The burden and outcomes associated with dehydration among US elderly, 1991.
OBJECTIVE
Dehydration has been underappreciated as a cause of hospitalization and increased hospital-associated mortality in older people. This study used national data to analyze the burden and outcomes following hospitalizations with dehydration in the elderly.


METHODS
Data from 1991 Medicare files were used to calculate rates of hospitalization with dehydration, to examine demographic characteristics and concomitant diagnoses associated with dehydration, and to analyze the contribution of dehydration to mortality.


RESULTS
In 1991, 6.7% (731,695) of Medicare hospitalizations had dehydration listed as one of the five reported diagnoses, a rate of 236.2/10,000 elderly Medicare beneficiaries. In 1991, Medicare reimbursed over $446 million for hospitalizations with dehydration as the principal diagnosis. Older people, men, and Blacks had elevated risks for hospitalization with dehydration. Acute infections, such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, were frequent concomitant diagnoses. About 50% of elderly Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with dehydration died within a year of admission.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospitalization of elderly people with dehydration is a serious and costly medical problem. Attention should be focused on understanding predisposing factors and devising strategies for prevention.
Warren
J L
JL
Epidemiology Branch, Health Care Financing Administration, Baltimore, MD 21207.
Bacon
W E
WE
Harris
T
T
McBean
A M
AM
Foley
D J
DJ
Phillips
C
C
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003681:Dehydration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006302:Health Services Research; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology