One-year mortality among newly admitted older patients in a long-term care hospital in South Korea.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Older Korean people's admission to long-term care (LTC) hospitals is increasing. This study aimed to investigate one-year mortality and related factors among older patients admitted to a LTC hospital. METHODS: Medical records of 330 patients admitted to a LTC hospital in 2014 were reviewed. Factors related to death were identified using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: About 35% of the patients died within a year, and their average length of survival was 42.3 (SD = 68.4) days. Predictors of mortality within one year were as follows cancer (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.04); aged 85 and older (HR = 2.61); dependency K-ADL ≥ 21 (HR = 2.14); male sex (HR = 1.95); respiratory disease (HR = 1.68); cognitive function (HR = 1.65); and abnormal serum sodium level (HR = 1.65). CONCLUSION: At admission, proper assessment and planning for older patients at risk are beneficial to minimise negative consequences. The roles of LTC hospitals need further discussion.