Revista Espanola de Salud Publica
Volume 77, Issue 6, 2003, Pages 713-723

Diagnostics upon Hospital Release of Immigrants in the City of Valencia, Spain (2001-2002) [Diagnósticos al alta Hospitalaria de las Personas Inmigrantes en la Ciudad de Valencia (2001-2002)] (Article) (Open Access)

Salazar A.* , Navarro-Calderón E. , Abad I. , Alberola V. , Almela F. , Borrás R. , González A. , Gosálbez E. , Moya M.J. , Palau P. , Roig F.J. , Romero R. , Taberner F. , Vicente P.
  • a Seccion de Epidemiologia, Ctr. de Salut Publica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain, Secció d'Epidemiología, Ctr. de Salut Publica de Valencia, C/San Vicente 83-85, 46007 Valencia, Spain
  • b Esc. Valenciana Estud. Salud, Valencia, Spain
  • c U. de Documentacion Clinica, Hospital General
  • d U. de Documentacion Clinica, Hospital La Fe, Spain
  • e Esc. Valenciana Estud. Salud, Valencia, Spain
  • f Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Valencia, Spain
  • g U. de Documentacion Clinica, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Spain
  • h U. de Documentacion Clinica, Hospital La Fe, Spain
  • i U. de Documentacion Clinica, Hospital La Fe, Spain
  • j U. de Documentacion Clinica, Hospital Dr. Peset, Spain
  • k Seccion de Epidemiologia, Ctr. de Salut Publica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
  • l U. de Documentacion Clinica, Hospital Dr. Peset, Spain
  • m U. de Documentacion Clinica, Hospital Clínico
  • n U. de Documentacion Clinica, Hospital La Fe, Spain

Abstract

Background: Immigration has increased remarkably in Spain over the past ten years. For theoretical reasons, the question has been raised as to whether this population may possibly be responsible for a rise in the incidence and/or transmission of infectious diseases: However, very few studies have been conducted regarding the diseases among this group which would afford the possibility of ascertaining the importance of this statement. This study is aimed at quantifying the hospital care provided to this population in the city of Valencia. Methods: The hospital release records were obtained from the Admissions Departments of the public hospitals in the city of Valencia. A one-year retrospective observational study was conducted throughout the October 1, 2001 - September 30, 2002 period. Results: We retrieved 8,444 hospital admissions identifying 1,577 hospital admissions of immigrants. Similar percentages of immigrants recorded with their documentation in proper order (841; 51.16%) and immigrants supposedly undocumented (803; 48.84%) were found. Females (68.3%) were predominant over males (31.7%), and a mean age of under 30 years of age. The most frequent diagnosis on release was «pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum-related complications», totaling 37.7% of all releases, others involving, «injuries and poisoning» (12.9%), «digestive tract diseases» (7.8%) and «respiratory tract diseases» (5.4%), «Infectious and parasitic diseases» totaled 4.4%. Conclusions: The percentage of infectious and infectious-contagious diseases found did not contribute to encouraging the opinions disseminated regarding the importing or re-emergence of diseases from the immigrant groups. The en masse immigration which has taken place requires many adaptations of the Healthcare System to afford the possibility of setting out the health profile for this group based on population estimates.

Author Keywords

Hospitals Diagnosis Hospital releases

Index Keywords

hospital admission immigrant parasitosis hospitalization hospital discharge human immigration injury gastrointestinal disease intoxication respiratory tract disease ethnology hospital care Adolescent male Spain female medical documentation risk factor medical record pregnancy public hospital prevalence Article disease transmission diagnosis adult migration infection risk infection puerperal disorder childbirth quantitative analysis retrospective study health care system
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-9144251596&doi=10.1590%2fS1135-57272003000600005&partnerID=40&md5=2e9bff7cfdc6b02652ab71ea3264ba7d
DOI: 10.1590/S1135-57272003000600005
ISSN: 11355727
Cited by: 23
Original Language: Spanish