COMORBIDITY, HOSPITAL ADMISSION AND DRUG CONSUME ON ACCOUNT OF NON-EXACERBATED CHRONIC DISEASE IN THE ELDERLY

Objectives. To evaluate the prevalence of comorbidity among elderly ho spitalized patients and its influence on discharge diagnosis and medic ation due to non-exacerbated chronic disease (NECD). To evaluate the i mpact of hospital admission on the use of drugs due to NECD since admi ssion to the month of discharge.Methods. A study was made of 85 patien ts aged 65 years or older collected during two consecutive months. The study protocol consisted of a questionnaire on comorbidity, study of drug consume, discharge diagnosis and follow-up for one month post dis charge. Results. Patients had a mean of 6.4 chronic diseases; signific ant differences were observed regarding discharge report (mean: 2.1). The number of drugs due to NECD prior to admission (mean: 2.9), at dis charge (1.5) and one month after discharge (1.9) showed significant di fferences between those prior to admission, at discharge, and one mont h after discharge (p< 0.0001). Hospital admission involved a decrease (p<0.0001) in the number of patients with polypharmacy criteria (more than four drugs), which persisted one month after discharge (p< 0.01), and in the prescription of polyvitaminic compounds, nonsteroid antiin flammatory drugs, antiaggregants, peripheral vasodilators and antacids (p < 0.03). Conclusions. A relevant under-reporting of chronic diseas es in the discharge report, particularly of those without exacerbation s, as well as quantitative (decrease) and qualitative changes in the p rescription due to NECD, maintained by the general practitioner one mo nth after discharge. A higher awareness regarding chronic disease is n ecessary, as well as chronic disease is necessary, as well as establis hing communication channels between Primary and Specialized Care.