Factors associated with hospital utilization in the elderly: From the cardiovascular health study

Objective: Analyze clinical accepted biochemical physiologic, and socioeconomic risk factors and correlate them with hospital utilization in an elderly population. Design: Prospective, observational study in a defined, randomly recruited population. Participants: 5201 Medicare participants enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Methods: Medicare recipients were randomly assigned to participate in an observational study. Baseline data were compared to hospital admissions and days of hospitalization over four years. Data analysis: Data were grouped by type of risk factor and analyzed by Tobit analysis and logistic regression. Results: Baseline variables associated with hospital use (p <0.0001) were history of CHF, stroke, angina, hypertension, In (timed walk), In (blocks walked/week), age, gender, and clinic site. Factors not entering the model (p >0.05) were income, education, smoking, diabetes, weight, dietary fat, marital status, depression, and measures of mental function. Conclusion: In the elderly, existing health status is the major determinant of hospitalization and overwhelms many classic 'risk factors' for morbidity.