Admission reasons and common clinical findings in elderly patients were admitted in infectious disease wardof Vali-e-Asr hospital in Birjand in 2009-2010

The elderly form a large sector ssof the human population worldwide. Aging is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality and infectious diseases are among the important causes of morbidity and mortality in this group. The present study aimed at determining the reasons for the hospitalization of the elderly in the infection wards and type and prevalence of the infections which necessitated their hospitalization. In this descriptive analytical Cross-sectional study 350 patients (≥65 yrs) that were admitted to infectious diseases ward of Vali-e-Asr hospital were evaluated. By using questionnaire personal information, the first and ultimate diagnosis of the disease, and characteristics and remedial knowledge of the patients (including the history of previous and contemporary diseases, history of hospitalization, and recent medicines taken) was gathered. The obtained data was analysed by means of SPSS software (version 13) and the statistical Chi-square test at the significant level P<0.05. Result s: 40% of these patients had a previous hospital admission history and 60% of them had been admitted to the hospital for the first time. 56.5% of patients had a history of underlying disease(s), the most common reason of which was hypertension (38.4%). The most common complaints of patients were coughing and dyspnea with abdominal pain. The most common primary diagnosis was pneumonia (27.1%) and as a final diagnosis pneumonia was the most frequent one (52%). A significant difference in the frequency of the final diagnosis in different seasons was observed. The most frequent diagnosis in the spring, autumn and winter was pneumonia and gastroenteritis was the most common final diagnosis reported in summer. Infections in the elderly require a comprehensive review of the previous history of hospitalization and comorbidities. More attention to specific organs including the respiratory, gasterointestinal and urinary tract as the most common organs involved in the diseases in the elderly can help physicians to diagnose the causes of infections in this group more rapidly.