Table 2. Average Length of Stay (in days) in Short-stay Hospitals, by Age, U.S., 1967, 1974, 1977 and 1979.
| Age | 1967 | 1974 | 1977 | 1979 | Percent Change, 1967-1979 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Ages | 8.4 | 7.7 | 7.3 | 7.2 | −14 |
| Under age 65 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 6.0 | −15 |
| Under 15 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.3 | −14 |
| 15-44 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 5.2 | −16 |
| 15-44, excluding deliveries | 6.8 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 5.7 | −16 |
| 45-64 | 10.1 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.2 | −19 |
| 65 Years and Over | 14.1 | 11.9 | 11.1 | 10.8 | −23 |
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, “Inpatient Utilization of Short-Stay Hospitals in Each Geographic Division, U.S.—1966-1968,” Vital and Health Statistics, Series 13, No. 10, “Utilization of Short-Stay Hospitals, Summary of Nonmedical Statistics, U.S.—1967,” Vital and Health Statistics, Series 13, No. 9, and “Utilization of Short-Stay Hospitals, Annual Summary of the United States,” Vital and Health Statistics, Series 13, No. 26, for 1974 and Series 13, No. 41 for 1977 and preliminary data from NCHS for 1979.