Abstract:

Objective:We aimed to compare the data of young and old patient groups by revealing the referral cycle within the health system of patientsin a palliative center in Antalya.Methods: It is a cross-sectional and retrospective study. The files of patients hospitalized in the palliativecare center between January 1, 2018 and January 01, 2019 were reviewed. Demographic characteristics,comorbidity conditions,hospitalization complaints, where they came from the center and where they were referred from the center were evaluated for all patients.The patients were divided into young (<65 years) and elderly (≥65 years) and current clinicaldata were compared.Results: Of the 301patients included in the study, 120 (40%) were women, with a mean age of 70.9±15.9 years and a mean hospitalization period of22.79±25.15 days. When young and old patients were compared in terms of the reasons for hospitalization in the palliative care center;statistically significant, younger patients were hospitalized for pain (33.3% & 22%, p<0.046), while elderly patients were hospitalized formalnutrition (62.8% & 50%, p<0.048). When the groups of patients who died and survived during their follow-up in the palliative care centerwere compared in terms of hospitalization reasons, it was found that the complaint of pain was found to be significantly higher in diedpatients compared to survivors (41.4% & 16.8%, p<0.001).Conclusion: Our study is important in terms of comparing young and old patientswho applied to palliative care centers, and revealed that pain is common and mortal in young patients, and that malnutritionincreaseshospitalizations in elderly patients. Based on this result, early detection and treatment of these two important problems in health institutionswhere patients followed before palliative care; it will both increase the quality of life and reduce maintenance costs.

Keywords: