Understanding doctors' orders can be a matter of life or death for senior citizens: those who had trouble comprehending their physicians died sooner than their more savvy peers, US researchers said on July 23.
Medicare clients who were confused by pill bottles or appointment slips were 52 percent more likely to die over the six years of the study, especially from heart disease.
"Patients with inadequate literacy know less about their diseases ... They are much more likely to be hospitalised," said Dr David Baker of North-western University, who led the research. "It's not just higher hospital rates. It's significantly higher mortality."