Abstract
A prospective study of 419 patients aged 70 and over admitted to acute medical wards was carried out by medical staff from a geriatric unit. Data, including presenting problem, housing, social support, mental state, continence, and degree of independence before and after admission, were recorded. Of the 419 patients, 143 remained in hospital after 14 days and 65 after 28 days. The major factors associated with prolonged stay in hospital included advanced age, stroke, confusion and falls as reasons for admission to hospital, incontinence, and loss of independence for everyday activities. Social circumstances did not predict length of stay. Although these factors are interrelated, the most important influence on length of stay was the medical reason for admission. Early contact with the geriatric medical unit in these patients may speed up the recovery or result in more appropriate placement.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Andrews K., Brocklehurst J. C. The implications of demographic changes on resource allocation. J R Coll Physicians Lond. 1985 Apr;19(2):109–111. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bagnall W. E., Datta S. R., Knox J., Horrocks P. Geriatric medicine in Hull: a comprehensive service. Br Med J. 1977 Jul 9;2(6079):102–104. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6079.102. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Burley L. E., Currie C. T., Smith R. G., Williamson J. Contribution from geriatric medicine within acute medical wards. Br Med J. 1979 Jul 14;2(6182):90–92. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6182.90. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Evans J. G. Integration of geriatric with general medical services in Newcastle. Lancet. 1983 Jun 25;1(8339):1430–1433. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)92371-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grundy E. Mortality and morbidity among the old. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1984 Mar 3;288(6418):663–664. doi: 10.1136/bmj.288.6418.663. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hodkinson H. M., Hodkinson I. Death and discharge from a geriatric department. Age Ageing. 1980 Nov;9(4):220–228. doi: 10.1093/ageing/9.4.220. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hodkinson H. M., Hodkinson I. The influence of route of admission on outcome in the geriatric patient. Age Ageing. 1980 Nov;9(4):229–234. doi: 10.1093/ageing/9.4.229. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McArdle C., Wylie J. C., Alexander W. D. Geriatric patients in an acute medical ward. Br Med J. 1975 Dec 6;4(5996):568–569. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5996.568. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Qureshi K. N., Hodkinson H. M. Evaluation of a ten-question mental test in the institutionalized elderly. Age Ageing. 1974 Aug;3(3):152–157. doi: 10.1093/ageing/3.3.152. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rubenstein L. Z., Josephson K. R., Wieland G. D., English P. A., Sayre J. A., Kane R. L. Effectiveness of a geriatric evaluation unit. A randomized clinical trial. N Engl J Med. 1984 Dec 27;311(26):1664–1670. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198412273112604. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rubin S. G., Davies G. H. Bed blocking by elderly patients in general-hospital wards. Age Ageing. 1975 Aug;4(3):142–147. doi: 10.1093/ageing/4.3.142. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Seymour D. G., Pringle R. Elderly patients in a general surgical unit: do they block beds? Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Jun 26;284(6333):1921–1923. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6333.1921. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]