Final Diagnoses of Elderly Emergency Patients Presenting with Weakness and Fatigue in Southeastern Iran.

INTRODUCTION

Weakness and fatigue in the elderly present major health challenges, highlighting the need for prompt diagnosis and accurate identification of their causes in emergency departments. This study aimed to investigate the final diagnoses of elderly patients presenting with symptoms of weakness and fatigue in the emergency department.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study surveyed 200 elderly individuals (aged ≥60) with complaints of weakness and fatigue at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Jiroft, Kerman, Iran, in 2023. The collected data were extracted from patients' medical records using a checklist, and data analysis was performed using SPSS 22 software, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical methods at a significance level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 78.2 years, with 56% of the patients being female. During hospitalization, 7.5% of the patients died, with 53.33% of these being men. Underlying heart diseases were present in 13.5% of the patients, with 55.6% of those being women. High blood pressure was prevalent in 81% of the patients.

DISCUSSION: Infectious diseases were the most common final diagnosis, accounting for 27% of cases, followed by cardiovascular diseases at 18.5%. Among patients with infectious diseases, 85.5% had high blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that weakness and fatigue in elderly patients may signal serious underlying conditions. Additionally, the strong link between high blood pressure and infectious diseases underscores the importance of closely monitoring the overall health of these patients.