of centenarian patients who required emergency hospital care during the last 8 years.
Method
Retrospective study of patients aged over 100 years attended at the Emergency Department of a general hospital.
The percentages of admissions and mortality rates were then compared with those among patients aged over 65.
Results
A total of 51 consultations from 41 patients were recorded, with a mean age of 101.2 years.
The number of consultations increased gradually with time (p = 0.008).
Ninety-three percent of patients lived with their families, predominantly in the rural setting.
The most prevalent conditions included the prostatic syndrome (among males), heart failure and chronic obstruction to the airflow.
Only 20% of patients had dementia.
Sixty-four percent of consultations required hospital admission, with a mortality rate of 20.5% in this group of patients.
The most common discharge diagnoses were heart failure and acute cerebrovascular accident.
Conclusions
A gradual increase in hospital care is likely to be excepted among centenarians, who have an acceptable health status, although with a high risk of mortality during hospital admission.
Background
To report the social and medical situation of centenarian patients who required emergency hospital care during the last 8 years. Method
Retrospective study of patients aged over 100 years attended at the Emergency Department of a general hospital. The percentages of admissions and mortality rates were then compared with those among patients aged over 65. Results
A total of 51 consultations from 41 patients were recorded, with a mean age of 101.2 years. The number of consultations increased gradually with time (p = 0.008).