Faruqi R, Williams J M, Galland R B
Department of Surgery, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.
Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1991 Sep;73(5):285-8.
The surgical emergency admissions of patients over the age of 80 years at the hospitals of the West Berkshire Health Authority during 1989 have been analysed. The results were then compared with those of 1976 and 1966 in an attempt to identify any changing trends. The total number of admissions increased by almost 37% from 248 in 1976 to 339 in 1989. There was a dramatic increase in those patients admitted with gastrointestinal problems. The average length of stay was less in 1989, being 9 days compared with 15 days in 1976; this was despite the fact that the average length of stay for all ages was comparable for the 2 years in question. The overall mortality rate has not appreciably altered being 21.8% in 1976 and 22.4% in 1989. Excluding terminal disease the mortality rates were 12.5% and 15.9% for 1976 and 1989 respectively. Despite the increased numbers of patients admitted the total beds occupied by the over 80s has actually fallen between 1976 and 1989, due to their shorter hospital stay. Figures for the year 2000 predict a continuing increase in the number of elderly patients in the community. It is unlikely that we will be able to reduce hospital stay much further and therefore the total number of beds occupied by the very old in the acute surgical ward will rise steadily.
对1989年西伯克郡卫生局下属医院80岁以上患者的外科急诊入院情况进行了分析。然后将结果与1976年和1966年的结果进行比较，试图找出任何变化趋势。入院总数从1976年的248例增加到1989年的339例，增幅近37%。因胃肠道问题入院的患者数量急剧增加。1989年的平均住院时间较短，为9天，而1976年为15天；尽管在这两年中所有年龄段的平均住院时间相当。总体死亡率没有明显变化，1976年为21.8%，1989年为22.4%。排除晚期疾病，1976年和1989年的死亡率分别为12.5%和15.9%。尽管入院患者数量增加，但由于80岁以上患者住院时间缩短，1976年至1989年间他们实际占用的病床总数实际上有所下降。2000年的数据预测社区中老年患者数量将持续增加。我们不太可能进一步缩短住院时间，因此急性外科病房中高龄患者占用的病床总数将稳步上升。
