Epidemiological Study of Emergency Medical Services used by Elderly Population in Riyadh: An Analysis of Patient Care Records

Objective: This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of the geriatric or elderly population (aged60) availing prehospital care in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional design was adopted. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) ambulances, which transport patients to emergency departments in Riyadh, were strategically selected from five regions. Between January and April 2017, 1994 Patient Care Records (PCR) forms were selected, sorted and analyzed. Incomplete or illegible were excluded from the study, leaving 1, 994 forms. The members of the study population were compared in respect to demographics, incident location, past medical history, working shift, and case type. Results: 1, 994 geriatric PCR forms were analyzed. The mean age of the study population was 72.6.55 % were male, and 45 % were female.85 % were transported to the hospital from the patients� residences. The sample evidenced a high proportion of past histories of diabetes (53 %), hypertension (52 %), and neurological (15 %) and cardiovascular diseases (13 %).20 % of the patients were unresponsive at the scene, and 6 % of deaths occurred en route to the hospital. Conclusions: Cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of elderly people seeking EMS. Geriatric emergency care must be improved and the EMS system strengthened in Riyadh.