[Comorbidity in the elderly: a sample of 2373 hospitalized elderly patients].
The aim of this study was to discuss about prevalence and clinical rilevance of comorbidity in the elderly patients. Our sample included 2373 (mean age 77.8 +/- 8.5; 1302 men and 1071 woman) consecutively admitted to the University Department of Geriatric Medicine of Torino. We examined some demographic variables, cognitive and functional status, main pathologies. Severity of illness was assessed using the C.I.R.S. The coexistence of two or more diseases was 83%: cardiovascular and chronic pulmonary diseases were the most frequently recorded (respectively 68% and 27%). The comorbidity and severity indexes of C.I.R.S. were associated respectively with mortality (O.R. 1.78; C.I. 1.36 - 2.33) and length of hospital staying (O.R. 2.35; C.I. 1.19 - 4.65). Comorbidity is an important specific prognostic indicator for reliable risk stratification of older patients.
Zanocchi
Mauro
M
Sezione di Geriatria, Dipartimento di Discipline Medico-Chirurgiche, Università, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Battista - Molinette, Torino.
Nicola
Elena
E
Corsinovi
Laura
L
Francisetti
Federica
F
Amati
Dario
D
Cerrato
Flavio
F
Ponte
Elisabetta
E
Luppino
Angela
A
Martinelli
Elisa
E
Margolicci
Angela
A
Molaschi
Mario
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence