STUDIES ON THE CLINICAL AND SUBCLINICAL FEATURES IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH ABDOMINAL PAIN PRESENTED AT THE GERIATRIC DEPARTMENT, NGU HANH SON HOSPITAL, DA NANG CITY, VIET NAM

Tóm tắt

This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics of elderly patients, with particular attention to common clinical manifestations, comorbid conditions, and the length of hospital stay. In addition, it investigates laboratory parameters and examines the presence and strength of correlations among these variables within the study population. The study included 69 elderly patients presenting with abdominal pain who were admitted to the Geriatrics Department of Ngu Hanh Son Hospital. The groups were compared in terms of gender, history of abdominal pain, use of self-medication at home, clinical manifestations and associated comorbidities. There was 44.9% males and 55.1% females (p < 0.0001). With past history of gastric pain 52.2% (p < 0.0001). Health insurance covers 100%. Used medicament at home 39.1%. Admission <6h: 18.8%, 6–24h: 42.0%, >24h: 39.1% (p < 0.0001). Mean age: 72.38 ± 9.50 years. Mean hospital stay: 8.25 ± 3.38 days. Dull pain 50.7%, intermittent pain 49.3% (p < 0.0001). Most common pain location: Epigastrium: 69.6% (p < 0.0001). Symptoms: Vomiting (34.8%), diarrhea (34.8%). Hospital transfers 5.8%. Coexisting diseases from two to four: 85.5% (p < 0.0001). Leukocytosis (14.5%), anemia (42.9%), ECG abnormalities (69.5%), ECHO abnormalities in GI (23.2%) and urinary system (14.5%) (p < 0.0001). Weak positive correlation between age and length of stay (r = 0.17), and between age and admission time (r = 0.22). Moderate correlation between self-medication and delayed admission (r = 0.47) (p = 0.0001). Increase public health education, discourage unsupervised self-medication, and promote periodic health check-ups for elderly individuals to manage chronic non-communicable diseases.