[Comprehensive clinical diagnosis of older adults attended in PeruDiagnóstico clínico integral de idosos atendidos no Peru].

INTRODUCTION

Older adults are the most vulnerable population group and the least favored by health systems. They go through a process of progressive involution that can have health repercussions; therefore, timely and adequate clinical diagnosis becomes relevant to identify possible alterations.

OBJECTIVE

To establish a comprehensive clinical diagnosis according to sex and age of older adults attended nationally in Peru.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study was conducted between March and April 2021 on 60,698 older adults attended in all the departments of Peru. Physical, functional, mental, and social examination of the older adults was conducted using the Medical Record of Comprehensive Health Care for Older Adults, interpreted using its technical guide. Absolute and relative frequencies, 95% confidence intervals for proportions, and the chi-square test of homogeneity were described.

RESULTS

49.4% of older adults were ill, of which 50.8% were women and 47.4% were men; 50.0% were aged 60 to 69 years, 50.6% were aged 70 to 79 years, and 46.1% were aged 80 years and over. Statistically significant differences were found among comprehensive clinical diagnosis, sex, and age (p = 0.000).

DISCUSSION

Regardless of the number of participants in all the contexts studied, at least one chronic disease moderately coexists in older adults, without the place where they live being a determining factor, since the aging process can only be different in its speed of progression and in the conditions in which it occurs.

CONCLUSION

Most of the older adults were ill, female, and aged 70 to 79 years; differences in sex and age in the comprehensive clinical diagnosis were significant. Interventions at earlier stages may contribute significantly to healthy aging.