Disparities in utilization of outpatient rehabilitative care following hip fracture hospitalization with respect to race and ethnicity

Disparities in Physical Therapy Outcomes Based on Race and Ethnicity: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review synthesizes and summarizes the evidence on racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes after physical therapist treatment.

METHODS

Four databases from 2001 through 2021 were searched for articles reporting physical therapy outcomes across racial and ethnic groups. The Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework was adapted for this scoping review. Two reviewers screened the abstracts, and 5 reviewers screened full texts for inclusion. Five reviewers extracted information including study design, diagnoses, setting, outcomes reported, the domains the outcomes measured, and racial and ethnic groups included. To identify disparities, summarized differences in outcomes (better, worse, no difference) for each racial and ethnic group compared to White patients were calculated.

RESULTS

Of 1511 abstracts screened, 65 met inclusion criteria, 57 of which were observational designs. All 65 articles included non-Hispanic White patients as the reference group. A majority of the physical therapy outcomes reported by race were for Black patients and/or Hispanic or Latino patients, whereas outcomes for Asian, American Indian, Alaskan Native, and/or Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islander patients were reported infrequently. Most articles reported disparities in health outcomes for patients in the inpatient rehabilitation setting (n = 48) and for adults (n = 59) with neurologic diagnoses (n = 36). Compared to White patients, worse outcomes were reported more frequently for all marginalized racial and ethnic groups after physical therapy, with the exception of marginalized groups having the same or better outcomes for successful post-rehabilitation community discharge.

CONCLUSION

Gaps remain in understanding outcome disparities beyond older adult and neurologic populations as well as for musculoskeletal diagnoses frequently treated by physical therapists.

IMPACT

The presence of racial and ethnic disparities in physical therapy outcomes should motivate physical therapists to understand the mechanisms underlying disparities and focus on social and structural drivers of health inequity in their clinical decision-making.

In-Hospital Mortality Risk and Discharge Disposition Following Hip Fractures: An Analysis of the Texas Trauma Registry

Background

In-hospital mortality and discharge disposition following traumatic hip fractures previously reported in the literature, has mainly focused on a nationwide scale, which may not be reflective of unique populations.

Objective

Our aim was to characterize demographics, hospital disposition, and associated outcomes for patients with the most common hip fractures.

Methods

A retrospective study utilizing the Trauma Registry from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Patient demographics, injury characteristics, and outcomes, such as in-hospital mortality, and discharge dispositions, were collected. The data were analyzed via univariate analysis and multivariate regressions.

Results

There were 17,104 included patients, composed of 45% femoral neck fractures (FN) and 55% intertrochanteric fractures (IT). There were no differences in injury severity score (ISS) (9 ± 1.8) or age (77.4 ± 8 years old) between fracture types. In-hospital mortality risk was low but different among fracture types (intertrochanteric, 1.9% vs femoral neck, 1.3%, P = .004). However, when controlling for age, and ISS, intertrochanteric fractures and Hispanic patients were associated with higher mortality (P < .001, OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0). Uninsured, and Black/African American (P = .05, OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3) and Hispanic (P < .001, OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3) patients were more likely to be discharged home after adjusting for age, ISS, and payment method.

Conclusion

Regardless of age, severity of the injury or admission hemodynamics, intertrochanteric fractures and Hispanic/Latino patients had an increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Patients who were uninsured, Hispanic, or Black were discharged home rather than to rehabilitation, regardless of age, ISS, or payment method.

No Differences Between White and Non-White Patients in Terms of Care Quality Metrics, Complications, and Death After Hip Fracture Surgery When Standardized Care Pathways Are Used

BACKGROUND

Many initiatives by medical and public health communities at the national, state, and institutional level have been centered around understanding and analyzing critical determinants of population health with the goal of equitable and nondisparate care. In orthopaedic traumatology, several studies have demonstrated that race and socioeconomic status are associated with differences in care delivery and outcomes of patients with hip fractures. However, studies assessing the effectiveness of methods to address disparities in care delivery, quality metrics, and complications after hip fracture surgery are lacking.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

(1) Are hospital quality measures (such as delay to surgery, major inpatient complications, intensive care unit admission, and discharge disposition) and outcomes (such as mortality during inpatient stay, within 30 days or within 1 year) similar between White and non-White patients at a single institution in the setting of a standardized hip fracture pathway? (2) What factors correlate with aforementioned hospital quality measures and outcomes under the standardized care pathway?

METHODS

In this retrospective, comparative study, we evaluated the records of 1824 patients 55 years of age or older with hip fractures from a low-energy mechanism who were treated at one of four hospitals in our urban academic healthcare system, which includes an orthopaedic tertiary care hospital, from the initiation of a standardized care pathway in October 2014 to March 2020. The standardized 4-day hip fracture pathway is comprised of medicine comanagement of all patients and delineated tasks for doctors, nursing, social work, care managers, and physical and occupational therapy from admission to expected discharge on postoperative day 4. Of the 1824 patients, 98% (1787 of 1824) of patients who had their race recorded in the electronic medical record chart (either by communicating it to a medical provider or by selecting their race from options including White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian in a patient portal of the electronic medical record) were potentially eligible. A total of 14% (249 of 1787) of patients were excluded because they did not have an in-state address. Of the included patients, 5% (70 of 1538) were lost to follow-up at 30 days and 22% (336 of 1538) were lost to follow-up at 1 year. Two groups were established by including all patients selecting White as primary race into the White cohort and all other patients in the non-White cohort. There were 1111 White patients who were 72% (801) female with mean age 82 ± 10 years and 427 non-White patients who were 64% (271) female with mean age 80 ± 11 years. Univariate chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests of demographics were used to compare White and non-White patients and find factors to control for potentially relevant confounding variables. Multivariable regression analyses were used to control for important baseline between-group differences to (1) determine the correlation of White and non-White race on mortality, inpatient complications, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and discharge disposition and (2) assess the correlation of gender, socioeconomic status, insurance payor, and the Score for Trauma Triage in the Geriatric and Middle Aged (STTGMA) trauma risk score with these quality measures and outcomes.

RESULTS

After controlling for gender, insurer, socioeconomic status and STTGMA trauma risk score, we found that non-White patients had similar or improved care in terms of mortality and rates of delayed surgery, ICU admission, major complications, and discharge location in the setting of the standardized care pathway. Non-White race was not associated with inpatient (odds ratio 1.1 [95% CI 0.40 to 2.73]; p > 0.99), 30-day (OR 1.0 [95% CI 0.48 to 1.83]; p > 0.99) or 1-year mortality (OR 0.9 [95% CI 0.57 to 1.33]; p > 0.99). Non-White race was not associated with delay to surgery beyond 2 days (OR = 1.1 [95% CI 0.79 to 1.38]; p > 0.99). Non-White race was associated with less frequent ICU admissions (OR 0.6 [95% CI 0.42 to 0.85]; p = 0.03) and fewer major complications (OR 0.5 [95% CI 0.35 to 0.83]; p = 0.047). Non-White race was not associated with discharge to skilled nursing facility (OR 1.0 [95% CI 0.78 to 1.30]; p > 0.99), acute rehabilitation facility (OR 1.0 [95% CI 0.66 to 1.41]; p > 0.99), or home (OR 0.9 [95% CI 0.68 to 1.29]; p > 0.99). Controlled factors other than White versus non-White race were associated with mortality, discharge location, ICU admission, and major complication rate. Notably, the STTGMA trauma risk score was correlated with all endpoints.

CONCLUSION

In the context of a hip fracture care pathway that reduces variability from time of presentation through discharge, no differences in mortality, time to surgery, complications, and discharge disposition rates were observed beween White and non-White patients after controlling for baseline differences including trauma risk score. The pathway detailed in this study is one iteration that the authors encourage surgeons to customize and trial at their institutions, with the goal of providing equitable care to patients with hip fractures and reducing healthcare disparities. Future investigations should aim to elucidate the impact of standardized trauma care pathways through the use of the STTGMA trauma risk score as a controlled confounder or randomized trials in comparing standardized to individualized, surgeon-specific care.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

Trends and Disparities in Inpatient Rehabilitation of Adolescents: The Effect of Demographics, Injury Characteristics, and Facility Type

BACKGROUND

Intensive rehabilitation of adolescents occurs in general and pediatric inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), but differences in admission and outcomes by facility type have not been thoroughly investigated, particularly among persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).

OBJECTIVES

To investigate factors related to admission to pediatric or adult IRFs among adolescents and compare the rehabilitation outcomes between facility types.

METHODS

Using a single-center retrospective cohort study design, demographic information, medical data, and rehabilitation outcomes were obtained by chart review of patients aged 15 to 18 years who received a rehabilitation medicine consultation at an urban level 1 trauma center between 2017 and 2019 (N = 96). Analysis was performed using R statistical software.

RESULTS

SCI was the second most common diagnosis (21% of patients) and accounted for 36% of inpatient rehabilitation admissions. SCI patients were more likely to undergo rehabilitation at the level 1 trauma versus pediatric facility (relative risk [RR] = 2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-5.44) compared to traumatic brain injury patients. Admission to trauma versus pediatric IRF was also associated with Black compared to White race (RR = 2.5; CI = 1.12-5.56), violence compared to other etiologies of injury (RR = 2.0; CI = 1.10-3.77), and Medicaid compared to private insurance (RR = 2.15; CI = 1.01-4.59). Admission to pediatric IRF was associated with longer length of stay than admission to adult IRF when adjusted for diagnosis (30.86 ± 21.82 vs. 24.33 ± 18.17 days; p = .046), but Functional Independence Measures did not differ.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents with SCI and those experiencing systemic disadvantages, including racism and poverty, were more likely to be admitted to trauma compared to pediatric IRF.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Bone Health and Outcomes in the United States

Osteoporosis is a bone disease classified by deterioration of bone microarchitecture and decreased bone strength, thereby increasing subsequent risk of fracture. In the United States, approximately 54 million adults aged 50 years and older have osteoporosis or are at risk due to low bone mass. Osteoporosis has long been viewed as a chronic health condition affecting primarily non-Hispanic white (NHW) women; however, emerging evidence indicates racial and ethnic disparities in bone outcomes and osteoporosis management. The primary objective of this review is to describe disparities in bone mineral density (BMD), prevalence of osteoporosis and fracture, as well as in screening and treatment of osteoporosis among non-Hispanic black (NHB), Hispanic, and Asian adults compared with NHW adults living on the US mainland. The following areas were reviewed: BMD, osteoporosis prevalence, fracture prevalence and incidence, postfracture outcomes, DXA screening, and osteoporosis treatments. Although there are limited studies on bone and fracture outcomes within Asian and Hispanic populations, findings suggest that there are differences in bone outcomes across NHW, NHB, Asian, and Hispanic populations. Further, NHB, Asian, and Hispanic populations may experience suboptimal osteoporosis management and postfracture care, although additional population-based studies are needed. There is also evidence that variation in BMD and osteoporosis exists within major racial and ethnic groups, highlighting the need for research in individual groups by origin or background. Although there is a clear need to prioritize future quantitative and qualitative research in these populations, initial strategies for addressing bone health disparities are discussed. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Hemiarthroplasty or Total Hip Arthroplasty: Is There a Racial Bias in Treatment Selection for Femoral Neck Fractures?

Introduction

Hip fractures in the elderly individuals are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and outcomes are directly related to prompt surgical intervention with either total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hemiarthroplasty. Minority hip fracture patients have increased delays to surgical intervention and poorer functional outcomes. This study explored racial biases in the surgical treatment decision between THA and hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures as well as racial disparities in postoperative complications, readmission rates, and 30-day mortality.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) from 2006 to 2014. Patients were identified using diagnosis code for transcervical femoral neck fractures and Current Procedural Terminology codes for THA or hemiarthroplasty. A multivariable regression analysis was conducted including race, demographic information, and medical comorbidities.

Results

Of 11 408 patients, race was recorded in 8538 individuals. Most patients were white (88.3%), followed by Hispanic (4.7%), African American (4.1%), and Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/American Indian/Alaska Native (2.9%). No differences were observed in the likelihood of receiving a THA versus hemiarthroplasty among racial groups. Only younger age and steroid use were independent risk factors for receiving a THA. Race was significantly associated with postoperative mortality (P = .014) and major postoperative complications for the Asian cohort (P = .013).

Discussion

The NSQIP data do not support a racial bias in the selection of patients for THA versus hemiarthroplasty. However, this study found racial disparities in postoperative mortality and complications. The reasons underlying the differences in postoperative outcomes are uncertain but may be the result of specific challenges to accessing care.

Conclusion

There was no racial bias in the treatment of femoral neck fractures. However, there were racial disparities in postoperative mortality and complication rates. Further research is warranted to elucidate the true causes of these observed disparities.

Developing a multidisciplinary rehabilitation package following hip fracture and testing in a randomised feasibility study: Fracture in the Elderly Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation (FEMuR)

BACKGROUND

Proximal femoral fracture is a major health problem in old age, with annual UK health and social care costs of £2.3B. Rehabilitation has the potential to maximise functional recovery and maintain independent living, but evidence of clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness is lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To develop an enhanced community-based rehabilitation package following surgical treatment for proximal femoral fracture and to assess acceptability and feasibility for a future definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT) and economic evaluation.

DESIGN

Phase I - realist review, survey and focus groups to develop the rehabilitation package. Phase II - parallel-group, randomised (using a dynamic adaptive algorithm) feasibility study with focus groups and an anonymised cohort study.

SETTING

Recruitment was from orthopaedic wards of three acute hospitals in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales. The intervention was delivered in the community following hospital discharge.

PARTICIPANTS

Older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) who had received surgical treatment for hip fracture, lived independently prior to fracture, had mental capacity (assessed by the clinical team) and received rehabilitation in the North Wales area.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants received usual care (control) or usual care plus an enhanced rehabilitation package (intervention). Usual care was variable and consisted of multidisciplinary rehabilitation delivered by the acute hospital, community hospital and community services depending on need and availability. The intervention was designed to enhance rehabilitation by improving patients' self-efficacy and increasing the amount and quality of patients' practice of physical exercise and activities of daily living. It consisted of a patient-held information workbook, a goal-setting diary and six additional therapy sessions.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was the Barthel Activities of Daily Living (BADL) index. The secondary outcome measures included the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) scale, EuroQol-5 Dimensions, ICEpop CAPability measure for Older people, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Falls Efficacy Scale - International (FES-I), Self-Efficacy for Exercise scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and service use measures. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and at 3-month follow-up by blinded researchers.

RESULTS

Sixty-two participants were recruited (23% of those who were eligible), 61 were randomised (control, n = 32; intervention, n = 29) and 49 (79%) were followed up at 3 months. Compared with the cohort study, a younger, healthier subpopulation was recruited. There were minimal differences in most outcomes between the two groups, including the BADL index, with an adjusted mean difference of 0.5 (Cohen's d = 0.29). The intervention group showed a medium-sized improvement on the NEADL scale relative to the control group, with an adjusted mean difference between groups of 3.0 (Cohen's d = 0.63). There was a trend for greater improvement in FES-I and HADS in the intervention group, but with small effect sizes, with an adjusted mean difference of 4.2 (Cohen's d = 0.31) and 1.3 (Cohen's d = 0.20), respectively. The cost of delivering the intervention was £231 per patient. There was a possible small relative increase in quality-adjusted life-years in the intervention group. No serious adverse events relating to the intervention were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Trial methods were feasible in terms of eligibility, recruitment and retention, although recruitment was challenging. The NEADL scale was more responsive than the BADL index, suggesting that the intervention could enable participants to regain better levels of independence compared with usual care. This should be tested in a definitive Phase III RCT. There were two main limitations of the study: the feasibility study lacked power to test for differences between the groups and a ceiling effect was observed in the primary measure.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN22464643.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 21, No. 44. See the NIHR Journals Library for further project information.

Do illness rating systems predict discharge location, length of stay, and cost after total hip arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND

As procedure rates and expenditures for total hip arthroplasty (THA) rise, hospitals are developing models to predict discharge location, a major determinant of total cost. The predictive value of existing illness rating systems such as the American Society for Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Classification System, Severity of Illness (SOI) scoring system, or Mallampati (MP) rating scale on discharge location remains unclear. This study explored the predictive role of ASA, SOI, and MP scores on discharge location, lengths of stay, and total costs for THA patients.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing elective primary or revision THA was conducted at a single institution. Multivariable regressions were utilized to assess the significant predictive factors for lengths of stay, total costs, and discharge to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), rehabilitation centers, and home. Controls included demographic factors, insurance coverage, and the type of procedure.

RESULTS

ASA scores ≥3 are the only significant predictors of discharge to SNFs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.69, confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-2.74) and home (OR = 0.57, CI = 0.34-0.98). Medicaid coverage (OR = 2.61, CI = 1.37-4.96) and African-American race (OR = 2.60, CI = 1.59-4.25) were additional significant predictors of discharge to SNF. SOI scores are the only significant predictors of length of stay (β = 1.36 days, CI = 0.53-2.19) and total cost for an episode (β = $6,234, CI = $3577-$8891). MP scores possess limited predictive power over lengths of stay only.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that although ASA classifications predict discharge location and SOI scores predict length of stay and total costs, other factors beyond illness rating systems remain stronger predictors of discharge for THA patients.

Using Illness Rating Systems to Predict Discharge Location Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Purpose

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is increasing in frequency and cost. Optimization of discharge location may reduce total expenditure while maximizing patient outcomes. Although preoperative illness rating systems—including the American Society for Anesthesiologists Physical Classification System (ASA), severity of illness scoring system (SOI), and Mallampati rating scale (MP)—are associated with patient morbidity and mortality, their predictive value for discharge location, length of stay (LOS), and total costs remains unclear.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 677 TKA patients (550 primary and 127 revision) treated at a single institution. The influence of ASA, SOI, and MP scores on discharge locations, LOS, and total costs was assessed using multivariable regression analyses.

Results

None of the systems were significant predictors of discharge location following TKA. SOI scores of major or higher (β=2.08 days, p<0.001) and minor (β=−0.25 days, p=0.009) significantly predicted LOS relative to moderate scores. Total costs were also significantly predicted by SOI scores of major or higher (β=$6,155, p=0.022) and minor (β=−$1,163, p=0.007).

Conclusions

SOI scores may be harnessed as a predictive tool for LOS and total costs following TKA, but other mechanisms are necessary to predict discharge location.

Racial and insurance disparities in the utilization of supportive care after inpatient admission for proximal humerus fracture

BACKGROUND

Post-discharge supportive services such as home health assistance and rehabilitation or skilled nursing facilities are often utilized after inpatient care for fracture of the proximal humerus. It is unclear whether sociodemographic disparities exist in the utilization of post-hospital supportive care. The present study aimed to evaluate the individual and combined effects of race and insurance status on the utilization of supportive services after hospital admission for fracture of the proximal humerus.

METHODS

Among the more than 40,000 patients with a proximal humerus fracture identified in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2008 to 2011), 85% were white, 7.7% were Hispanic and 7.0% were black. More black patients (19%) and Hispanic patients (15%) were uninsured compared to white patients (8.7%). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the effect of race/ethnicity and insurance status on the utilization of post-hospital supportive care.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine percent of patients were discharged home, 13% went to home health care and 15% went to rehabilitation or skilled nursing facilities. Compared to white patients, Hispanic patients [odds ratio (OR) = 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.64 to 0.79] and black patients (OR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.71 to 0.88) exhibited lower odds for the utilization of specialized post-hospital supportive services. Uninsured patients were significantly less likely to use post-discharge supportive services (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.33 to 0.42) compared to privately insured patients. Even when insured at levels comparable to whites, Hispanic and black patients tended to experience decreased rates of discharge to post-acute supportive care.

CONCLUSIONS

The utilization of post-hospital supportive services varies by race, ethnicity and insurance status after an inpatient admission for proximal humerus fracture.

Death, debility, and destitution following hip fracture

BACKGROUND

We examined the effects of hip fracture on mortality, entry into long-term institutional care, and new evidence of poverty. We estimate of the proportion of hip fracture patients who require not just short-term rehabilitation but who become dependent on long-term institutional care, and the risk of becoming newly dependent on Medicaid or eligible for low-income subsidies following hip fracture.

METHODS

We used data from 2005 through 2010 for a random 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries (N = 3.1 million) to conduct a retrospective matched cohort study. We used high-dimensional propensity score matching to compare outcomes for patients who experienced a hip fracture with subjects who did not, but had similar propensity for suffering a hip fracture. We then compared the 1-year risk of death, debility, and destitution between groups.

RESULTS

We matched 43,210 hip fracture patients to comparators without a hip fracture. Hip fractures were associated with more than a twofold increase in likelihood of mortality (incidence proportion ratio [IPR] of 2.27, 95% CI, 2.20-2.34), a fourfold increase in likelihood of requiring long-term nursing facility care (IPR, 3.96; 95% CI, 3.77-4.16), and a twofold increase in the probability of entering into low-income status (IPR, 2.14; 95% CI 1.99-2.31) within 1 year following hip fracture compared with subjects without a hip fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

Hip fracture in elderly patients resulted in increased death, debility, and destitution. Initiatives that lead to improved treatment of osteoporosis could result in a decrease in incidence of fractures, subsequent death, debility, and destitution for older adults.

Recent trends in hip fracture rates by race/ethnicity among older US adults

Hip fracture incidence has declined among whites in the United States since 1995, but data on recent trends in racial and ethnic minorities are limited. The goal of this analysis was to investigate hip fracture incidence trends in racial/ethnic subgroups of older Medicare beneficiaries. We conducted a cohort study to determine annual hip fracture incidence rates from 2000 through 2009 using the Medicare national random 5% sample. Beneficiaries were eligible if they were ≥65 years of age and had 90 days of consecutive full fee-for-service Medicare coverage with no hip fracture claims. Race/ethnicity was self-reported. The incidence of hip fracture was identified using hospital diagnosis codes or outpatient diagnosis codes paired with fracture repair procedure codes. We computed age-standardized race/ethnicity-specific incidence rates and assessed trends in the rates over time using linear regression. On average, 821,475 women and 632,162 men were included in the analysis each year. Beneficiaries were predominantly white (88%), with African, Hispanic, and Asian Americans making up 8%, 1.5%, and 1.5% of the population, respectively. We identified 102,849, 4,119, 813, and 1,294 hip fractures in white, black, Asian, and Hispanic beneficiaries over the 10 years. A significant decreasing trend (p < 0.05) in hip fracture incidence from 2000-2001 to 2008-2009 was present in white women and men. Black and Asian beneficiaries experienced nonsignificant declines. Irrespective of gender, the largest rate of decline was seen in beneficiaries ≥75 years of age. The overall and age-specific rates of Hispanic women or men changed minimally over time. Hip fracture incidence rates continued to decline in recent years among white Medicare beneficiaries. Further research is needed to understand mechanisms responsible for declining rates in some and not others, as hip fractures continue to be a major problem among the elderly.

Postacute rehabilitation care for hip fracture: who gets the most care?

OBJECTIVES

To determine the extent to which demographic and geographic disparities exist in postacute rehabilitation care (PARC) use after hip fracture.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of 2 years (2005-06) of population-based hospital discharge data.

SETTING

All short-term acute care hospitals in four demographically and geographically diverse states (AZ, FL, NJ, WI).

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals aged 65 and older (mean 82.9) admitted to the hospital with a hip fracture who survived their inpatient stay (N = 64,065). The sample was 75.1% female and 91.5% white, 5.8% Hispanic, and 2.7% black.

MEASUREMENTS

Whether the participant received institutional PARC; for participants who did not receive institutional care, whether they received home health (HH) care; and for participants who received institutional care, whether they received skilled nursing facility (SNF) or inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) care. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify demographic and geographic disparities in PARC use.

RESULTS

Considering PARC on a continuum from more to fewer hours of care per day (IRF→SNF→HH→no HH), minorities and individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES) generally received a lower volume of care. Individuals on Medicaid or who were uninsured were less likely to receive institutional care (odds ratio (OR) = 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.18-0.30) and to receive HH (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.30-0.70) and more likely to receive SNF than IRF care (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.36-3.05). Hispanics were less likely to receive institutional care (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.62-0.79), and Hispanics (OR = 1.31) and blacks (OR = 1.49) were more likely to receive SNF than IRF care. There were also geographic differences in PARC.

CONCLUSION

Several demographic and geographic disparities in PARC use were identified. Future research should confirm these findings and further elucidate factors that contribute to the observed disparities.