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Health of Spanish centenarians: a cross-sectional study based on electronic health records
- Source :
- BMC Geriatrics, Vol 19, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2019)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- BMC, 2019.
-
Abstract
- Abstract Background With the number of centenarians increasing exponentially in Spain, a deeper knowledge of their socio-demographic, clinical, and healthcare use characteristics is important to better understand the health profile of the very elderly. Methods We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional observational study in the EpiChron Cohort (Aragón, Spain) aimed at analyzing the socio-demographic, clinical, drug use and healthcare use characteristics of 1680 centenarians during 2011–2015, using data from electronic health records and clinical-administrative databases. Results Spanish centenarians (79.1% women) had 101.6 years on average. Approximately 80% of centenarians suffered from multimorbidity, with an average of 4.0 chronic conditions; 50% were exposed to polypharmacy, with an average of 4.8 medications; only 6% of centenarians were free of chronic diseases and only 7% were not on medication. Centenarians presented a cardio-cerebrovascular pattern in which hypertension, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease and dementia were the most frequent conditions. Primary care was the most frequently visited healthcare level (79% of them), followed by medical specialist consultations (23%), hospitalizations (13%), and emergency service use (9%). Conclusions Multimorbidity is the rule rather than the exception in Spanish centenarians. Addressing medical care in the very elderly from a holistic geriatric view is critical in order to preserve their health, and avoid the negative effects of polypharmacy.
- Subjects :
- Centenarians
Multimorbidity
Polypharmacy
Healthcare use
Spain
Geriatrics
RC952-954.6
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712318
- Volume :
- 19
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- BMC Geriatrics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.233ade9983714cc7a7f2f8afdbe97450
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-019-1235-7