Perfil das internações psiquiátricas de mulheres idosas na macrorregião de saúde meio oeste

Abstract

Population aging is one of the most notorious demographic phenomena today. Among the common health problems in old age, there are mental disorders, which affect about a third of the elderly population. In this sense, the research aims to analyze the profile of psychiatric hospitalizations of elderly women to better understand the aspects that permeate the mental illness process of this population. This is a quantitative study, with a cross-sectional, documentary, descriptive and exploratory design and a qualitative investigation, the sample population was women aged 60 years or older. Data collection was performed at the bed regulation center through access to the hospitalization regulation system. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the National Regulatory System (SISREG) of the Midwest health macro-region based on requests for psychiatric hospitalizations that occurred in 2021. It was identified that 8.8% of requests for psychiatric hospitalizations in the region were of elderly people and of the 76 requests for hospitalizations, 51.3% were authorized. The mean length of stay was 10.46 days. Requests were mainly forwarded by Municipal Health Secretariats (39.5%). Only 21% of the municipalities in the micro-region have CAPS in their care network. Of the total number of hospitalization requests, 64.5% came from patients residing in municipalities that had CAPS. The most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses in the study were mood disorder 36.8% and schizophrenia, schizotypal disorders and delusional disorders 31.6%. Of the population studied, 22.4% had Schizophrenia as the reason for requesting it and 17.1% were diagnosed with Depressive Episodes. These findings demonstrate that the availability of vacancies for psychiatric hospitalization in the region is deficient: only half of the requests for hospitalization were authorized, few days of hospitalization and few municipalities have CAPS. The importance of CAPS in forwarding requests for hospitalization was verified. The most prevalent hospitalization diagnoses were in line with what was expected in the literature (sample of elderly women). The need for attention and investment by public agencies in the mental health of the population, especially the elderly, is highlighted. Public policies aimed at prevention, referral, treatment and adequate follow-up are extremely necessary. These strategies reduce the suffering of the patient and family, in addition to reducing hospitalization costs.