RECALMIN II. Eight years of hospitalization in Internal Medicine Units (2007–2014). What has changed?

Abstract Objectives To analyze the evolution of care provided by the internal medicine units (IMU) of the Spanish National Health System from 2007 to 2014. Material and methods We analyzed all discharges from the IMU of the Spanish National Health System in 2007 and 2014, using the Minimum Basic Data Set. We compared the risk factors by episode, mortality and readmissions between the two periods. We prepared specific fits for the risk for mortality and readmissions in heart failure, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as the Charlson index for all activity. Results Discharges from the IMU between the two periods increased 14%. The average patient age increased by 2.8 years (71.2 ± 17.1 vs. 74 ± 16.2; p p Conclusions During the analyzed period, there was an increase of almost 3 years in the mean age of patients treated in the IMU of the Spanish National Health System, with a marked increase in comorbidity. These results should lead to a more appropriate assignment of nurse workloads and an increased implementation of good practices in clinical management.