Abstract
Purpose
Emergency department presentations by older people associated with mental health and
drug and alcohol related conditions are increasing. However, the characteristics of
presentations by older people in Australia are largely unknown. The aim of this research
was to explore the characteristics of older people presenting with mental health and
drug and alcohol conditions.
Procedures
We used a retrospective electronic medical record audit to explore all emergency department
presentations by older people 65 years and over for mental health and drug and alcohol
related conditions over a 12 month period. Data were described using descriptive statistics.
Finidngs
There were 40,093 presentations; 2% (n = 900) were related to mental health or drug and alcohol related conditions. Presentations
were mainly associated with primary mental or medical symptoms. The majority were
female (n = 471; 53%). Predominate conditions were cognitive impairment (n = 234; 26%) and affective disorders (n = 233; 26.0%). Sixty-three percent of patients were admitted to a hospital ward. Over
the study period 106 patients (242 episodes of care) represented.
Principle conclusions
Given the ageing population and increasing prevalence for mental health and drug and
alcohol conditions, strategies are required to better recognise these conditions to
reduce the burden on the health care system and improve health for older people.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 17, 2017
Accepted:
September 23,
2017
Received in revised form:
September 22,
2017
Received:
July 7,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
