Effectiveness of home care for fever treatment in older people: A case-control study compared with hospitalized care

Clinical Features of Hypoxemia Due to Infection Under Home-Based Medication During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

BACKGROUND

Despite the growing demand for home-based medication during the COVID-19 pandemic period, there remains scarce evidence of hypoxemic infection in home-care settings. In this study, we investigated the clinical features of hypoxemic respiratory failure due to infection during the period under home-based medication (defined as 'home-care-acquired infection').

METHODS

This retrospective observational study enrolled patients with home-care-acquired infection, other than COVID-19, in two home-care clinics in Sapporo, Japan, between April 2020 and May 2021 (the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic). The participants were divided into two groups according to whether they required additional home oxygen therapy, and were compared to assess the predictors of hypoxemic respiratory failure. Furthermore, the clinical features were compared with those in patients aged >60 years with COVID-19 who were admitted to Toyama University Hospital during the same period.

RESULTS

A total of 107 patients with home-care-acquired infections were included in the study (median age, 82 years). Twenty-two patients required home oxygen therapy, and 85 did not. Thirty-day mortality rates were 32% and 8%. Among the patients in the hypoxemia group, none had desired a care-setting transition, following the advanced care planning. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that initial antibiotic treatment failure and malignant disease were independently associated with hypoxemic respiratory failure (odds ratio, 7.28 and 7.10; p=0.023 and p<0.005, respectively). In comparison with hypoxemia in the COVID-19 cohort, the lower incidence of febrile co-habitants and earlier onset of hypoxemia were significant in those due to home-care-acquired infection.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that hypoxemia due to home-care-acquired infection was characterized by distinct features, possibly different from those due to COVID-19 in the early pandemic period.

Impact of home healthcare on end-of-life outcomes for people with dementia: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Home healthcare (HHC) comprises clinical services provided by medical professionals for people living at home with various levels of care needs and health conditions. HHC may reduce care transitions from home to acute hospitals, but its long-term impact on homebound people living with dementia (PLWD) towards end-of-life remains unclear. We aim to describe the impact of HHC on acute healthcare utilization and end-of-life outcomes in PLWD.

METHODS

Design: Systematic review of quantitative and qualitative original studies which examine the association between HHC and targeted outcomes.

INTERVENTIONS

HHC.

PARTICIPANTS

At least 80% of study participants had dementia and lived at home.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcome was acute healthcare utilization in the last year of life. Secondary outcomes included hospice palliative care, advance care planning, continuity of care, and place of death. We briefly reviewed selected national policy to provide contextual information regarding these outcomes.

RESULTS

From 6831 articles initially identified, we included five studies comprising data on 4493 participants from USA, Japan, and Italy. No included studies received a "high" quality rating. We synthesised core properties related to HHC at three implementational levels. Micro-level: HHC may be associated with a lower risk of acute healthcare utilization in the early period (e.g., last 90 days before death) and a higher risk in the late period (e.g. last 15 days) of the disease trajectory toward end-of-life in PLWD. HHC may increase palliative care referrals. Advance care planning was an important factor influencing end-of-life outcomes. Meso-level: challenges for HHC providers in medical decision-making and initiating palliative care for PLWD at the end-of-life may require further training and external support. Coordination between HHC and social care is highlighted but not well examined. Macro-level: reforms of national policy or financial schemes are found in some countries but the effects are not clearly understood.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the dearth of dementia-specific research regarding the impact of HHC on end-of-life outcomes. Effects of advance care planning during HHC, the integration between health and social care, and coordination between primary HHC and specialist geriatric/ palliative care services require further investigation.

Melhor em casa: caracterização dos serviços de atenção domiciliar

RESUMO Objetivo caracterizar os Serviços de Atenção Domiciliar em funcionamento na Paraíba. Método trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, exploratória, de abordagem quantitativa. A coleta de dados foi realizada entre março e junho de 2020 com profissionais e coordenadores do Serviço de Atenção Domiciliar de 17 municípios paraibanos a partir da utilização de formulário no Google Forms enviado por correio eletrônico. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente por meio de frequências absolutas e relativas. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Resultados 14 equipes (61%) estavam em atividade de segunda a sexta-feira; 16 (69,6%) utilizavam o transporte assistencial compartilhado com outros serviços; 11 equipes (47,8%) não utilizavam prontuário eletrônico do paciente e, dentre as que utilizavam, o faziam no formato interligado à Rede de Atenção à Saúde ou em comunicação apenas com o Serviço de Atenção Domiciliar (34,8%; 17,4%). Quanto ao Projeto Terapêutico Singular, 13 equipes (56,5%) o elaboravam. O processo de referência e contrarreferência ocorria apenas na admissão e na alta em 19 equipes (82,6%). Conclusões e implicações para a prática evidenciou-se a necessidade de adequações no funcionamento do serviço e de melhorias nos recursos tecnológicos, comunicação e transporte a serem implementadas pela gestão pública para a qualificação da assistência domiciliar.

It is better at home: characterization of home care services

ABSTRACT Objective to characterize the Home Care Services in operation in Paraíba. Method this is a descriptive, exploratory, quantitative research. Data collection was conducted between March and June 2020 with professionals and coordinators of Home Care Services in 17 municipalities of Paraiba using Google Forms sent by email. Data were statistically analyzed using absolute and relative frequencies. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results 14 teams (61%) were active from Monday to Friday; 16 (69.6%) used transportation of care shared with other services; 11 teams (47.8%) did not use electronic patient records and, among those who did, they did so in the format interconnected to the Health Care Network or in communication only with the Home Care Service (34.8%; 17.4%). As for the Singular Therapeutic Project, 13 teams (56.5%) prepared it. The reference and counter-reference process occurred only at admission and discharge in 19 teams (82.6%). Conclusions and implications for the practice it was evidenced the need for adjustments in the operation of the service and improvements in technological resources, communication and transportation to be implemented by public management for the qualification of home care.