Short summary

Non-specific complaints (NSC) occur frequently in older patient at the Emergency Department and can be the only sign of acute illness. The time leading up to the admission is not well investigated. We conducted a retrospective observational study including all consecutive patient admitted at the Geriatric Department, Odense University Hospital over a 3-month period. The primary outcome was prevalence of NSC and secondary outcomes include symptom duration of NSC and prevalence of specific NSC

Rationale

Non-specific complaints occur in up to 1/3 of older patients at Emergency Department and It includes symptoms such as functional decline, confusion and falls at home. Studies has shown adverse health outcome in patient with NSC, but few has focused on the period preceeding the admission. The aim of our study was to describe NSC prior to admission and at admission in older adults acutely admitted with pneumonia, UTI or dehydration at the Geriatric Department, Odense University Hospital. Specifically, we investigated i) the symptom duration of NSC prior to admission, ii) the prevalence of NSC and SC at admission, and iii) the prevalence of specified NSC at admission.

Description of the cohort

Patients admitted at Emergency Department, transferred to the Geriatric Department and diagnosed with pneumonia, UTI or dehydration.

Data and biological material

Data from patients electronic medical journals (demographic data, cormobidity data, admission data)

Collaborating researchers and departments

Geriatric Department, Odense University Hospital

• Karen Andersen-Ranberg