Resumo Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre variáveis demográficas, de morbidade e relativas às condições da hospitalização com os gastos decorrentes da internação de idosos em unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI) de hospitais privados em uma capital do nordeste brasileiro. Método: Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico, analítico e do tipo seccional, com abordagem quantitativa, no qual foram coletados dados referentes a 312 internações de idosos em UTI de todos os hospitais privados de Natal (RN), Brasil. A variável dependente foi o custo de internação e as variáveis independentes relacionadas à caracterização dos indivíduos quanto ao perfil sociodemográfico, ao quadro mórbido e às características da internação. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva, teste qui-quadrado, teste t e regressão logística múltipla com as razões de prevalência (RP). Resultados: O custo médio por internação foi de R$ 4.266,05±3.322,50 para o grupo de baixo custo e R$ 39.753,162 ± 4.929,12 para o grupo alto custo. Constatou-se que a hospitalização decorrente de agravos clínicos (RP=1,81; IC95%=1,06-3,09) e respiratórios (RP=2,48; IC95%=1,48-5,24), a necessidade de ventilação mecânica (RP=2,33; IC95%=1,43-3,78) e a desorientação completa ou parcial no momento da admissão (RP=1,81; IC95%=1,15-2,84) estiveram associadas ao maior gasto nas internações no modelo estatístico múltiplo. Conclusão: Esses achados trazem evidências de que a implantação de ações capazes de promover melhores condições de saúde para os idosos, por meio da criação de protocolos e linhas de cuidado, especificamente criados para esse público, podem ser relevantes na redução dos gastos decorrentes da internação de idosos em terapia intensiva. Analyze the association between demographic variables, morbidity and relative to the conditions of hospitalization with the expenses resulting from the admission of elderly people in intensive care units (ICU) of private hospitals in a capital of northeastern Brazil. Method: This is an epidemiological, analytical and sectional study, with a quantitative approach, in which data were collected regarding 312 hospitalizations of elderly people in the ICU of all private hospitals in Natal (RN), Brazil. The dependent variable was the cost of hospitalization and the independent variables related to the characterization of individuals in terms of socio-demographic profile, morbid condition and characteristics of hospitalization. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, t test and multiple logistic regression with prevalence ratios (PR). Results: The average cost per hospitalization was R$ 4.266,05±3.322,50 for the low cost group and R$ 39.753,162±4.929,12 for the high cost group. It was found that hospitalization due to clinical (PR=1,81; 95%CI=1,06-3,09) and respiratory conditions (PR=2,48; 95CI%=1,48-5,24), the need for mechanical ventilation (PR=2,33; 95%CI=1,43-3,78) and complete or partial disorientation at the time of admission (PR=1,81; 95%CI=1,15-2,84) were associated with higher expenditure on hospitalizations in the multiple statistical model. Conclusion: The knowledge produced by the study may serve as a subsidy for the implementation of actions capable of promoting better health conditions for the elderly, reducing expenses related to their hospitalization in highly specialized sectors. In addition, the research raises evidence that the construction of protocols and lines of care guiding the work process in the intensive care sector, specifically created for the elderly, may be relevant in reducing the expenses resulting from hospitalization of the elderly.

Abstract Objective: Analyze the association between demographic variables, morbidity and relative to the conditions of hospitalization with the expenses resulting from the admission of elderly people in intensive care units (ICU) of private hospitals in a capital of northeastern Brazil. Method: This is an epidemiological, analytical and sectional study, with a quantitative approach, in which data were collected regarding 312 hospitalizations of elderly people in the ICU of all private hospitals in Natal (RN), Brazil. The dependent variable was the cost of hospitalization and the independent variables related to the characterization of individuals in terms of socio-demographic profile, morbid condition and characteristics of hospitalization. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, t test and multiple logistic regression with prevalence ratios (PR). Results: The average cost per hospitalization was R$ 4.266,05±3.322,50 for the low cost group and R$ 39.753,162±4.929,12 for the high cost group. It was found that hospitalization due to clinical (PR=1,81; 95%CI=1,06-3,09) and respiratory conditions (PR=2,48; 95CI%=1,48-5,24), the need for mechanical ventilation (PR=2,33; 95%CI=1,43-3,78) and complete or partial disorientation at the time of admission (PR=1,81; 95%CI=1,15-2,84) were associated with higher expenditure on hospitalizations in the multiple statistical model. Conclusion: The knowledge produced by the study may serve as a subsidy for the implementation of actions capable of promoting better health conditions for the elderly, reducing expenses related to their hospitalization in highly specialized sectors. In addition, the research raises evidence that the construction of protocols and lines of care guiding the work process in the intensive care sector, specifically created for the elderly, may be relevant in reducing the expenses resulting from hospitalization of the elderly.

Resumo Objetivo: realizar uma análise de sobrevida de pacientes idosos internados em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) adulto, destacando os fatores preditores de óbito nesse grupo etário. Método: estudo de coorte retrospectivo que coletou dados em 457 prontuários de idosos internados em UTI na cidade de Natal, RN, Brasil. As funções de sobrevida foram calculadas por meio do estimador de Kaplan-Meier, utilizando o teste de Log-rank para estabelecer comparações. Além disso, foi feito um modelo múltiplo de riscos proporcionais de Cox para a identificação do efeito independente dos preditores de sobrevida. Resultados: Foi verificado que o maior tempo de internação, idade avançada, não ter união estável, apresentar choque, pneumonia, sepse, fratura, rebaixamento de nível de consciência, internação por motivo clínico, estar acamados antes da internação, com febre, bradicardia, hipotensão, ter parada cardiorrespiratória e necessitar de ventilação mecânica diminuiu a sobrevida de idosos internados em terapia intensiva. O modelo múltiplo proporcional de Cox revelou que as variáveis choque, idoso longevo, com bradicardia, fratura, febre, internação na rede pública e admissão por motivo clínico permaneceram significativos como fatores prognósticos de menor sobrevida de idosos em terapia intensiva. Conclusões: A sobrevida dos idosos internados em UTI de Natal, RN é afetada por fatores prognósticos de origem demográfica, clínica, referentes ao tipo de internação e à rede de serviços de saúde. Isso demonstra que ações que visem ao aumento da sobrevida de idosos em terapia intensiva precisam discutir questões individuais, sociais e referentes à rede de atenção à saúde.

Abstract Objective: Conduct a survival analysis of elderly patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU), identifying the predictors of mortality among this age group. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed with data from the medical records of 457 elderly patients hospitalized in an ICU located in the city of Natal in Brazil. Survival functions were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier estimator, and the Log-rank test was used for comparisons. In addition, a multiple Cox proportional hazards model was constructed to identify the independent effects of the predictors of survival. Results: It was found that the survival of elderly ICU patients declined due to factors such as increased hospitalization time, advancing years, unmarried (including common-law-marriage) status, the presence of shock, pneumonia, septicaemia, fractures, a reduced state of consciousness, hospitalization for clinical reasons, being bedridden prior to hospitalization, fever, bradycardia, hypotension, cardiac arrest and the need for mechanical ventilation. The multiple Cox proportional hazards model revealed that variables such as shock, longevity, bradycardia, fractures, fever, hospitalization in the public healthcare system and admission for clinical reasons remained significant as predictors of reduced survival in intensive care units. Conclusions: The survival rates of elderly persons in an ICU in the city of Natal in Brazil were affected by demographic and clinical predictors, and those related to the type of hospitalization and the health care network. This shows that any initiative aimed at increasing the survival of elderly ICU patients must look at individual and social issues and factors related to the health care network.