Hong Kong Med J 2010;16(Suppl 3):S4-7
Ageing and utilisation of hospital services in Hong Kong: a retrospective cohort study
J Woo, W Goggins, X Zhang, V Wong, S Griffiths
School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
 
 
1. In the 3 years before death, older age-groups do not use inpatient hospital services more than younger age-groups. However, they do use more accident and emergency department services.
2. No compression in morbidity was demonstrated.
3. Data obtained from this retrospective study may be used to project future usage for each type of service as a result of the changing age structure of the population, so as to facilitate health care planning.
4. Health care costs as a result of the changing age structure of populations may also be estimated more accurately, instead of assuming a linear increase in all types of services with age.