Frequency and Pattern of Emergency Department Visits by Long-Term Care Residents-A Population-Based Study

The diversity of heart failure in a hospitalized population: the role of age

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) among hospitalized elderly patients is high and steadily growing. However, because most studies have focused mostly on young patients, little is known about the clinical characteristics, echocardiographic measures, prognostic factors, and outcome of hospitalized elderly HF patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We identified all HF patients aged ≥50 years who had undergone ≥1 echocardiography study and had been hospitalized during January 2000 to December 2009. A comparative analysis was performed between 3,897 "young" patients (aged 50-75 years) and 5,438 "elderly" patients (aged >75 years), followed for a mean 2.8 ± 2.6 years. Elderly HF patients were more often female (50% vs 35%; P < .0001) and had a higher prevalence of HF with preserved ejection fraction (64.8% vs 53%; P < .0001), more significant valvular disease (35.7% vs 32.5%; P < .0001), and lower rates of ischemic heart disease (65.5% vs 70.9%; P < .0001) and diabetes (34.4% vs 53.9%; P < .0001). Thirty-day and 1-year mortality rates were significantly higher among the elderly population (12.2% vs 6.9% [P < .0001] and 34.3% vs 21.2% [P < .0001], respectively). Prognostic markers differed significantly between age groups. Young-specific predictors were chronic renal failure, diastolic dysfunction, malignancy, and tricuspid regurgitation, whereas elderly-specific predictors were HF with reduced ejection fraction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary hypertension, and mitral regurgitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitalized elderly, compared with young, HF patients differed in prevalence of cardiac and noncardiac comorbid conditions, echocardiographic parameters, and predictors of short- and intermediate-term mortality. Identifying unique features in the elderly population may render age-tailored therapeutics.

Stakeholder perspectives on transitions of nursing home residents to hospital emergency departments and back in two Canadian provinces

Major gaps exist in our understanding of transitions in care for older persons living in nursing homes. The purpose of the study was to identify key elements, from multiple stakeholder perspectives, that influence the success of transitions experienced by nursing home residents when they required transfer to a hospital emergency department. This interpretive descriptive study was conducted in two cities in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Data were collected from 71 participants via focus groups and individual interviews with nursing home residents, family members, and professional healthcare providers working in nursing homes, emergency departments, and emergency medical services. Transcripts were analyzed using constant comparison. The elements contributing to the success of transitions reflected a patient- and family-centered approach to care. Transitions were influenced by the complex interplay of multiple elements that included: knowing the resident; critical geriatric knowledge and skilled assessment; positive relationships; effective communication; and timeliness. When one or more of the elements was absent or compromised, the success of the transition was also compromised. There was consistency about the importance of all the identified elements across all stakeholder groups whether they are residents, family members, or health professionals in nursing homes, emergency departments or emergency medical services. Aspects of many of these elements are modifiable and suggest viable targets for interventions aimed at improving the success of transitions for this vulnerable population.

Acute care inpatients with long-term delayed-discharge: evidence from a Canadian health region

Background

Acute hospital discharge delays are a pressing concern for many health care administrators. In Canada, a delayed discharge is defined by the alternate level of care (ALC) construct and has been the target of many provincial health care strategies. Little is known on the patient characteristics that influence acute ALC length of stay. This study examines which characteristics drive acute ALC length of stay for those awaiting nursing home admission.

Methods

Population-level administrative and assessment data were used to examine 17,111 acute hospital admissions designated as alternate level of care (ALC) from a large Canadian health region. Case level hospital records were linked to home care administrative and assessment records to identify and characterize those ALC patients that account for the greatest proportion of acute hospital ALC days.

Results

ALC patients waiting for nursing home admission accounted for 41.5% of acute hospital ALC bed days while only accounting for 8.8% of acute hospital ALC patients. Characteristics that were significantly associated with greater ALC lengths of stay were morbid obesity (27 day mean deviation, 99% CI = ±14.6), psychiatric diagnosis (13 day mean deviation, 99% CI = ±6.2), abusive behaviours (12 day mean deviation, 99% CI = ±10.7), and stroke (7 day mean deviation, 99% CI = ±5.0). Overall, persons with morbid obesity, a psychiatric diagnosis, abusive behaviours, or stroke accounted for 4.3% of all ALC patients and 23% of all acute hospital ALC days between April 1^st 2009 and April 1^st, 2011. ALC patients with the identified characteristics had unique clinical profiles.

Conclusions

A small number of patients with non-medical days waiting for nursing home admission contribute to a substantial proportion of total non-medical days in acute hospitals. Increases in nursing home capacity or changes to existing funding arrangements should target the sub-populations identified in this investigation to maximize effectiveness. Specifically, incentives should be introduced to encourage nursing homes to accept acute patients with the least prospect for community-based living, while acute patients with the greatest prospect for community-based living are discharged to transitional care or directly to community-based care.

Emergency department visits by nursing home residents in the United States

OBJECTIVES

To characterize emergency department (ED) use by nursing home residents in the United States.

DESIGN

Analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

SETTING

U.S. EDs from 2005 to 2008.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals visiting U.S. EDs stratified according to nursing home residency.

MEASUREMENTS

All ED visits by nursing home residents were identified. The demographic and clinical characteristics and ED resource utilization, length of stay, and outcomes of nursing home residents and nonresidents were compared.

RESULTS

During 2005 to 2008, nursing home residents accounted for 9,104,735 of 475,077,828 U.S. ED visits (1.9%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.8-2.1%). The annualized number of ED visits by nursing home residents was 2,276,184. Most nursing home residents were older (mean age 76.7, 95% CI = 75.8-77.5), female (63.3%), and non-Hispanic white (74.8%). Nursing home residents were more likely to have been discharged from the hospital in the prior 7 days (adjusted odds ratio (aOR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.9), to present with fever (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5-2.4) or hypotension (systolic blood pressure ≤90 mmHg, aOR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.5-2.2), and to receive diagnostic tests (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.6-2.2), imaging (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.3-1.7), or procedures (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.4-1.7) in the ED. Almost half of nursing home residents visiting the ED were admitted to the hospital. Nursing home residents were more likely to be admitted to the hospital (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.6-2.0) and to die (aOR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.6-3.3).

CONCLUSION

Nursing home residents account for more than 2.2 million ED visits annually in the United States. Nursing home residents have greater medical acuity and complexity. These observations highlight the national challenges of organizing and delivering ED care to nursing home residents in the United States.

Comparative effectiveness of implementing evidence-based education and best practices in nursing homes: effects on falls, quality-of-life and societal costs

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to conduct a comparative effectiveness research study to estimate the effects on falls, negative affect and behavior, and the associated societal costs of implementing evidence-based education and best practice programs in nursing homes (NHs).

DESIGN

A quasi-experimental design, a variant of a cluster randomized trial of implementation research examining transfer of research findings into practice, was used to compare outcomes among three groups of residents in 15 nursing homes per group.

METHODS

Forty-five NHs participated in one of three conditions: (1) standard training, (2) training and implementation modules provided to facility staff, or (3) staff training and implementation modules augmented by surveyor training. After application of exclusion and matching criteria, nursing homes were selected at random within three regions of New York State. Outcomes were assessed using medical records and the Minimum Data Set (MDS).

RESULTS

The main finding was of a significant reduction of between 5 and 12 annual falls in a typical nursing home. While both intervention groups resulted in fall reduction, the larger and significant reduction occurred in the group without surveyor training. A significant reduction in negative affect associated with training staff and surveyors was observed. Net cost savings from fall prevention was estimated.

CONCLUSIONS

A low cost intervention targeting dissemination of evidence-based best practices in nursing homes can result in the potential for fall reduction, and cost savings.

Acute hospital admissions among nursing home residents: a population-based observational study

Background

Nursing home residents are prone to acute illness due to their high age, underlying illnesses and immobility. We examined the incidence of acute hospital admissions among nursing home residents versus the age-matched community dwelling population in a geographically defined area during a two years period. The hospital stays of the nursing home population are described according to diagnosis, length of stay and mortality. Similar studies have previously not been reported in Scandinavia.

Methods

The acute hospitalisations of the nursing home residents were identified through ambulance records. These were linked to hospital patient records for inclusion of demographics, diagnosis at discharge, length of stay and mortality. Incidence of hospitalisation was calculated based on patient-time at risk.

Results

The annual hospital admission incidence was 0.62 admissions per person-year among the nursing home residents and 0.26 among the community dwellers. In the nursing home population we found that dominant diagnoses were respiratory diseases, falls-related and circulatory diseases, accounting for 55% of the cases. The median length of stay was 3 days (interquartile range = 4). The in-hospital mortality rate was 16% and 30 day mortality after discharge 30%.

Conclusion

Acute hospital admission rate among nursing home residents was high in this Scandinavian setting. The pattern of diagnoses causing the admissions appears to be consistent with previous research. The in-hospital and 30 day mortality rates are high.

Prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment among older adults with hip fractures

BACKGROUND

Dementia and cognitive impairment are known to be risk factors for hip fractures and are associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Little is known of the prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment among older adults with hip fractures.

METHODS

We completed searches of the electronic databases for observational studies and report the prevalence of either dementia or cognitive impairment among individuals with hip fractures. We included studies that reported the prevalence of dementia using standard diagnostic criteria or cognitive impairment as measured on cognitive screening tests. We used random-effects meta-analysis to arrive at pooled estimates of the prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

Five studies reported the prevalence of dementia and 34 studies reported the prevalence of cognitive impairment in older adults with hip fractures. The estimated prevalence of dementia among older adults with hip fractures was 19.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.4% to 30.6%), whereas the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 41.8% (95% CI: 37.0% to 46.8%). In subgroup analyses, individuals admitted from long-term care were more likely to have dementia when compared with individuals admitted from the community, whereas there were no significant differences in the prevalence of cognitive impairment according to gender or study setting.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that dementia and cognitive impairment are common among older adults with hip fractures. Clinicians providing care for individuals with hip fractures should be aware of the high prevalence of cognitive impairment in this population. Effective strategies to prevent hip fractures and improve postoperative outcomes for older adults with dementia are needed.