Clinical and Epidemiological Profile of Patients Treated at a Secondary Care Emergency Unit in Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso

Abstract

Introduction: Emergency Care Units are increasingly important as members of the secondary care network of our Unified Health System. Due to the insufficient number of Basic Health Units, they have been the main means of health care for the majority of the population. Knowing the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients treated in these units is of utmost importance to understand the needs of patients and develop measures to optimize care both in quality and agility. Method: This is a prospective cross-sectional (observational) study. The research was carried out in a large UPA in the municipality of Várzea Grande from April to June 2024. All adult patients over 18 years of age classified as blue, green or yellow by the risk classification (triage) were included in the research, that is, patients who were seen in the doctor's office by the research team. Results: This study included 161 patients who spontaneously sought care at a UPA in the municipality of Várzea Grande. Of these, 63.4% were women, 34.2% worked in commerce, 78.3% were between 18 and 49 years old, 84.5% did not exercise, and 60.9% had a family income of up to two minimum wages. Headache was seen in 30.4% of patients and myalgia in 25.5%. It was observed that 72 (44.7%) patients sought the UPA with 1 day of symptoms and were discharged after medication (47.2%). Hypertension (18.6%) and obesity (10.6%) were the most frequent comorbidities. The main diagnostic hypothesis raised was URTI, with 16.8% of cases. Analgesics were administered to 54% of patients at the UPA and 33 (20.5%) underwent radiography as a complementary exam, which was the most frequent. Discussion: The higher prevalence of women seen is similar to other studies and shows the resistance of the male population to seek health care. Regarding the diagnosis of disease established, as in other studies, URTI, musculoskeletal pain, GECA and arboviruses were the most frequent, as in other studies. Conclusion: Most patients seen at this UPA are women, aged 18 to 49 years, who work in commerce or with domestic activities, are single and have completed high school. In most cases, they have a family income of up to two minimum wages, live in houses with water and sewage systems, and the vast majority do not practice physical activities. The main symptoms reported were headache, myalgia, fever, nausea and vomiting. Most patients sought the UPA with 1 day of symptoms and were discharged after being medicated within the unit. The main diagnostic hypotheses were: upper respiratory tract infection, musculoskeletal pain, acute gastroenterocolitis and arboviruses. Among the comorbidities, the most prevalent were hypertension, obesity and DM. The most prescribed classes of medications were analgesics, anti-inflammatories and antiemetics. The most requested complementary exams were: radiographs, laboratory tests and ultrasound, in that order.