Multidimensional assessment and risk factors for prolonged hospitalization in the elderly

Frailty, multiple pathologies, functional impairment and socioeconomic conditions can prolong the length of hospitalization in the elderly. The aim of our study was to analyze risk factors for prolonged hospitalization.

Our sample included 1054 patients consecutively admitted to the University Department of Geriatric Medicine of Torino, Italy. We examined some demographic variables (age, sex, socioeconomic conditions), affective, cognitive and functional status, main pathologies, and blood pressure and some hematological parameters (hemoglobin, creatinine, albumin, sodium).

The number of functions lost to IADL and ADL, DMI (Dependent Medical Index) dependence, high levels of creatinine and low blood levels of albumin and sodium were associated with longer hospitalization, as also were the following clinical diagnoses: tumor, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hip fractures, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and pressure sores. Independent predictors of prolonged hospitalization were: the number of functions lost to the ADL index, pressure sores, hip fracture, peripheral arterial disease with critical ischemia, and low levels of sodium.

Multidimensional assessment is essential to identify medical, functional and socioeconomic problems, and can highlight risk factors for prolonged hospitalization.