[Evolution of the profile of patients attended by a hospital Geriatric Home Care Unit in the last 20 years]. / Evolución del perfil de las personas mayores atendidas por una unidad de atención domiciliaria especializada en geriatría en los últimos 20 años.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the evolution of the profile of patients attended by a Geriatric Home Care (GHC) Unit and its care activity in the last two decades. METHODS: Data on the historical activity of the AGD Unit from 2001 to 2020, grouped into 5-year periods, were recorded. Sociodemographic, clinical, functional (Functional Red Cross Scale and Barthel index) and mental (Mental Red Cross Scale) variables were collected, baseline and at inclusion to AGD. Also the waiting time until first visit, mean follow-up, origin of referral, destination at the end of the intervention, reason for consultation and cause of functional dependence were also included. A descriptive analysis was performed with the SPSSv.23 program. RESULTS: Ten thousand six hundred fifty-four patients attended in AGD (1 January 2001 to 31 December 2020). A progressive increase in age and in the number of geriatric syndromes was observed. Patients presented higher functional and cognitive decline, and the number of patients living alone and in need of private assistance increased. The duration of the intervention decreases and Primary Care remains the main source and destination at the end of the intervention, with dementia standing out as the main cause for functional dependence. CONCLUSION: The vulnerability of the populations in need of specialised geriatric care is increasing: patients are older, and have more geriatric syndromes, high functional and cognitive decline, and suffer social frailty; more work is needed to address the role of these support units in the community, as well as their coordination with Primary Care teams.

Evolución del perfil de las personas mayores atendidas por una unidad de atención domiciliaria especializada en geriatría en los últimos 20 años / Evolution of the profile of patients attended by a hospital Geriatric Home Care Unit in the last 20 years

Objetivo: Describir la evolución del perfil de pacientes atendidos por una unidad de atención geriátrica domiciliaria (AGD) y su actividad asistencial desde en las últimas dos décadas. Métodos: Se registraron los datos de la actividad histórica de la unidad de AGD desde 2001 hasta 2020, agrupados en quinquenios. Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas, clínicas, funcionales (escala de Cruz Roja funcional e índice de Barthel) y mentales (escala de Cruz Roja mental), en condiciones basales y al inicio de la atención en AGD. También el tiempo de espera hasta la 1.ª visita, la duración de la intervención, la procedencia de los pacientes y el destino al alta junto con el motivo de consulta y el motivo principal de dependencia funcional. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo con el programa SPSS® v.23. Resultados: Diez mil seiscientos cincuenta y cuatro pacientes atendidos en AGD (1-1-2001 hasta el 31-12-2020). Se observa un incremento progresivo de la edad y de síndromes geriátricos. Los pacientes presentan mayor deterioro funcional y mental, aumentando los pacientes que viven solos y la necesidad de ayuda privada. Disminuye la duración de la intervención y atención primaria se mantiene como la principal procedencia y destino al alta, destacando la demencia como principal causa de dependencia funcional. Conclusión: El paciente geriátrico domiciliario, en las últimas dos décadas, es cada vez más vulnerable: de mayor edad, más síndromes geriátricos, mayor dependencia funcional y mental y de gran fragilidad social; se necesitan más trabajos que aborden la función de estas unidades de soporte al manejo de la complejidad en la comunidad, así como su coordinación con los equipos de atención primaria referentes de la atención. (AU)

Objective: To describe the evolution of the profile of patients attended by a Geriatric Home Care (GHC) Unit and its care activity in the last two decades. Methods: Data on the historical activity of the AGD Unit from 2001 to 2020, grouped into 5-year periods, were recorded. Sociodemographic, clinical, functional (Functional Red Cross Scale and Barthel index) and mental (Mental Red Cross Scale) variables were collected, baseline and at inclusion to AGD. Also the waiting time until first visit, mean follow-up, origin of referral, destination at the end of the intervention, reason for consultation and cause of functional dependence were also included. A descriptive analysis was performed with the SPSSv.23 program. Results: Ten thousand six hundred fifty-four patients attended in AGD (1 January 2001 to 31 December 2020). A progressive increase in age and in the number of geriatric syndromes was observed. Patients presented higher functional and cognitive decline, and the number of patients living alone and in need of private assistance increased. The duration of the intervention decreases and Primary Care remains the main source and destination at the end of the intervention, with dementia standing out as the main cause for functional dependence. Conclusion: The vulnerability of the populations in need of specialised geriatric care is increasing: patients are older, and have more geriatric syndromes, high functional and cognitive decline, and suffer social frailty; more work is needed to address the role of these support units in the community, as well as their coordination with Primary Care teams. (AU)