Seasonal and temporal trends in leading causes of hospitalisation among older adults in Hong Kong: a retrospective study across community and institutional care settings

Here's a summary of the research study for a health-conscious reader: **1. Plain-language summary of what the study found:** This study revealed that the leading causes of hospitalization among older adults in Hong Kong change seasonally and vary significantly between those living independently and those in nursing homes. A key finding was the consistent and increasing trend of non-specific symptoms and signs (e.g., general weakness, dizziness) as a top reason for hospital admission across all settings. **2. Key findings:** * **Community-dwelling older adults:** In winter, top causes were non-specific symptoms, cancers, genitourinary, circulatory, and respiratory diseases. In summer, digestive diseases replaced respiratory issues in the top five. * **Nursing home residents:** Respiratory diseases, non-specific symptoms, genitourinary, circulatory, and digestive issues were consistently the top five causes in both winter and summer. * **Increasing trend:** "Symptoms, signs and abnormalities not classified elsewhere" (non-specific symptoms) emerged as a top two cause for hospitalization and showed a significant increasing trend across all older adult groups. * **Declining trend:** Hospitalizations due to circulatory diseases generally decreased in both community and nursing home settings. * **Other trends:** Cancers and genitourinary diseases showed increasing trends in community-dwelling older adults. **3. Practical takeaways for someone interested in nutrition and longevity:** Given the prevalence of chronic diseases and non-specific symptoms leading to hospitalization, a focus on holistic nutritional strategies is vital for promoting longevity. A balanced, nutrient-dense diet can support immune function (potentially reducing respiratory infections common in nursing homes), help manage chronic conditions like heart disease and digestive issues, and may contribute to lowering cancer risk. Adequate hydration and addressing potential nutritional deficiencies can also help prevent the "non-specific symptoms" often linked to frailty and decline. **4. Study limitations:** As a retrospective study based on existing medical records, it identifies trends and associations rather than direct causes. The broad category of "symptoms, signs and abnormalities not classified elsewhere" limits understanding of the specific underlying issues or their potential nutritional links.