National Database of Geriatrics.

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Geriatric hospital units manage frail, multimorbid elderly patients with complex needs.
• Effective care requires interdisciplinary collaboration tailored to individual patient challenges.
• Monitoring diagnostic and treatment quality is crucial for this growing population.

Approach:

• The National Database of Geriatrics collects data on approximately 14-15,000 admissions annually.
• Data completeness has remained stable at 90% over the past five years.
• Information is gathered by healthcare professionals and linked to the Danish National Patient Register.

Key Points:

• Indicators include functional assessments (Barthel index, de Morton Mobility Index, Chair Stand), nutritional status (BMI), and care planning (rehabilitation plans, interdisciplinary conferences).
• Descriptive data cover patient demographics, mobility, cognitive status, and the reason for geriatric admission (general, orthogeriatric, neurogeriatric).
• The database captures ∼90% of all geriatric admissions in Danish hospitals.

Conclusions:

• The National Database of Geriatrics provides comprehensive data on a significant and expanding patient demographic.
• It serves as a vital tool for assessing and improving the quality of interdisciplinary care in geriatrics.
• The database supports evidence-based practice and healthcare planning for elderly patients.