[Reasons for the hospitalization and length of stay of a homeless population in Montreal].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the hospitalization experience of a homeless population with that of the residents of a low socioeconomic area.


METHODS
The homeless hospitalization records (n = 245) were compared with the records of the 3,553 residents of the Département de Santé Communautaire of Saint-Luc Hospital territory who were admitted to the same hospital.


RESULTS
The homeless population is mainly composed of young men. Mental health diagnoses are more frequent while cardiovascular and the obstetrical diagnoses are more rarely seen. Homelessness is associated with an 11.2 increased risk of organic psychosis, a 6.1 risk increase of functional psychosis and a 3.8 risk increase of personality disorders, neurosis and substance abuse. Obstetrical diagnoses are 20 times less frequent among homeless women while the cardiovascular risk did not seem to be affected in our sample. The lengths of stay are similar.
Raynault
M F
MF
Département de médecine familiale, Université de Montréal, QC.
Battista
R N
RN
Joseph
L
L
Fournier
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011203:Poverty; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology
Motifs d'hospitalisation et durées de séjour d'une population d'itinérants de Montréal.