Other Medical Conditions

摘要

IntroductionnOlder adults are major users of hospital resources. Tonassure short hospital stays and best usage ofnresources, identification of patients likely to requirenrehabilitation and home support is needed.nMethodsnCohort study of elderly patients admitted to medicalnwards. Data were collected on modified early warningnscore (MEWS), activities of daily living (Katz), MRCndyspnoea score and performance status (WHO score).nPrimary outcomes -death, length of hospital stay > 30ndays and rehabilitation needs.nSecondary outcome - identification of patients withncomplex discharge needs.nResultsn137 patients over the age of 75 were analysed. 23ndied, 40 had WHO scores indicating good performancenstatus, only 32 had a Katz of 6 (independent) and 67nhad low MRC scores. 54% stayed 30 days or more. 24nwere discharged to rehabilitation unit.nIndependence as measured by Katz was associatednwith shorter length of stay (p<0.005) for patientsndischarged alive. Multiple regression analysisnsuggested dependence of length of stay on MRCndyspnoea score and Katz but not on WHO score ornMEWS. None of the parameters measured allowednpredicting transfer to a rehabilitation ward.