Objectivo: Analisar as causas de morte numa lista de utentes e factores associados. Tipo de Estudo: Descritivo Local: USF Horizonte, Matosinhos. População: Utentes inscritos na lista de uma médica de família entre 2000 e 2007. Métodos: Estudaram-se os óbitos ocorridos na lista de uma médica de família em 8 anos. Os dados foram colhidos pela consulta do processo clínico e programas informáticos SAM®, SAPE® e Piloto32®. Avaliaram-se variáveis sociodemográficas e relacionadas com o óbito. Realizou-se uma análise descritiva através do software Excel. Resultados: Em oito anos, há registo de terem morrido 106 utentes, correspondendo a uma taxa de mortalidade de 8,7‰ utentes/ano. Dos óbitos registados, 62,2% dos doentes eram homens e a média de idades era de 71,6 anos. A maioria era reformada (79,2%), casada (50,9%) e apresentava limitação para actividades da vida diária (58,4%). Dos doentes falecidos, 53,1% morreram no hospital, 40,8% no domicílio e 7,6% em local desconhecido. O cuidador foi identificado em 90,6% dos casos, sendo um familiar em 55,7%. A causa de morte era desconhecida em 8,5% dos óbitos e 47,4% resultaram de neoplasias. Conclusões: Os resultados revelam fragilidades na notificação e registo de informação sobre a morte dos doentes. Os dados demográficos foram semelhantes a outros estudos, bem como a distribuição dos cuidadores entre familiares/não familiares. A idade média de morte foi inferior à encontrada em Barcelona e Israel. A maior diferença entre os resultados apresentados e a literatura residiu nas causas de morte que, nesta lista, não são as doenças cardiovasculares.
Objectives: To analyze the causes of death and factors associated with the death of patients from one family practice. Type of study: Descriptive Location: USF Horizonte, Matosinhos, Portugal Population: Patients registered with one family doctor between 2000 and 2007. Methods: The data were abstracted from clinic records using the Piloto 32®, SAM® and SAPE® electronic medical record systems. Socio-demographic variables and factors related to the death of the patients were analyzed using an Excel electronic spreadsheet. Results: Over an eight year period, 106 deaths were recorded giving a mortality rate of 8.7 deaths per 1000 patients per year. Of these, 62.2% of the patients were male. The median age was 71.6 years. Most were retired (79.2%) and most were married (50.9%) at the time of death. The place of death was known in 92.4% of cases. Of these, 53.1% died in hospital and 40.8% died at home. Limitation in activities of daily living (ADL) was recorded among 58.4% of patients before their death. A primary caregiver was identified in 90.6% of cases. The caregiver was a family member in 55.7% of cases. A cause of death was unknown in 8.5% of cases. Neoplasm was recorded as the cause of death in 47.7% of cases. Discussion: These results reveal deficiencies in the clinical recording of information about the death of patients and in the reporting of deaths. The demographic characteristics of this population are similar to those found in other published studies of mortality in primary care from Spain and Israel. The distribution of care among family and non-family caregivers is similar. The major differences between this population and others lie in the causes of death. Neoplasm was the most common cause of death and not cardiovascular disease, as has been found in other studies.
