Geriatric admissions in East London 1962-72

Geriatric admissions over the period 1962-72 in East London were studied. Patients, for the most part, presented combinations of physical, mental and social disability. 6286 admissions of 3988 patients were analysed with regard to length of stay, outcome, number of repeat admissions, age and sex. Numbers were large enough for trends to be clear. For example, 550 admissions were of persons over 90. The largest group were aged 75-84. The likelihood of death in hospital increased with age while the percentage of discharges home fell. With age there was a gradual increase in the percentage of those in hospital 28 days or less. Eight per cent of males and 10 per cent of females remained in hospital over one year. Seventy per cent of patients were admitted to hospital once only, while fewer than 2 per cent were admitted more than five times. A sample of new patients admitted from one borough in 1968, was traced in hospital and after discharge. The 50 per cent survival time for men was 6.5 months and for women 12.9 months.