Significant increase in emergency admissions of the elderly
Over the course of 10 years, the number of emergency admissions of elderly patients to Norwegian hospitals has increased by 25 per cent. If no changes occur, the annual number of emergency admissions in 2040 could be twice as high as in 2015.
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The note provides an overview of the development in the use of emergency admissions of elderly patients (75 years and older) in Norwegian hospitals during the period 2015—2024. Additionally, an estimate has been made regarding how this development is expected to progress in the future, should current admission practices continue.
Must expect the trend to continue
The figures show that while there were 140,000 emergency admissions in Norway in 2015, this number had increased to 175,000 by 2024. Most of the increase during this decade occurred after 2020.
The estimate indicates that if the increase continues, the number of emergency admissions could surpass 200,000 as early as 2027 or 2028. Furthermore, if there are no changes in the practices and organisation of healthcare services, the annual number of emergency admissions of the elderly could exceed 300,000 by 2040.
Due to an ageing population
The increase in the number of emergency admissions of elderly patients is attributed to the ageing population in Norway. In 2024, nearly one in three emergency admissions in somatic specialist healthcare involved patients aged 75 and older (31.5%). This also represents a significant share of resource use in hospitals.
The four most common conditions for which the elderly were admitted in 2024 were pneumonia, heart failure, hip fractures, and COPD.
It is important that hospitals prepare
In 2023, the Health Personnel Commission pointed out that demographic developments will lead to an increase in demand for healthcare services and healthcare personnel – while continued personnel growth in the sector will become challenging.
— Det er viktig at sykehusene forbereder seg på å håndtere den forventede økningen i antall akuttinnleggelser av eldre.
— An assumption often made is that the elderly in the future will have more healthy years of life than before. However, for the individual, the need for healthcare towards the end of life will likely not disappear with a healthier old age. It will merely be postponed. A healthier elderly population may therefore delay the growth in the use of emergency admissions. This could give hospitals a bit more time to adapt, says the head of analysis at SKDE, Hanne Sigrun Byhring.
— Dramatic figures
— These are dramatic figures, and we must definitely think anew. Norwegian hospitals are not equipped for a future with more elderly. In Health North, we are currently looking at measures to address this, says Gunhild Ag, senior consultant in geriatrics at the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN).
She explains that in safe geriatric medicine, some of the most important questions are “How robust is the patient? Is the patient frail - what can the patient withstand in terms of stress?”. UNN has therefore introduced the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) as a screening tool to assess frailty in those over 65 years old.
— There is European consensus that early frailty assessment should be implemented in emergency departments. Additionally, CFS should be introduced as a common screening tool for frailty across the community. This will achieve a common language for frailty and ensure better tailored treatment for elderly patients, believes the senior consultant.
See also: When the elderly are admitted to hospital
— We need an elderly uplift!
— Med flere eldre og færre helsepersonell framover bør vi tørre å tenke nytt. Vi behøver mer systematisk kunnskapsøkning og kunnskapsdeling. Vi behøver et eldreløft!
Ag believes it is necessary to increase knowledge in society about geriatric medicine. For example, by specifying a minimum of focus areas that everyone should know something about, not just healthcare personnel. This could contribute to a better understanding of the complex field of geriatric medicine. Furthermore, she emphasises that it is more important than ever to work together around patients:
— Hospitals and municipalities must collaborate more closely. Both in caring for patients and their loved ones, but also for the healthcare personnel who will care for the patient. Who benefits from being admitted to hospital, and who can be cared for in the municipalities? For it is at home that patients should live and reside, not in hospital, Ag points out.
Read also: We will become the best in the country at geriatric medicine