DIGESTIVE DISEASES IN ELDERLY AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LENGTH OF STAY IN THE HEPATOLOGY AND GASTROENTEROLOGY UNIT OF THE CAMPUS TEACHING HOSPITAL OF LOME (TOGO).

BACKGROUND: The digestive pathologies are frequent in the elderly and often have a latent and atypical symptomatology. OBJECTIVE: To assess the epidemiological and evolutionary current data on digestive diseases in the elderly, and look for factors associated with length of hospital stay. METHODS: Retrospective study of 10 years, including patients aged 60 and over hospitalized for digestive diseases in the Gastroenterology Department of the Campus Teaching Hospital of Lome, Togo. RESULTS: Of 5933 hospitalized patients, there were 1054 patients (17.8%) aged 60 years and over with a digestive pathology (526 men and 528 women). The average age was 69.5 years ±7.9 ranging from 60 to 105 years. The average length of hospital stay was 7.45 days ±6.2 ranging from 1 to 44 days. HIV prevalence was 2.4%. In order of decreasing frequency, there were hepatobiliary pathologies (54.3%) with a predominance of cirrhosis and liver cancer, eso-gastroduodenal pathologies (23.1%) with predominance of ulcers, gastric cancer and esophageal cancer, intestinal pathologies (8.7%) with a predominance of food poisoning, pancreatic pathologies (4.2%) with a predominance of pancreatic cancer and peritoneal pathologies (1.4%). Gastric cancer was the second digestive cancer found after liver cancer. Pancreatic head cancer was the second disease after gastric cancer which need a transfer in a surgical ward (P=0.031). There were 204 deaths (19.4%). The longest duration of hospitalization was due to gastric cancer (9.16 days). CONCLUSION: Hepatobiliary diseases were the most frequent and associated with a high death rate and a long hospital stay.

Doenças digestivas em idosos e fatores associados à duração da permanência na unidade Hepatologia e Gastroenterologia do Hospital Universitário de Ensino de Lomé (Togo) / Digestive diseases in elderly and factors associated with length of stay in the hepatology and gastroenterology unit of the campus teaching hospital of lome (togo)

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The digestive pathologies are frequent in the elderly and often have a latent and atypical symptomatology. OBJECTIVE: To assess the epidemiological and evolutionary current data on digestive diseases in the elderly, and look for factors associated with length of hospital stay. METHODS: Retrospective study of 10 years, including patients aged 60 and over hospitalized for digestive diseases in the Gastroenterology Department of the Campus Teaching Hospital of Lome, Togo. RESULTS: Of 5933 hospitalized patients, there were 1054 patients (17.8%) aged 60 years and over with a digestive pathology (526 men and 528 women). The average age was 69.5 years ±7.9 ranging from 60 to 105 years. The average length of hospital stay was 7.45 days ±6.2 ranging from 1 to 44 days. HIV prevalence was 2.4%. In order of decreasing frequency, there were hepatobiliary pathologies (54.3%) with a predominance of cirrhosis and liver cancer, eso-gastroduodenal pathologies (23.1%) with predominance of ulcers, gastric cancer and esophageal cancer, intestinal pathologies (8.7%) with a predominance of food poisoning, pancreatic pathologies (4.2%) with a predominance of pancreatic cancer and peritoneal pathologies (1.4%). Gastric cancer was the second digestive cancer found after liver cancer. Pancreatic head cancer was the second disease after gastric cancer which need a transfer in a surgical ward (P=0.031). There were 204 deaths (19.4%). The longest duration of hospitalization was due to gastric cancer (9.16 days). CONCLUSION: Hepatobiliary diseases were the most frequent and associated with a high death rate and a long hospital stay.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: As patologias digestivas são frequentes no idoso e têm geralmente uma sintomatologia latente e atípica. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os dados epidemiológicos e de evolução sobre as doenças digestivas nos idosos, e procurar fatores associados ao período de permanência hospitalar. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de 10 anos, incluindo pacientes com idades de 60 ou mais, hospitalizados para doenças digestivas no Departamento de Gastroenterologia do Hospital Universitário de Ensino de Lomé, Togo. RESULTADOS: De 5933 pacientes hospitalizados, havia 1054 pacientes (17,8%) com idade de 60 anos ou mais com uma patologia digestiva (526 homens e 528 mulheres). A idade média foi de 69,5 anos ± 7,9 variando de 60 a 105 anos. A duração média da estadia hospitalar foi de 7,45 dias ±6,2 variando de 1 a 44 dias. A prevalência do HIV foi de 2,4%. Em ordem de diminuição da frequência, houve patologias hepatobiliares (54,3%) com predominância de cirrose e câncer hepático, patologias do esôfago-gastroduodenal (23,1%) com predominância de úlceras, câncer gástrico e câncer esofágico, patologias intestinais (8,7%) com predominância de intoxicação alimentar, patologias pancreáticas (4,2%) com predominância de câncer pancreático e patologia peritoneal (1,4%). O câncer gástrico foi o segundo câncer digestivo encontrado após o câncer de fígado. Câncer de cabeça pancreática foi a segunda doença após o câncer gástrico, que necessitou transferência para a enfermaria cirúrgica (P=0,31). Houve 204 mortes (19,4%). A maior duração da internação foi devido ao câncer gástrico (9,16 dias). CONCLUSÃO: As doenças hepatobiliares foram as mais frequentes e associadas a uma elevada taxa de mortalidade e a uma longa estadia hospitalar.