Mortality Facts in Internal Medicine Wards: A Descriptive Study From A University Hospital

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to determine the mortality rates and the causes of death in hospitalized patients in Internal Medicine Wards in a University Hospital.

Material and Methods: Medical records of patients who were hospitalized between 01 June 2014 and 31 May 2015 in Internal Medicine Wards of a University Hospital were reviewed and patients who died were examined retrospectively. Patient characteristics and causes of death were sorted out. 

Results: In the defined time frame, 5314 hospitalization episodes of 4500 patients were recorded and 416 (9.2%) patients died during hospital stay. The mean age of the patients who died was 62 (19-95) years and 54% of them were male. The median duration of hospitalization was 16 (0-142) days. The mean Charlson score was 6.3 ± 2.7. The rates of hospitalization and death did not differ between seasons. Malignancy was present in 71% of the cases and, 46% had metastatic solid cancer. The most common accompanying diseases were diabetes mellitus (25.7%), hypertension (35%) and congestive heart failure (18.8%). The most common reasons of admission were respiratory distress (23.8%), pneumonia (11.1%), and general deterioration (10.6%) among the patients who died. Sepsis (69%) and respiratory failure (15.9%) were the leading causes of deaths.

Conclusion: Patients who died in internal medicine wards have high chronic illness burden. Sepsis was the most common cause of death.

Keywords: Internal medicine, mortality, sepsis.