UTILIZATION OF 3 HOSPITALS BY THE ELDERLY IN MEXICO-CITY

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the characterist ics of hospital utilization by the elderly in three hospitals in Mexic o City du ring 1992 and 1993. Main reason for admission, average lengt h of stay and type of treatment received were some of the variables st udied. Material and methods. A random sample of 820 clinical files wer e selected 308 from the Instituto Nacional de la Nutricion Salvador Zu biran (INNSZ), 189 from the Hospital General Manuel Gea Gonzalez (HGMG G) and 323 from the Hospital Regional Adolfo Lopez Mateos (HRALM). The principal reasons for admission, average days spent in the hospital a nd type of treatment received were identified for patients 60 years an d older. Univariate and bivariate analysis was performed with hypothes is test for differences between sexes. Results. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension were the principal reasons for admission length of stay v aried considerably and was the longest at the INNSZ (median: 12 days) and the shortest at the HRALM (median: 8 days). Most of the patients w ere admitted through the emergency service, except in the INNSZ where most came for ambulatory visit.