The study was conducted in the district of Kalutara in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It
is the largest district in the Western Province, and consists of 10.7 percent urban and 89.3
percent rural population. Panadura Base Hospital was selected for this study, it has one
medical unit consists of one male and one female wards. This study was a cross-sectional
descriptive study to determine the prevalence and characteristics of patient related factors as
well as hospital related factors for the readmission of elderly patients aged 60 years and
above to medical unit. In the medical unit 403 elderly patients were selected during the
study period of 12 week. The response rate was 95.5 percent. Among the admitted elders
found that 191 ( 47.4 percent) were readmitted within 12 months of discharge, and 44 ( 10.9
percent) were within 30 days of discharge from these wards. Data collection was performed
by using an interviewer administered structured questionnaire with close type questions. The
questionnaire consists of demographic factors, health status, compliance, pre-discharge
activities, health education, follow up, and readmission. Among the readmitted elderly
patients prevalence of main diseases were heart disease ( 29.8 percent), respiratory
disorders ( 27.7 percent), hypertension ( 12 percent), and diabetes mellitus ( 11 percent).
The readmissions of elders in the age group of 60 to 75 years were 162 ( 84.8 percent), and
in 76 and above were 29 ( 15.2 percent). Readmissions in male and female elderly patients
were 99 ( 51.8 percent) and 92 ( 48.2 percent respectively. Improvements are needed in
preventive as well as in curative care activities in medical units to reduce the readmission of
elderly patients. If the diseases in elders are identified early, they can be managed at out
patient clinics. Therefore, effective measures to be taken to screen for common diseases of
elderly patients. Regular clinic attendance, good compliance in drug intake, and good
healthy living practices should be improved in elderly patients to reduce hospital admissions
in future. In medical unit further improvements are needed in pre-discharge assessment,
health education, and appropriate follow up instructions before discharge of elderly patients
The study was conducted in the district of Kalutara in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It
is the largest district in the Western Province, and consists of 10.7 percent urban and 89.3
percent rural population. Panadura Base Hospital was selected for this study, it has one
medical unit consists of one male and one female wards. This study was a cross-sectional
descriptive study to determine the prevalence and characteristics of patient related factors as
well as hospital related factors for the readmission of elderly patients aged 60 years and
above to medical unit. In the medical unit 403 elderly patients were selected during the
study period of 12 week. The response rate was 95.5 percent. Among the admitted elders
found that 191 ( 47.4 percent) were readmitted within 12 months of discharge, and 44 ( 10.9
percent) were within 30 days of discharge from these wards. Data collection was performed
by using an interviewer administered structured questionnaire with close type questions. The
questionnaire consists of demographic factors, health status, compliance, pre-discharge
activities, health education, follow up, and readmission. Among the readmitted elderly
patients prevalence of main diseases were heart disease ( 29.8 percent), respiratory
disorders ( 27.7 percent), hypertension ( 12 percent), and diabetes mellitus ( 11 percent).
The readmissions of elders in the age group of 60 to 75 years were 162 ( 84.8 percent), and
in 76 and above were 29 ( 15.2 percent). Readmissions in male and female elderly patients
were 99 ( 51.8 percent) and 92 ( 48.2 percent respectively. Improvements are needed in
preventive as well as in curative care activities in medical units to reduce the readmission of
elderly patients. If the diseases in elders are identified early, they can be managed at out
patient clinics. Therefore, effective measures to be taken to screen for common diseases of
elderly patients. Regular clinic attendance, good compliance in drug intake, and good
healthy living practices should be improved in elderly patients to reduce hospital admissions
in future. In medical unit further improvements are needed in pre-discharge assessment,
health education, and appropriate follow up instructions before discharge of elderly patients
