Hospital admissions by the oldest old: Past trends in one of the most ageing countries in the world

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Brandao, D (Author) Other; Ribeiro, O (Author) Other; Freitas A (Author) FMUP; Constança Paúl (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Geriatrics & Gerontology International

Vol. 17

Pages: 2255-2265

ISSN: 1444-1586

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 9 Citations

Scopus - 11 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00M-WXT

DOI: 10.1111/ggi.13006

Abstract (EN): AimTo examine discharges of octogenarians, nonagenarians and centenarians from Portuguese public hospitals, namely admission type, principal diagnoses, comorbidities and length of stay. MethodsThe present study used administrative data from public acute care hospitals in the Portuguese National Health Service. All discharges of persons aged 80 years between 2000 and 2014 were analyzed. HCUP Clinical Classifications Software was considered to aggregate principal diagnosis, and comorbidities were assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index computed using International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision Clinical Modification codes. ResultsA total of 2 494 924 discharges of persons aged 80 years or older were registered. Most (73.7%) referred to inpatient episodes, of which 73% were unplanned and medical (non-surgical). Pneumonia (12.2%), acute cerebrovascular disease (7.1%) and non-hypertensive cardiac heart failure (5.3%) were the most common principal diagnoses among inpatient episodes. Congestive heart failure and diabetes without chronic complications were the two most frequent comorbidities (16.6%), and discharge diagnoses with higher median length of stay were tuberculosis, burns, and infective arthritis and osteomyelitis. ConclusionsThe number of hospitalizations of the oldest old has suffered a significant increase in the past few years, reinforcing the need for healthcare services being prepared to the specificities of the oldest old population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2255-2265.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11