Introduction: Medicine is undoubtedly advancing worldwide. New life-saving and life-prolonging interventions improve life expectancy, and population aging continues. World Health Organisation (WHO) data suggests 1 in 6 people will be aged 60 years or older by 2030. A predicted cohort population increase from 12% in 2015 to 22% by 2050. It’s unreasonable to assume everyone in this group has the same physical and mental capacity. Scientifically prolonged life increases the potential for health decline. An aging population requires greater resources overall. Ireland’s centenarian population increased from 386 in 2016 to 738 in 2023. We aimed to determine trends for presentations aged above 65 to an Irish rural emergency department over 11 years by examining absolute numbers and percentage of overall presentations. Methods: A retrospective analysis of automated monthly and annual reports from the electronic system initiation in 2014 to September 2024. Data analyzed in Excel. Results: Total presentations aged >65 increased annually from 6067 in 2014 to 11849 in 2024. This group was 20.75 % of total attendances in 2014 (lowest), 26.29% in 2020 (highest) (COVID YEAR), and 23.91% in 2024. Although several presentations in 2024 thus far exceed numbers seen at the same time in previous years, the total number of attendees has also risen. A noted annual increase is present in each decade group above age 65. Nonagenarian presentations were 359 in 2014 (lowest) and 870 in 2024 (highest). Centenarian presentations were 1 in 2015 (lowest) and 25 in 2024 (highest). Conclusion: The results show presentations aged 65 and older are increasing annually. It is notable that the percentage of total attendances associated with this group is rising, specifically nonagenarians and centenarians. At this trajectory in population demographics, significant planning and resource management will be required to safely and appropriately manage these patients.
Jordaan et al. (Sun,) studied this question.