Hospital utilization and aging in Spain (2006).
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this study is to verify the existence of a direct relation between age, ageing and hospital resources utilization.


METHODS
For this purpose, we use not only population variables, but also clinical parameters such as severity and complexity, as proxy of consumption and hospital costs. Through a comprehensive statistical analysis, quantitative variables of the Spanish Minimum Data Set of year 2006 (length of stay, relative weight, number of diagnoses and procedures) according to age groups and gender, types of admission (emergency or scheduled) and discharge (alive or dead), measuring the severity by weight, complications, comorbidities and mortality, and complexity by weight and length of stay.


RESULTS
The highest severity was observed in 65-69 year-old males and the highest complexity in 75-79 year-old males and 85-89 year-old females (p<.0001). The severity and complexity are also higher among 65-69 year-old males and 70-79 year-old patients of both sexes with emergency access (p<.0001). The deceased patients are more aged with higher severity and complexity than the survivors (p<.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The age per se is not directly related to consumption of hospital resources. Therefore, aging does not necessarily imply higher consumption or increased hospital costs. Emergency admitted in-patients are older and more severe and complex than the scheduled ones, thus consuming more resources and implying higher hospital costs; the same is true for the deceased versus the survivors.
Moreno-Millán
Emilio
E
Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Santa Bárbara, Puertollano, Spain. emormill@hotmail.com
Molina-Morales
Agustin
A
Amate-Fortes
Ignacio
I
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015897:Comorbidity; D003954:Diagnostic Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017721:Hospital Costs; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors