Naslov
Prevention of pneumonia- avoidable cause of death in old age

Autori
Perko, Goran ; Radašević, Hrvoje ; Mihok, Diana ; Tomek-Roksandić, Spomenka

Izvornik
Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift (0043-5341) 154 (2004), Suppl 115; 55-56

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
pneumonia; Prevention

Sažetak
Objective: The gerontologic public health analysis of the morbidity and mortality structure of the elderly in Croatia and in Zagreb in 2001 shows significant increase in hospital treatment and mortality of the elderly individuals for the group of diseases of the respiratory system, with significant participation of pneumonia incidence as cause of death of people in middle and very old age. In this way health care of geriatric patients suffering from pneumonia, also occurring as inevitable cause of death, becomes a priority in ensuring more adequate, more accessible more comprehensive, and hence more rational, health care of the elderly based on the Program of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Preventive Health Measures for the elderly population. It is with the purpose of preventing respiratory diseases, particularly influenza and pneumonia for their public health significance when occurring in the old age, that the Program of Health Measures and Procedures in health care of the elderly, including the fundamental measures in this regard, should be implemented (Official Gazette 30/2002). Material and method: Prevention of influenza and pneumonia should include the following: vaccination of all individuals older than 65 years of age based on the epidemiological assessment of influenza epidemics and on the basis of health care needs as defined by general practitioners or family doctors ; vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia once in 5 years of all elderly in-patients at hospitals and homes for the elderly and the disabled, geriatric hospitals and hospitals for chronic diseases, and other institutions providing health care to functionally disabled elderly people. Professionals in charge of vaccination, type and time of vaccination should be strictly defined for this purpose. Results: Gerontologic public health studies have shown that the implementation of defined health measures of the Program of Health Measures and Procedures in health care of the elderly, including the Program of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Preventive Health Measures have significant role in decreasing health difficulties in the old age and also in changing the structure of morbidity and mortality indicators of the elderly population with regard to respiratory diseases by maintaining their functional capacity. Furthermore, the implementation of these studies significantly contributes to the reduction of geriatric health costs. Conclusion: The implementation of the Program of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Preventive Health Measures in health care of the elderly reveals the degree of functional disability not only of a geriatric patient but also of an elderly individual with only minor health difficulties. Furthermore, the implementation of the Program would enable a comprehensive assessment of functional capacity and health status of an elderly individual and determination of his/her negative health behaviour, for instance, non-compliance to medical advice, not receiving vaccination against influenza, which results in high incidence of complications in terms of pneumonia, often being the most frequent cause of death in this specific population group.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

POVEZANOST RADA