[A controlled study on edema in elderly inpatients].

The clinical background relating to edema in elderly inpatients was investigated, in terms of various items in elderly (aged greater than or equal to 65) cases with edema (n = 96) and without edema (controls, n = 95). Both groups were matched for sex, age, and underlying diseases. As compared with the control patients, the patients with edema had longer hospital stays with more disabled status, and showed less activity of daily living (ADL). The rates of bed-restricted patients, dementia patients, and patients with decubitus, muscle atrophy, or incontinence were found to be significantly higher in the patients with edema. The measurement of biochemical parameters revealed that the patients with edema had significantly lower levels of serum albumin, Na, Cl, creatinine, and uric acid, in contrast to higher levels of C-reactive protein. According to the classification of the assumed causes of edema, we divided the patients with edema into five groups; group 1 (n = 33): edema associated with immobilization, group 2 (n = 18): edema due to heart failure, group 3 (n = 15): edema on paretic limbs, group 4 (n = 6): edema due to hypoproteinemia, group 5 (n = 5): edema associated with liver cirrhosis. Both group 1 and group 4 patients had lower levels of hemoglobin and albumin, whereas group 3 patients had higher scores of ADL, higher blood pressure, and higher levels of hemoglobin and albumin. These results suggest that immobilization and restriction in bed, as well as malnutrition, were important factors in causing edema in elderly inpatients.