J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2024 Apr;35(2):109-123.

A study on the characteristics of elderly patients with respiratory symptoms who visited the emergency department

• Hong J
• Lee HJ
• Shin J
• You KM

Abstract

Objective
With the increase in the elderly population worldwide, there has been a corresponding increase in the proportion of elderly patients who visit the emergency department (ED). Therefore, research on the elderly not only aids in the treatment of diseases but also assists in the efficient utilization of limited medical resources. Respiratory symptoms are one of the most common and sometimes life-threatening symptoms in elderly patients. Knowing the factors that can predict the prognosis in advance can help with rapid diagnosis and immediate treatment.
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted from September 2019 to March 2020 at an ED in an urban area. Patients with respiratory symptoms who were treated in the critical care area of the ED were reviewed. The ED clinical data were compared with the outcomes in the ED.
Results
A total of 750 patients were screened, of which 703 were elderly patients. Many clinical factors showed variations between the elderly and non-elderly patients. Oxygen volume, elevated lactate level, elevated troponin level, hypocalcemia, and hypothermia were related with ED death or ICU admission among the elderly.
Conclusion
We identified several clinical factors with respect to elderly ED patients with respiratory symptoms that were related to the clinical outcomes and can be used for decision-making and prediction of poor outcomes.

Keyword

Dyspnea; Hospital emergency service; Respiratory insufficiency; Aged