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Maxwell CJ, McArthur E, Hogan DB, Dampf H, Poss J, Amuah JE, Bronskill SE, Youngson E, Hsu Z, Hoben M. Comparison of hospitalization events among residents of assisted living and nursing homes during COVID-19: Do settings respond differently during public health crises? PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306569. [PMID: 38995897 PMCID: PMC11244779 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 and resulting health system and policy decisions led to significant changes in healthcare use by nursing homes (NH) residents. It is unclear whether healthcare outcomes were similarly affected among older adults in assisted living (AL). This study compared hospitalization events in AL and NHs during COVID-19 pandemic waves 1 through 4, relative to historical periods. METHODS This was a population-based, repeated cross-sectional study using linked clinical and health administrative databases (January 2018 to December 2021) for residents of all publicly subsidized AL and NH settings in Alberta, Canada. Setting-specific monthly cohorts were derived for pandemic (starting March 1, 2020) and comparable historical (2018/2019 combined) periods. Monthly rates (per 100 person-days) of all-cause hospitalization, hospitalization with delayed discharge, and hospitalization with death were plotted and rate ratios (RR) estimated for period (pandemic wave vs historical comparison), setting (AL vs NH) and period-setting interactions, using Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations, adjusting for resident and home characteristics. RESULTS On March 1, 2020, there were 9,485 AL and 14,319 NH residents, comparable in age (mean 81 years), sex (>60% female) and dementia prevalence (58-62%). All-cause hospitalization rates declined in both settings during waves 1 (AL: adjusted RR 0.60, 95%CI 0.51-0.71; NH: 0.74, 0.64-0.85) and 4 (AL: 0.76, 0.66-0.88; NH: 0.65, 0.56-0.75) but unlike NHs, AL rates were not significantly lower during wave 2 (and increased 27% vs NH, January 2021). Hospitalization with delayed discharge increased in NHs only (during and immediately after wave 1). Both settings showed a significant increase in hospitalization with death in wave 2, this increase was larger and persisted longer for AL. CONCLUSIONS Pandemic-related changes in hospitalization events differed for AL and NH residents and by wave, suggesting unique system and setting factors driving healthcare use and outcomes in these settings in response to this external stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen J. Maxwell
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric McArthur
- London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - David B. Hogan
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hana Dampf
- Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Poss
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph E. Amuah
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan E. Bronskill
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Erik Youngson
- Provincial Research Data Services, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada
- Data and Research Services, Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit, Alberta, Canada
| | - Zoe Hsu
- Provincial Research Data Services, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada
- Data and Research Services, Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit, Alberta, Canada
| | - Matthias Hoben
- Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Habbous S, Lambrinos A, Ming K, Hellsten E. A cohort study of patients hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Ontario: patient characteristics and outcomes by wave. Swiss Med Wkly 2024; 154:3636. [PMID: 38579312 DOI: 10.57187/s.3636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Each wave of the COVID-19 pandemic exhibited a unique combination of epidemiological, social and structural characteristics. We explore similarities and differences in wave-over-wave characteristics of patients hospitalised with COVID-19. METHODS This was a population-based study in Ontario province, Canada. Patients hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2 between 26 February 2020 and 31 March 2022 were included. An admission was considered related to SARS-CoV-2 infection if the provincial inpatient or outpatient hospital databases contained the ICD-10 diagnostic codes U071/U072 or the Ontario Laboratories Information System indicated a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result (PCR or rapid antigen testing) during the admission or up to two weeks prior. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality (modified Poisson regression). Secondary outcomes were use of critical care during the admission (logistic regression) and total length-of-stay (linear regression with heteroskedastic-consistent standard-error estimators). All models were adjusted for demographic characteristics, neighbourhood socioeconomic factors and indicators of illness severity. RESULTS There were 73,201 SARS-CoV-2-related admissions: 6127 (8%) during wave 1 (wild-type), 14,371 (20%) during wave 2 (wild-type), 16,653 (23%) during wave 3 (Alpha), 5678 (8%) during wave 4 (Delta) and 30,372 (42%) during wave 5 (Omicron). SARS-CoV-2 was the most responsible diagnosis for 70% of admissions during waves 1-2 and 42% in wave 5. The proportion of admitted patients who were long-term care residents was 18% (n = 1111) during wave 1, decreasing to 10% (n = 1468) in wave 2 and <5% in subsequent waves. During waves 1-3, 46% of all admitted patients resided in a neighbourhood assigned to the highest ethnic diversity quintile, which declined to 27% during waves 4-5. Compared to wave 1, 90-day mortality was similar during wave 2 (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]: 1.00 [95% CI: 0.95-1.04]), but lower during wave 3 (aRR: 0.89 [0.85-0.94]), wave 4 (aRR: 0.85 [0.79-0.91]) and wave 5 (aRR: 0.83 [0.80-0.88]). Improvements in survival over waves were observed among elderly patients (p-interaction <0.0001). Critical care admission was significantly less likely during wave 5 than previous waves (adjusted odds ratio: 0.50 [0.47-0.54]). The length of stay was a median of 8.5 (3.6-23.8) days during wave 1 and 5.3 (2.2-12.6) during wave 5. After adjustment, the mean length of stay was on average -10.4 (-11.1 to -9.8) days, i.e. shorter, in wave 5 vs wave 1. CONCLUSION Throughout the pandemic, sociodemographic characteristics of patients hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2 changed over time, particularly in terms of ethnic diversity, but still disproportionately affected patients from more marginalised regions. Improved survival and reduced use of critical care during the Omicron wave are reassuring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Habbous
- Ontario Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Wyer L, Guterman Y, Ewa V, Lang E, Faris P, Holroyd-Leduc J. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transfers between long-term care and emergency departments across Alberta. BMC Emerg Med 2024; 24:9. [PMID: 38185672 PMCID: PMC10773029 DOI: 10.1186/s12873-023-00926-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term care (LTC) was overwhelmingly impacted by COVID-19 and unnecessary transfer to emergency departments (ED) can have negative health outcomes. This study aimed to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted LTC to ED transfers and hospitalizations, utilization of community paramedics and facilitated conversations between LTC and ED physicians during the first four waves of the pandemic in Alberta, Canada. METHODS In this retrospective population-based study, administrative databases were linked to identify episodes of care for LTC residents who resided in facilities in Alberta, Canada. This study included data from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021 to capture outcomes prior to the onset of the pandemic and across the first four waves. Individuals were included if they visited an emergency department, received care from a community paramedic or whose care involved a facilitated conversation between LTC and ED physicians during this time period. RESULTS Transfers to ED and hospitalizations from LTC have been gradually declining since 2018 with a sharp decline seen during wave 1 of the pandemic that was greatest in the lowest-priority triage classification (CTAS 5). Community paramedic visits were highest during the first two waves of the pandemic before declining in subsequent waves; facilitated calls between LTC and ED physicians increased during the waves. CONCLUSIONS There was a reduction in number of transfers from LTC to EDs and in hospitalizations during the first four waves of the pandemic. This was supported by increased conversations between LTC and ED physicians, but was not associated with increased community paramedic visits. Additional work is needed to explore how programs such as community paramedics and facilitated conversations between LTC and ED providers can help to reduce unnecessary transfers to hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanna Wyer
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | | | - Vivian Ewa
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Eddy Lang
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Peter Faris
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jayna Holroyd-Leduc
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vivian Ewa
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Janice Keefe
- Department of Family Studies and Gerontology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Sharon E Straus
- KT Program, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital-Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
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Ng G, Larouche J, Feldman S, Verduyn A, Ward S, Wong BM, Mayo A. Virtual Fracture Care in Long-Term Care Homes Avoiding Emergency Department Visits. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2023; 24:661-663. [PMID: 36898412 PMCID: PMC9974357 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Long-term care residents with suspected fractures as a result of a fall typically transfer to the emergency department (ED) for diagnostic imaging and care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, transfer to the hospital increased the risk of COVID-19 exposure and resulted in extended isolation days for the resident. A fracture care pathway was developed and implemented to provide rapid diagnostic imaging results and stabilization in the care home, reducing transportation and exposure risk to COVID-19. Eligible residents with a stable fracture would receive a referral to a designated fracture clinic for consultation; fracture care is provided in the care home by long-term care staff. Evaluation of the pathway was completed and demonstrated that 100% of residents did not transfer to the ED and 47% of the residents did not transfer to a fracture clinic for additional care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genny Ng
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Jeremie Larouche
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sid Feldman
- Baycrest Apotex Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ashley Verduyn
- Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Ward
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brian M Wong
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amanda Mayo
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Zimmerman S, Cesari M, Gaugler JE, Gleckman H, Grabowski DC, Katz PR, Konetzka RT, McGilton KS, Mor V, Saliba D, Shippee TP, Sloane PD, Stone RI, Werner RM. The Inevitability of Reimagining Long-Term Care. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2022; 23:187-189. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2021.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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