Acute Care Of Patients Aged 95 To 99 Years Experience In A Community Teaching Hospital
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-2000
Abstract
Background: People older than 90 years represent an increasing segment of the US population, but little information exists on their hospitalization for acute illness.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients aged 95 through 99 years admitted during 1 year to a large teaching hospital.
Results: Of 43 patients admitted at least once, 14 were admitted twice, 6 were admitted three times, and 1 was admitted four times; 35 (81%) were women, and 8 (19%) were men. Patients admitted more than once took a mean of 6.8 +/- 3.3 drugs compared with 4.4 +/- 2.6 drugs for patients admitted only once. Routine laboratory values were typically normal or mildly abnormal. Mean hospitalization was 5.6 +/- 3.5 days. Only 2 patients (5%) died. All 11 patients with a recent fall were discharged to a long-term nursing facility, compared with only 18 of 30 patients without a recent fall.
Conclusions: Patients aged 95 through 99 years generally have a favorable prognosis when hospitalized for an acutemedical condition. However, patients with a recent fall are more likely to require placement in a long-term nursing facility, and patients taking six or more drugs on admission are more likely to be rehospitalized within 12 months.
Repository Citation
Marinella, M. A.,
Jones, N.,
& Markert, R. J.
(2000). Acute Care Of Patients Aged 95 To 99 Years Experience In A Community Teaching Hospital. Southern Medical Journal, 93 (7), 677-680.
https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/internal_medicine/67
