Objective:To find the clinical features and to provide the preventive and therapeutic methods by analyzing the disease spectrum and major death causes of in-patients.Methods:The clinical data of the elderly in-patients in urban and outskirt hospitals between1989 and 1998 were surveyed and analyzed retrospectively.Results:The cumulative data of ten years according to systems showed that diseases of digestive system ranked the first (21.1%)

and the other systems ranking in order were respiratory system

cardiovascular system

nervous system and so on.Among the first ten common diseases chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive emphysema (9.27%)ranked the first

and then other diseases ranking in order were cerebral vascular disease

coronary heart disease

cholelithiasis

essential hypertension

primary bronchogenic carcinoma of lung

diabetes mellitus

benign prostatic hyperplasia

chronic cor pulmonale

chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer.Of diseases ranked the first

which accounted for 1.56%

and then the other death causes ranking in order were gastro-intestinal disease

nervous system disease

cardiovascular disease

accidents and toxic damage etc.The death causes according to types ranked in order as follows.The first one was malignant tumor

its mortality being 1.22% in the elderly in-patient group.The following death causes ranking in order were cerebral vascular disease

chronic bronchitis and emphysema

coronary heart disease

etc.Conclusions:The common diseases of elderly patients ranking in order were diseases of digestive system

respiratory system

cardiovascular system

nervous system and so on.The major death causes of the elderly patients were diseases of respiratory system

cardiovascular system and malignant tumor.It is of importance for the aged to take preventive measures.It is suggested to do routine physical examination to detect and prevent risk factors of some diseases and change the improper living habits and strengthen the preventive and therapeutic methods.