The analysis of reasons for admission and course of hospitalization in the stationary unit of palliative care using the example of Palliative Medicine Department in the University Clinical Hospital Military Memorial Medical Academy, Lodz in years 2012–2013

Introduction: Palliative medicine department provides patients with medical care referred to main and concomitant diseases. The frequency of chronic and cancer diseases increases with patients’ age. Their coexistence can result in prolonged hospitalization and its high cost.

Aim of the study: The age structure, types and frequency of concomitant diseases, reasons for admission and a course of hospitalization of patients admitted to the stationary unit of palliative care were analyzed.

Material and methods: Retrospective analysis covered data obtained from all (n = 348) patients hospitalized in Palliative Medicine Department in University Clinical Hospital Military Memorial Medical Academy in Lodz in years 2012–2013.

Results: Ninety-nine coma four percent of patients were admitted with a diagnosis of cancer disease, mainly of digestive (30.5%) and respiratory (17.0%) tracts. Two hundred forty patients (69%) were ≥ 65 years old. Patients suffered from 1 to 10 concomitant diseases (mean 2 ±2). The most common were: hypertension (35.9%), ischemic heart disease (23.9%) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (18.7%). Its number correlated positively with the age (r = 0.4, p < 0.001). The mean duration of hospitalization was 16.7 ±16.6 days. Brain cancer, female sex and the age ≥ 65 years old were the risk factors for hospitalization > 28 days (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Concomitant diseases occured more frequently in elderly than in younger patients. The age ≥ 65 years is the risk factor for prolonged hospitalization. The treatment’s cost evaluation in the palliative medicine unit should take into consideration the necessity of concomitant diseases’ treatment, specialistic consultations arranged and additional diagnostic conducted.