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01-12-2021 | Care | Research

Chronic diseases in the geriatric population: morbidity and use of primary care services according to risk level

Authors: Jaime Barrio-Cortes, Almudena Castaño-Reguillo, María Teresa Beca-Martínez, Mariana Bandeira-de Oliveira, Carmen López-Rodríguez, María Ángeles Jaime-Sisó

Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Geriatric patients have significant morbidity and greater needs for care and assistance. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics, morbidity, and use of services in primary care (PC) of patients with chronic diseases older than 65 years according to their risk level assigned by the adjusted morbidity groups (AMG) and to analyse the factors associated with the use of PC services.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional descriptive observational study. Patients older than 65 years from a healthcare service area, classified as chronically ill by the AMG classification system of the PC electronic medical record of the Community of Madrid, were included. Sociodemographic, clinical-care, and PC service utilization variables were collected. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were done.

Results

A total of 3292 chronic patients older than 65 years were identified, of whom 1628 (49.5%) were low risk, 1293 (39.3%) were medium risk and 371 (11.3%) were high risk. Their mean age was 78.1 (SD = 8.1) years and 2167 (65.8%) were women. Their mean number of chronic diseases was 3.8 (SD = 2), 89.4% had multimorbidity and 1550 (47.1%) were polymedicated. The mean number of contacts/year with PC was 19.5 (SD = 18.2) [men: 19.4 (SD = 19.8); women: 19.5 (SD = 17.4)]. The mean number of contacts/year in people over 85 years was 25.2 (SD = 19.6); in people 76–85 years old, it was 22.1 (SD = 20.3); and in people 66–75 years old, it was 14.5 (SD = 13.9). The factors associated with greater use of services were age (B coefficient [BC] = 0.3; 95%CI = 0.2–0.4), high risk level (BC = 1.9; 95%CI =0.4–3.2), weight of complexity (BC = 0.7; 95%CI = 0.5–0.8), and ≥ 4 chronic diseases (BC = 0.7; 95%CI = 0.3–1.1).

Conclusions

In the geriatric population, we found a high number of patients with chronic diseases and there were three levels of risk by AMG with differences in characteristics, morbidity, and use of PC services. The greatest use of services was by patients with older age, high risk level, greater weight of complexity and ≥ 4 chronic diseases. Further research is needed to develop an intervention model more adapted to the reality of the geriatric population based on risk levels by AMG.

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Title: Chronic diseases in the geriatric population: morbidity and use of primary care services according to risk level
Authors: Jaime Barrio-Cortes
Almudena Castaño-Reguillo
María Teresa Beca-Martínez
Mariana Bandeira-de Oliveira
Carmen López-Rodríguez
María Ángeles Jaime-Sisó
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Care
Published in: BMC Geriatrics / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2318
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02217-7

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