Risk Factors for Early and Late Mortality in Hospitalized Older Patients: The Continuing Importance of Functional Status

Background. Prognostic information collected at hospital admission may be useful in defining care objectives and in deciding on therapy for older people. The aim of our study was to identify admission risk factors for in-hospital and postdischarge mortality. Methods. The study included 987 patients aged 70 years and older admitted to the geriatric ward of San Giovanni Battista Hospital in Torino during 1995 and 1996. Demographic, clinical, and functional variables were collected on admission to hospital and examined as potential risk factors for mortality during hospitalization and at 5 years of follow-up. Results. During their hospital stay, 147 patients (14.9%) died. Risk factors independently associated with in-hospital mortality included functional impairment (Activities of Daily Living [ADL]) (OR [odds ratio] 1.73, CI [confidenc