A retrospective case-control study of 100 elderly patients admitted to Goroka Hospital was undertaken. Chronic disease with cor pulmonale was the commonest condition diagnosed in this group (22%) and lobar pneumonia was the commonest infection (17%). Cancer occurred in only 5% of subjects, and in all of these patients, hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed. No cases of degenerative cardiovascular disease were observed. Mean hospital stay was 12.9 days.