Clinical Analysis of Elderly Patients with Acute Abdominal Pain in Emergency Department.
10.4235/jkgs.2009.13.2.89
- Author:
Hyun Don EOM
1
;
Sung Soo OH
;
Sang Heon PARK
;
Seung Il YOO
;
Jin Ho JUNG
;
Hyung Sub WON
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea. eumhd@medigate.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Aged;
Abdominal pain;
Emergency department
- MeSH:
Abdominal Pain;
Adult;
Aged;
Emergencies;
Hospitals, General;
Humans;
Medical Records;
Myocardial Infarction;
Retrospective Studies
- From:Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society
2009;13(2):89-94
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: As the elderly population increases, elderly patients visiting emergency departments (ED) with acute abdominal pain will also likely increase. The underlying causative diseases in these older patients are different from younger patients, usually more serious. Thus, correct diagnosis is very important, but difficult. There needs to be a better understanding of the characteristics of the elderly patient with acute abdominal pain seen in the ED. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 98 elderly patients (>or=65 years) and 109 adult controls (<65 years) visiting an ED at one general hospital looking at the final diagnoses, characteristics of abdominal pain, admissions, and surgeries. RESULTS: Hepatobiliary tract diseases and bowel obstruction were more common in the elderly patients. The elderly had more admissions and surgeries than younger patients. In addition, they were more likely to have a fatal disease such as myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: There is a difference in the underlying diseases causing acute abdominal pain in the elderly patients versus younger patients. In terms of frequency of admission and surgery, the elderly present with more serious and fatal diseases. We must consider these features when seeing an elderly patient with acute abdominal pain in an ED.
