Most Common Reasons for Hospitalization
Cardiovascular diseases, respiratory conditions, and complications from chronic diseases are the most common reasons people get hospitalized.
Top Causes of Hospitalization
Cardiovascular Conditions
- Heart disease: Including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and heart attacks
- Stroke: Caused by blocked blood vessels or bleeding in the brain
- Hypertension (high blood pressure): When severe or causing complications
Respiratory Conditions
- Pneumonia: Lung infection that can be very serious, especially in older adults
- Influenza (flu): Can lead to serious complications, particularly in high-risk groups
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease): Flare-ups that make breathing very difficult 1
Age-Related Patterns
- Older adults (65+ years): Higher rates of hospitalization for heart problems, pneumonia, and flu
- Very young children (0-4 years): High hospitalization rates for respiratory infections, with babies under 1 year having rates similar to elderly people 1
- Middle-aged adults: Often hospitalized for complications of chronic diseases
Hospitalization Rates
Influenza-Related Hospitalizations
- Average of approximately 114,000 influenza-related hospitalizations per year in the US 1
- Hospitalization rates for flu are highest among:
- Children under 5 years (especially babies under 1)
- Adults over 65 years
- People with underlying medical conditions 1
COVID-19 Hospitalizations
- Higher hospitalization rates among older adults with multiple health problems
- Most common conditions in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, diabetes, and heart disease 1
- Obesity is another important risk factor for severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization 1
Why These Conditions Lead to Hospitalization
Exacerbation of Chronic Conditions
- When chronic diseases like COPD or heart failure suddenly get worse
- When patients can't manage symptoms at home with regular medications
- When complications develop that require hospital-level care
Medication-Related Problems
- Adverse drug reactions cause over 700,000 emergency visits and 120,000 hospitalizations yearly among older adults 1
- Four medication types cause most hospitalizations: blood thinners (warfarin), insulin, antiplatelet drugs, and diabetes pills 1
Infections
- Respiratory infections like pneumonia often require hospitalization
- Infections can worsen existing conditions like COPD or heart failure
- Sepsis (infection in the bloodstream) has very high mortality risk 2
Important Things to Remember
- People with multiple health problems (comorbidities) have higher risk of hospitalization
- Many hospitalizations might be preventable with good outpatient care
- After one hospitalization, patients are at higher risk for being hospitalized again
- When COPD patients are rehospitalized for heart problems or pneumonia, they have nearly twice the risk of dying compared to being readmitted for COPD itself 2
Special Concerns for Older Adults
- Older adults have longer hospital stays and more complications
- They may show different symptoms than younger people (for example, confusion instead of fever)
- They're more likely to need rehabilitation after hospitalization
- They have higher risk of medication side effects during and after hospital stays 1