[Characteristics and analysis of survival of people served in the program of home care from the basic health area of Raval Nord, Barcelona, 1993-2002].

BACKGROUND

Longer life expectancy has led to a progressive aging of the population and to growing sociosanitary homecare. This study is aimed at describing the population of patients suffering from chronic diseases having been provided with homecare throughout the first ten years that homecare was available by a primary care team at an urban Healthcare Center, to study how often this type of care was used and to analyze the survival of those individuals having been provided with this care.

METHODS

A descriptive study. The subjects under study were 1,357 chronically-ill patients included from the very start of a homecare program (May 1994-December 2002). Firstly, a descriptive analysis was made the main characteristics of this population. Afterward, using Cox's proportional hazards model, the factors linked to survival were assessed, as well as having plotted the corresponding cumulative survival probability curves using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Predominant female population (68%), and an average age of 82 (DE: 11 years). Worth of special note were the lack of elevators (76%) and loneliness (18%). Eleven percent (11%) of the patients were totally dependent for all of their daily living activities, whilst approximately 20% revealed severe cognitive disorders. With regard to the homecare, the program target of 2-3 visits/patient/year for the medical staff and off 4-6 visits/patient/year for the nursing staff were surpassed. The flu vaccine injections were always above the 70% target, whilst the tetanus vaccine injections increased yearly.

CONCLUSIONS

The population cared for under this program is characterized by being greatly aged, with a high death rate and requiring continuous homecare. During the ten years studied, most of the objectives previously set were achieved.