[The geriatric clinical picture in a department of internal medicine]

In order to assess the proportion of geriatric patients in a medical department, all of the inpatients admitted to the Medical Department of Hørsholm Hospital during the period 19.3.1987-15.4.1987 were assessed in view of the geriatric clinical picture. The criteria for assessment as a geriatric patient were established in advance and included: Presence of several medical problems inhibition of functions and social problems and an estimated need for prolonged hospitalization to solve these problems, including rehabilitation. Out of 191 inpatients, 15 (8%) were considered to be geriatric patients. These 8% were all aged 60 years or more, were hospitalized for an average of 23 days and used 21% of the total number of bed days. The remaining patients aged more than 60 years were hospitalized for an average of nine days and comprised 47% of the total number of inpatients and used 49% of the bed days. The geriatric patients differed, in addition, from the other patients aged over 60 years in that 85% compared with 58% were readmitted within a period of two years. No difference in the mortality was observed during a period of two years. This investigation supports previous suppositions about the proportion of geriatric patients and indicates that assessment as to whether a geriatric patient is concerned or not may be made already during the first 24 hours in hospital.