[Characteristics of nursing home patients at initial admission: age, sex and morbidity].
BACKGROUND
Some 35,000 new patients are admitted yearly to 'verpleeghuizen' or Dutch nursing homes. This paper describes some characteristics of these patients.


METHODS
Data were collected using the national Nursing Home Registration System SIVIS of the Dutch centre for health care information. The response rate to the registration by the nursing homes is over 80%.


RESULTS
Newly admitted nursing home patients are characterised by a (very) high age (over 50% of the patients are 80 years and over), a distribution of twice as many women as men and a morbidity pattern of chronic somatic and psychogeriatric, as well as orthopaedic disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Among elderly patients the nursing home patients constitute of a heterogeneous purpose of admission and morbidity pattern. Nursing home care focuses on rehabilitation, long-term care and terminal care.
Ribbe
M W
MW
Vrije Universiteit, Vakgroep Huisarts- en Verpleeghuisgeneeskunde, Amsterdam.
Frijters
D H
DH
van Mens
J T
JT
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010343:Patient Admission; D012737:Sex Factors; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities
Kenmerken van verpleeghuispatiënten bij eerste opname: leeftijd, geslacht en morbiditeit.