The mystery of increased hospitalizations of elderly patients
2008
The Mystery of Increased Hospitalizations of Elderly Patients
Commentary
Author Information
Author(s): Martin I. Meltzer
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Conclusion
Hospitalizations for pneumonia and staphylococcal diseases among elderly patients have significantly increased, but the reasons for this rise remain unclear.
Supporting Evidence
- Hospitalizations for pneumonia increased by 20%–39% among those over 65 years from 1997 to 2005.
- There was a 6-fold increase in hospitalizations for staphylococcal pneumonia among patients over 65 years from 1989-90 to 2003-04.
- Despite the increase in hospitalizations, the 30-day mortality rate for these patients slightly decreased.
Takeaway
More elderly people are going to the hospital for pneumonia and staph infections, but we don't know why this is happening.
Methodology
The commentary discusses findings from two studies that analyzed hospital admission data from the UK's National Health Services.
Limitations
The studies used administrative data that may not capture all relevant epidemiologic risk factors.
Participant Demographics
The studies focused on patients over 65 years of age.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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