[Factors associated with inappropriate hospitalization at an internal medicine department].
BACKGROUND
To determine the factors associated with inappropriate admissions in an Internal medicine department.


METHODS
We included 1,993 admissions. The justification for the admissions was evaluated using the Appropriateness Evalutation Protocol.


RESULTS
187 (9.4%) admissions were considered inappropriate. The likelihood of an inappropriate admission was higher as long as the patient was younger than 65 years of age (OR, 1.94; (95%) IC, 1.32-2.85) and the admission had been programmed from the outpatients clinic (OR, 10.58; (95%) IC, 2.79-40.1). Clinical diagnosis also influenced the inappropriateness of admissions.


CONCLUSIONS
Age, diagnosis and source of patients determine inappropriate admissions in an internal medicine department.
Luis Zambrana García
J
J
Area de Medicina. Hospital Alto Guadalquivir. Andújar. Jaén. jzambranag@medynet.com
Delgado Fernández
M
M
Cruz Caparrós
G
G
Díez García
F
F
Dolores Martín Escalante
M
M
Salas Coronas
J
J
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain