Negative outcomes of hospitalisation: predicting risk in older patients

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Abstract Introduction Most countries including Australia are experiencing an ageing of their population, with an increasing proportion of frail older persons requiring hospitalisation from acute illness. The aging process places the older person at risk of geriatric syndromes, such as falling, dependency in performance of Activities of Daily Living and instrumental Activities of Daily Living, confusion, bladder and bowel incontinence. New or deteriorating geriatric syndromes are a frequent occurrence among hospitalized older patients. Hospital associated factors associated with these outcomes include complications of medical therapies; polypharmacy and excessive bed rest. Few studies have been conducted into factors predicting risk of negative outcomes in older patients admitted to medical units of acute care teaching hospitals. If available, a screening tool with few predictive factors, able to be administered close to the time of admission could be used to identify patients at lower

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