REASONS FOR HOSPITALIZATION OF THE HOMELE SS POPULATION AND LENGTHS OF STAY IN MONTREAL

Objective: To compare the hospitalization experience of a homeless pop ulation with that of the residents of a low socioeconomic area. Method s: The homeless hospitalization records (n=245) were compared with the records of the 3,553 residents of the Departement de Sante Communauta ire of Saint-Luc Hospital territory who were admitted to the same hosp ital. Results: The homeless population is mainly composed of young men . Mental health diagnoses are more frequent while cardiovascular and t he obstetrical diagnoses are more rarely seen. Homelessness is associa ted with an 11.2 increased risk of organic psychosis, 6.1 risk increas e of functional psychosis and a 3.8 risk increase of personality disor ders, neurosis and substance abuse. Obstetrical diagnoses are 20 times less frequent among homeless women while the cardiovascular risk did not seem to be affected in our sample. The lengths of stay are similar .