Publication details
Stárnutí populace v České republice: výzvy pro zdravotní a sociální systém
| Title in English | Population ageing in the Czech Republic: challenges for the health and social system |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Geriatrie a gerontologie |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://www.prolekare.cz/en/journals/geriatrics-and-gerontology/2024-3-19/starnuti-populace-v-ceske-republice-vyzvy-pro-zdravotni-a-socialni-system-139040 |
| Keywords | aging population; geriatric care; chronic diseases; Charlson Comorbidity Index; National Health Information System; National Registry of Reimbursed Health Services |
| Description | The Czech Republic is facing a significantly ageing population, which poses new challenges for health and social systems. The number of people over 65 years of age accounts for about 20.6 % of the population, and by 2100 this group could reach almost a third of the population. The need for healthcare increases exponentially with age, with almost 64 % of people over 65 suffering from some form of chronic disease. Effective management of the needs of the elderly is essential to improve their quality of life and optimise healthcare resources. Data show that seniors in geriatric care have higher average Charlson Comorbidity Index scores and face more complex health challenges than seniors cared for outside of geriatric care. However, mapping the needs of geriatric patients based on available healthcare data is difficult because they are not defined by age alone, but have specific needs that transcend the healthcare system. In addition, there are significant regional differences in the availability of already significantly understaffed geriatric care. The introduction of new codes to describe health conditions and interventions and their consistent reporting may lead to more accurate identification of geriatric patients in health data and allow mapping of geriatric patients’ needs and adjustments to the healthcare system to be prepared for the demographic challenges associated with the ageing of the Czech population. |