Effect of social factors on winter hospital admission for respiratory disease: a case-control study of older people in the UK

Jordan, RE and Hawker, JI and Ayres, JG and Adab, P and Tunnicliffe, W and Olowokure, B and Kai, J and McManus, RJM and Salter, RA and Cheng, KK (2008) Effect of social factors on winter hospital admission for respiratory disease: a case-control study of older people in the UK. British Journal of General Practice, 58 (551). pp. 400-402. ISSN 0960-1643

URL of Published Version: http://dx.doi.org/10.3399/bjgp08X302682

Identification Number/DOI: 10.3399/bjgp08X302682

Abstract

Every winter, UK hospitals experience a surge in respiratory admissions. Social circumstance may be an important determinant. This case-control study was undertaken to establish the most important factors causing winter hospital admissions among older people presenting with acute respiratory disease. The study found that socioeconomic factors had little relative effect compared with medical and functional factors. Most important were having long-term medical conditions, especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio 4.0; 95% confidence interval = 1.4 to 11.4), being housebound, and history of oral steroid treatment. Socially-isolated patients also had increased risk.

Type of Work:	Article
School/Faculty:	Schools (1998 to 2008) > School of Medicine
Department:	Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Public Health, Primary Care Clinical Sciences
Other Stated Affiliation:	Jordan, RE (reprint author), Univ Birmingham, Dept Epidemiol and Publ Hlth, Birmingham B15 2TT, W Midlands, England
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
ID Code:	59579
Keywords:	chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;elderly;hospitalisation;respiratory tract infections;socioeconomic factors;winter pressures

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