Coordinación entre atención primaria y un servicio de geriatría, 20 años después

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe the evolution of the care and coordination activity of a specialized hospital team (Geriatric Home Care-AGD team) in support of Primary Care (PC) for the care of geriatric patients. LocationHealth-5 area of the Community of Madrid. Participants, interventions and main measurementsEvaluation of patients attended at home at the request of PC by AGD, in 1997-1999 and twenty years later, in 2017-2019. Sociodemographic, clinical, functional and mental variables were recorded. Also care data such as time to first visit, average length of stay, origin and destination of patients, reason for consultation and main reason for disability. Results524 patients (58% of the total) requested from AP in 1997-1999 and 1196 (72.2% of the total) in 2017-2019 were attended. Currently we show an older patient, more physically and mentally disabled, with a higher prevalence of geriatric syndromes and greater social fragility. Dementia has increased as the main reason for incapacity, with an increase in Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and clinical control as the main reasons for referral. Conclusionsin our setting, after 20 years, AGD continues to be an important support for PC in the complex approach to frail elderly patients confined to their homes, who are increasingly vulnerable from a clinical, functional, cognitive and social point of view. It contributes to the management of geriatric syndromes, deprescription, direct hospital admissions when needed without having to go to the emergency department, and a decrease in institutionalization, facilitating the maintenance of the patient at home.