Characteristics of Acute Pyelonephritis in the Elderly.
- Author:
Sung Woong JUNG
1
;
Young Ki LEE
;
Dong Kil NA
;
Yunho SHIN
;
Seung Min LEE
;
Jwa Kyung KIM
;
Myung Jin CHOI
;
Young Rim SONG
;
Soo Jin KIM
;
Tae Jin PARK
;
Jong Woo YOON
;
Jung Woo NOH
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym Kidney Research Institute, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. km2071@unitel.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Pyelonephritis;
Geriatrics;
Creatinine;
Hospitalization
- MeSH:
Aged;
Aging;
Alkaline Phosphatase;
Creatinine;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Emergencies;
Female;
Geriatrics;
Heart;
Hospitalization;
Humans;
Korea;
Length of Stay;
Male;
Outpatients;
Pregnant Women;
Pyelonephritis;
Retrospective Studies;
Risk Factors;
Young Adult
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2011;81(5):623-629
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute pyelonephritis is relatively common in women. It has been well studied in young adults, but rarely in geriatric patients. Given that the population of Korea is aging rapidly, this study examined the clinical characteristics of acute pyelonephritis in Korean geriatric patients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 499 patients diagnosed with acute community-acquired pyelonephritis from March 2002 to February 2005. All patients admitted to Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital from the emergency room or out-patient department were recruited. Pregnant women and hospital-acquired cases were excluded. RESULTS: Ninety-nine subjects (19.8%) were aged 65 years or over (mean age 73.1 +/- 6.3 years, range 65-93). Elderly patients had a greater male predominance, longer hospital stay, and higher rate of positive urine cultures than patients younger than 65 years. The presence of diabetes mellitus, complicated acute pyelonephritis, and a higher serum creatinine level were associated with geriatric patients. The distribution of infectious microorganisms was similar between the two groups. Old age (> 65 years) was an important risk factor for a long hospital stay, along with male gender, renal dysfunction, white blood count (WBC) and high serum alkaline phosphatase levels. CONCLUSIONS: Geriatric patients with acute pyelonephritis tended to be male, and have diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, complicated infections, and a longer duration of hospitalization.
