[Challenges in inpatient ophthalmology for elderly patients].

PURPOSE: The demographic changes will lead to an increase in elderly patients in the field of medicine and in particular ophthalmology. The purpose of this study was to assess ocular problems of inpatients in the clinical setting with a focus on patients over 60 years old, especially elderly patients over 80 years and very old patients over 90 years.

METHODS

All consecutive inpatients were included in the study. Medical data were analyzed concerning the diagnosis, operative indications and comorbidities and the presence of dementia disorders was also considered. The effects of age or diseases on the inpatient course were investigated.

RESULTS

At the eye clinic in Frankfurt (Oder) the mean age of patients was 69 years and was the highest of all medical and surgical disciplines. The age of patients of internal medicine was similarly with 67 years but orthopedic and urological patients were on average 64 years old. In the other departments the mean age of patients was clearly less than 60 years old. Of the patients 26% were aged 80 years or older. A total of 31 patients over 90 years old were treated as inpatients (2.0%) during the year 2012. The treatment-relevant diagnosis increased with age. Nearly 40% had a reduced mobility at an age of 80-89 years and 60% at an age over 90 years. In the age group over 90 years approximately 25% had dementia and 20% a visual disorder.

CONCLUSION

Old and very old patients with ocular problems and more than 80-90 years of age had an increased comorbidity concerning the relevant treatment diagnostics. This has relevant implications and challenges for nursing and medical care in the clinical setting.