[Analysis of clinical parameters of elderly inpatients in an internal medicine ward]

A number of Brazilian studies have been done on elderly in-patients in a General Hospital but only one studied them in a Internal Medicine Ward. PURPOSE--To analyse morbidity and mortality comparing age and sex in the elderly in-patients in a General Hospital Internal Medicine Infirmary. METHODS--We analysed 163 elderly patients (101 females, 62 males) who represent 42.3% of the total number of in-patients for 100 consecutive days; 84.1% whites and an average age of 71.4 +/- 8.3 years. RESULTS--(p < 0.05): (1) Among elderly females--there was a high rate of heart failure as cause of hospitalization. (2) Among elderly males--stroke was the main cause of hospitalization. (3) Among 60-69 year old patients--diabetes mellitus was the main cause of hospitalization. (4) > or = 70--stroke was found to be the most frequent cause of hospitalization and high frequency of level F and G on the Katz Scale. Circulatory diseases were the cause for 42.3% of hospitalization. Dehydration was the main complication during hospitalization (46.0%). There were 38 deaths (23.3% of the patients), 50.1% were caused by respiratory diseases. CONCLUSION--The elderly are an important group of in-patients in a General Hospital Internal Medicine Ward.