Seasonal variations in acute hospitalization and mortality among nursing home residents: Results from LOVE (Long-term care of Old people Via KorEan Nursing Home Network) study

PurposeTo analyze the seasonal variation (winter, spring, summer, and autumn) of causal diseases of acute hospitalization from nursing home.Subjects and methodsWe reviewed medical records of all 338 cases of acute hospitalization occurring among nursing home residents in the Korean Nursing Home Network, checking age, sex, admission day, final diagnosis, and clinical outcomes (admission to intensive care unit, mortality, duration of stay).ResultsAdmissions due to infectious diseases were more frequent in winter. Compared to patients without pneumonia, those with pneumonia had worse clinical outcomes. After adjustment of age, sex, and duration of hospital stay, pneumonia in winter season was associated with a higher mortality risk (Odd ratio = 2.40, 95% CI 1.01–5.67).ConclusionDuring winter especially, pneumonia poses a high mortality risk in nursing homes, and large-scale prospective studies of acute diseases in nursing homes are needed.