Clinical Characteristics of Geriatric Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department and Evaluation According to Age Groups

Objective: To evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics, reasons for admission, triage distribution, consultation requests, and hospitalization rates of geriatric patients presenting to a tertiary emergency department, and to examine the associations between age groups and emergency department utilization patterns and outcomes. Materials and Methods: This retrospective and descriptive study was conducted among patients aged 65 years and older who presented to the emergency department of Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Data on demographic characteristics, triage categories, reasons for admission, consultation requests, hospitalization status, emergency department outcomes, and repeat visits were obtained from the hospital information management system. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: A total of 18,269 geriatric patients were included in the study. The mean age was 74.0 ± 7.2 years, and 54.5% of the patients were female. The highest proportion of admissions was observed in the 65-74 age group. Hospitalization occurred in 11.4% of cases. As age increased, ambulance admissions, repeat emergency department visits, and hospitalization rates increased significantly (P < 0.05). The most common reasons for admission were musculoskeletal, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that geriatric patients presenting to the emergency department exhibit distinct clinical and utilization characteristics by age group. The findings indicate that patients in older age groups require more complex clinical evaluation and tailored care during management in the emergency department.