engleski

Hospitalization as a threat to the elderly

Introduction: During hospitalization, elderly patients are faced with a number of threats that impede the course of recovery and prolong their stay in the institution. One such disorder is a delirious condition that is very often associated with alcoholism, but also occurs with elder people. The change of environment upon arrival at the institution and the surgery to which they are subjected have a significant impact on the development of the delirious condition. Delirium is not a disease per se, but a syndrome that is caused by several factors that result in the same set of symptoms associated with the patient's state of mind and cognitive impairment. Delirious patients do not cooperate and, due to their behavior, indirectly complicate the treatment of the original disease. In the case of the elderly, during the early postoperative period, this significantly contributes to the development of complications that further threaten recovery and prolong hospitalization. The aim of the paper is to identify the most vulnerable population demographic and the consequences caused by delirium as well as approaching the elderly while in a delirious state. Methods and participants: The study was conducted at the Intensive Care Unit of the Institute of Digestive Surgery during a period of 9 months - between January 1st 2018 and September 30th 2018. During the healthcare process, the occurrence of delirium was monitored and documented in all hospitalized patients within the indicated period. Results: The total number of hospitalized patients was 380, of which 50 developed delirium after surgery. Most patients belonged to the group of ages 70 and above. Complications were frequent and the number of hospitalization days significantly increased. Death, as one of the treatment outcomes, is age related. The increasing of age also increases the risk of death. Conclusion: Delirium that occurs in hospitalized patients undergoing surgery is most prevalent with elderly patients, which is another reason for providing additional care and attention. Adequate care can significantly mitigate and shorten the duration of the delirious condition and affect the outcome of the treatment. This requires a thorough approach and education of healthcare professionals, with the aim of improving the care of the elderly.

elderly patients, hospitalization, delirium, surgery

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