• F Muñoz Cobos, M L Burgos Varo, P Rogero Anaya, and F García España.
• Centro de Salud El Palo, Málaga.
• Aten Primaria. 1995 Jan 1; 15 (1): 212821-2, 24-6, 28.

Main Objectiveto elaborate a Persons at Risk Index (PRI) for the abandonment of elderly handicapped.Secondary Objectivesto discover the profile of these invalids and their carers within our Health District.DesignA case-control study. A uni- and multi-variant analysis (multiple logistic regression).SettingAn urban Health Centre. Programme for the Care of the handicapped Patient.Patients And Other Participants1. Handicapped patients (those unable to attend the Health Centre for care) who were included in the Programme in December 1991 (Total = 177). 2. Carers (those with direct responsibility in caring for the sick). 106 handicapped patients were interviewed (33 took part in the pilot study, 13 died, 1 entered hospital, 16 refused to answer and 8 were not located). 20 patients (19%) were identified as being abandoned invalids, with abandon being defined as not having their need for help in their daily activities covered. The other 86 (81%) were considered as controls.Measurements And Main ResultsProfile of the handicapped patient: woman > 76 years old, illiterate, housewife, widow. Profile of career: woman, daughter or wife of the invalid, between 50 and 65, house-wife, uneducated. The variables selected by the multiple model as being linked to abandonment show greater risk for invalid patients living in zones of high social risk, who lack a specific career or have only been looked after by their present career for a brief period.ConclusionsThe PRI is an instrument which serves for predicting those invalids most likely to be abandoned, an undesirable situation to be avoided by prioritizing health service interventions.

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