Clinical Conditions of Hospitalized Older Adult Patients and Their Outcomes in a Regional Referral Hospital in Southwestern Uganda

Abstract

Background. Recent advances in medicine have caused positive impact on the life expectancy of most countries, resulting in increased older adult population. Aging comes with a number of health challenges. This study investigated health conditions of older adults at admission and clinical outcomes in a regional referral hospital in southwestern Uganda. Methods. A retrospective study reviewed clinical data of older adult patients admitted between January 2016 and December 2017. Demographic data, cause of admission, length, and outcomes of hospitalization are described. Results. Up to 813 patient files were reviewed. The patients had been hospitalized to emergency, 371 (45.6%); medical, 355 (43.7%); surgical, 84 (10.3%); psychiatry, 2 (0.3%); and obstetrics and gynecology, 1 (0.1%) wards. The majority, 427 (52.5%), of the patients were females. Cancer was the most common reason for hospitalization, 130/889 (14.6%), followed by stroke, 94/889 (10.6%); heart failure, 76/889 (8.6%); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 56/889 (6.3%); pneumonia, 47/889 (5.3%); and head injury, 45/889 (5.1%), whilst 560 (68.9%) of the hospitalized patients were discharged, 197 (24.2%) died, 18 (2.2%) were referred for advanced care, and 38 (4.7%) escaped from the facility. The emergency ward had the highest deaths, 101 (51.3%), then medical, 56 (28.4%), and surgical, 39 (19.8%), wards. Mortality of those who died was admitted with stroke, 30 (15.2%), cancer, 21 (10.7%), head injury, 16 (8.1%), heart failure, 14 (7.1%), sepsis, 14 (7.1%), and renal disease, 12 (6.1%). On average, patients were admitted for 5 days (IQR: 3-8). Conclusions. The high proportion of mortality in this group is worrying and requires further investigations.