Jl. Warren et al., THE BURDEN AND OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH DEHYDRATION AMONG US ELDERLY,1991, American journal of public health, 84(8), 1994, pp. 1265-1269
Objectives, De-hydration has been underappreciated as a cause of hospi
talization and increased hospital-associated mortality in older people
. This study used national data to analyze the burden and outcomes fol
lowing hospitalizations with dehydration in the elderly. Methods. Data
from 1991 Medicare files were used to calculate rates of hospitalizat
ion with dehydration, to examine demographic characteristics and conco
mitant diagnoses associated with dehydration, and to analyze the contr
ibution of dehydration to mortality. Results. In 1991, 6.7% (731695) o
f Medicare hospitalizations had dehydration listed as one of the five
reported diagnoses, a rate of 236.2/10000 elderly Medicare beneficiari
es. In 1991, Medicare reimbursed over $446 million for hospitalization
s with dehydration as the principal diagnosis. Older people, men, and
Blacks had elevated risks for hospitalization with dehydration, Acute
infections, such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, were frequ
ent concomitant diagnoses. About 50% of elderly Medicare beneficiaries
hospitalized with dehydration died within a year of admission. Conclu
sions, Hospitalization of elderly people with dehydration is a serious
and costly medical problem. Attention should be focused on understand
ing predisposing factors and devising strategies for prevention.