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The oldest old in the Emergency Department: Impact of renal function

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

The ageing population implicates an increasing numbers of older adults attending Emergency Departments (ED). We assessed the effect of estimated glomerular filtration rate as a predictor of clinical outcomes in oldest-old patients ≥ 85 years attending the ED in an university teaching hospital.

Design

Within three years, 81831 patient contacts were made in our ED. 7799 (9.5%) were older than 85 years, in whom we analyzed the impact of renal function on various outcome parameters. Furthermore, this patient group was compared to the patients > 85 years.

Results

Within the group of patients ≥ 85 years, not older age, but as denominator decreased glomerular filtration rate led to significant longer hospital stays. In addition, impaired kidney function was associated with lower heart rates, lower blood pressure, lower oxygenation, a higher rate of established ambulant care setting, as well as higher mortality. Compared to younger patients, the oldest-old significantly differed with regard to medical attribution (e.g. internal medicine, surgery), sex distribution, length of hospital stay, Manchester triage score, Glasgow Coma Scale, visual analogue pain scale, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation as well as fall prophylaxis, outpatient care, and presence of relatives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, in this large collective of oldest-old patients, impaired kidney function seems to be a more important determinant in adverse outcome and thus increased health care costs than age per se. Adapted strategies in EDs to adjust diagnostic and treatment strategies for this population are thus warranted.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Notfallzentrum, Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg, Prüfeninger Straße 86, 93049, Regensburg, Germany

    Tanja Brünnler & F. Rockmann

  2. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Schwerpunkt Akutgeriatrie, Klinikum der Universität München (LMU), Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336, München, Germany

    M. Drey

  3. Abteilung für Nephrologie, Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin und Geriatrie, Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg, Prüfeninger Straße 86, 93049, Regensburg, Germany

    G. Dirrigl, C. Weingart & U. Hoffmann

  4. Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin und Geriatrie, Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg, Prüfeninger Straße 86, 93049, Regensburg, Germany

    C. Sieber

  5. Institut für Biomedizin des Alterns, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Kobergerstr. 60, 90408, Nürnberg, Germany

    C. Sieber

Authors
  1. Tanja Brünnler
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  2. M. Drey
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  3. G. Dirrigl
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  7. U. Hoffmann
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Correspondence to Tanja Brünnler.

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Brünnler, T., Drey, M., Dirrigl, G. et al. The oldest old in the Emergency Department: Impact of renal function. J Nutr Health Aging 20, 1045–1050 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0731-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0731-0

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