[Elderly patients at the Pulmonary Disease Department]

Medical histories of 310 patients of a pulmonary department were analysed. All were older than 60 years. They made up 41.6% of treated patients during this time. More than two diseases were present in 79.3%. Most often the following disorders were found: chronic obstructive lung disease, pneumonias, pleuritis, circulatory insufficiency, atherosclerosis, disrhythmias, acute coronary diseases. In 68.2% good results of therapy were observed clinical improvement and complete resolution of changes were however seen in only 5.2%. Therapeutical side effects were seen in 29.7%. During hospitalization 10.9% of the patients died. The most common cause of death was atherosclerosis and malignancy. Mean hospital stay was 36.5 days and was 6 days longer in comparison with younger patients.