Objectives

To characterize the socio-demographic profile, signs, and symptoms of patients admitted to Medium-Term and Rehabilitation Units (UMDR) of the National Integrated Continuing Care Network, and to reflect on the appropriateness of the referral to these units.

Methods

A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, observational, and retrospective study was carried out in two UMDRs in the district of Leiria (Central Portugal) by analyzing clinical records, from July to December 2019. Socio-demographic data, main diagnoses, and signs and symptoms presented during hospitalization, using the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2) were collected. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the computer program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v. 27.0.

Results

Patients (n=141), predominantly female, average age 78 years, were admitted for 3.1 months on average (minimum 10 days, maximum 8 months). The most prevalent diagnoses were acute vascular brain disease (28.4%), femur neck fracture (16.3%), community-acquired pneumonia (5.7%), and trochanter fracture (4.3%). The most prevalent signs and symptoms concerned musculoskeletal, nervous/psychological, skin, urinary, gastrointestinal, respiratory, circulatory, and endocrine systems.

Conclusions

The signs and symptoms collected meet the most frequent pathologies and have been targeted for pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions. According to the most prevalent diagnoses, patients were referred to rehabilitation programs, which is the basis of the UMDRs. The fact that most patients were hospitalized for an average period of three months means that the objectives proposed for the hospitalization were achieved and that the complications were, generally, resolved, this allowed the patients to be discharged home. In this context, it is concluded that, in general, referencing is carried out in an appropriate manner.

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