Pathways after inpatient admission in very advanced age: A Portuguese nationwide study

Oldest old patients often have complex and multiple medical conditions, which are associated with higher rates of use of healthcare services, and a higher risk of experiencing adverse outcomes, such as mortality. This study investigated (a) the in-hospital mortality rate and predictors in patients aged 80+; (b) the destination patients have after hospital discharge.

Nationwide study. All inpatient admissions by individuals aged 80 years and older between 2011 and 2014 in Portugal were considered. Exploratory descriptive analyses of data regarding in-hospital mortality and destination after discharge were performed; multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality.

A total of 614,807 episodes of hospital admissions were analysed. A mortality rate of 15.4% was observed. In the majority of episodes, patients returned home (78.6%). Increased age, male gender, increased length of stay, unplanned attendance, medical DRG type, increased severity of illness and mortality risk, and comorbidities were significant predictors of in-hospital mortality.

This study strengthens the importance of implementing health policies specifically to the oldest old, namely with the promotion of the use of primary care services. That would expectably concur to a better management of the most common medical conditions in this population, and a decrease in hospital unplanned attendances.