Health Situation Analysis of Hospitalized Thai Older Persons in the Year 2010
Panita Limpawattana MD*, Sumitr Sutra MD**, Yupa Thavornpitak MSc***, Kosin Wirasorn MD****, Jarin Chindaprasirt MD****, Pisaln Mairieng MD*****
Affiliation : * Division of Geriatric Medicine, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ** Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand *** Department of Biostatistics and Demography, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand **** Division of Oncology, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ***** Division of Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Background : Thailand has reached an ageing society on account of demographic transitions. Hospitalized elders are
susceptible to having detrimental consequences in many aspects. Understanding the situation regarding elders being hospitalized
would help allied-healthcare workers to focus and take necessary action on particular issues.
Objective : To demonstrate the admission rate of elders, common causes of hospitalization and their mortality rates.
Material and Method: Information on illness of inpatients and casualties came from hospitals nationwide and from hospitals
withdrawals from the 3 health insurance schemes in fiscal 2010. The data included 96% of the population. The data were
analyzed by age groups and burdensome diseases.
Results : Elders posed the highest rate of all hospitalization (24.3/100 older persons) and the proportion increased with age.
The top three common causes for hospitalization were diseases of respiratory tract (13%), circulatory (12%) and digestive
system (11%). Mortality rates were highest in elders with pneumonia (129.7/100,000 persons).
Conclusion : Older hospitalization was the highest for all hospitalization ages. Common causes for hospitalization are partly
the consequences of modifiable factors. Thus, healthcare providers require extensive effort to enhance education and training
to allied-healthcare workers regarding preventive and early diagnosis strategies to those with frequent illnesses.
Keywords : Hospitalization, Older person, Thailand
