riskpatienter

Riskpatienter is a term used to describe individuals who are at elevated risk for adverse health outcomes due to factors such as age, chronic disease, multimorbidity, functional impairment, polypharmacy, or social determinants of health. These patients are more likely to experience complications, rapid clinical deterioration, hospitalizations, or premature death if not identified and managed proactively. The concept is used in primary care, hospital care, and public health to prioritize monitoring and preventive interventions.

Common risk factors include advanced age, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, frailty, cognitive impairment, malnutrition, immobility, social isolation, low health literacy, and prior hospitalizations. Environmental and behavioral factors such as smoking, inadequate housing, and limited access to care can compound risk. Riskpatienter often require coordinated, multidisciplinary approaches to prevent deterioration and maintain quality of life.

Assessment and stratification are central to managing riskpatienter. Clinicians use risk scores and tools to estimate likelihood of adverse outcomes, such as frailty scales, comorbidity indices, and early warning scores. Electronic health records and care teams support ongoing monitoring to detect early signs of decline. Stratification informs the intensity of interventions and resource allocation, from standard preventive care to intensive case management.

Management emphasizes individualized care plans that may include regular monitoring, medication reconciliation, vaccination, chronic disease optimization, rehabilitation, social support, and caregiver involvement. Telemonitoring, home visits, and structured discharge planning help maintain continuity of care. When appropriate, goals of care discussions and advance care planning are integrated to align treatment with patient preferences and ethical considerations.