Fever in hospitalized medical patients

The occurrence of fever and the clinical profile of febrile patients on the medical service of a teaching hospital were studied prospectively. Thirty-six per cent of 972 patients developed fever (temperature exceeding 38°C). Their 13% mortality rate and 13.2-day average hospital stay exceeded the 3% mortality and seven-day hospitalization for afebrile patients (p 75 years) had a lower febrile response to bacterial infections than younger patients. Fever in hospitalized medical patients is a common and important concomitant of increased mortality and length of hospitalization.