engleski

Hospitalization of older and younger patients in a Department of Internal medicine : variety of reasons and outcome

In our study we have attempted to define biological diferences in older and younger subjects in the broader sense, with regard to the variety of reasons and outcome of hospitalization in depatrments for internal disease. We analyzed data and patients treated in the Department of internal medicine Rebro, in Zagreb, during a 5-year period: 1987-1991. Disease were divided into groups of internal medicine. Out of a total of 31,808 patients treated during this period in the in-patient departments of the hospital, 26,5% were aged 65 years or more, and 73,5% were younger than 65 zears. Gastrointestinal diseases were most frequent: 36,5% and of this number 35,4% were older and 36,9% younger; followed by cardiovascular disease: 19,8%, 27,7% older and 13,1% younger; and third in order of frequency were renal desease and arterial hypertension: 13,0%, 9,5% older and 14,2% younger. These three groups of diseases amounted to 66,4% of which number 72,2% were older patients and 64,3% younger. With regard to duration of hospitalization, up to 24 hours was more frequent in older patients than younger patients, and also hospitalization of 10 - 29 days. Satisfactory outcome and treatment was significantly less frequent in older patients than in younger patients: 85,6% : 92,9%, and lethal outcome was more frequent in older patients tban in younger: 10,5% : 4,2%.

hospitalization; elderly

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