HEALTH PROFILE OF THE ELDERLY ASSISTED IN AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Abstract

Although aging is not synonymous with illness, the elderly population is more vulnerable to the development of complex pathologies that require hospitalization for treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the health profile of elderly individuals assisted in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a reference hospital in the southwestern region of Bahia, Brazil. Descriptive research with a quantitative approach was conducted with individuals aged 60 years or older who were admitted to the ICU between June and December 2022. The sample consisted of 250 medical records after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. The data revealed a higher frequency of males in the age group of 60 to 69 years, married individuals, and those covered by private health insurance plans. The majority had pre-existing diseases, had been previously hospitalized, and the most common reason for ICU admission was the diagnosis of respiratory diseases and sepsis. During hospitalization, they underwent invasive procedures, and the most common outcome was discharge from the ICU, although 18.8% of the patients died. The scarcity of data on socioeconomic conditions was the main difficulty encountered in conducting the study, as these data are extremely relevant due as they relate to the health profile of this population. It was observed that there is a need to develop strategies for evaluating the appropriate registration of important data to support disease prevention, health promotion, and recovery actions for this age group based on the socioeconomic reality experienced.