Association between dementia and discharge status in patients hospitalized with pneumonia

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on in-hospital mortality following pneumonia without heart failure: A retrospective cohort study of older adults with diabetes

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) may contribute to better clinical outcomes in adults with diabetes and pneumonia owing to their potential anti-inflammatory effects. To investigate whether SGLT2i are associated with lower in-hospital mortality following pneumonia without heart failure than dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i).

METHODS

Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, we retrospectively identified patients with diabetes aged ≥65 years treated with SGLT2i or DPP-4i who were admitted and managed for pneumonia from April 2016 to October 2020. We then compared in-hospital mortality, the need for mechanical ventilation, and discharges to locations (other than home) between the SGLT2i and DPP-4i groups using multivariable logistic regression analyses fitted with generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

We analyzed the data of 27,334 patients (mean age, 78.8 years; male, 71.2%), including 535 and 26,799 patients regularly treated with SGLT2i and DPP-4i, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the SGLT2i and DPP-4i groups in in-hospital mortality rate (3.4% vs. 5.9%; odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-1.05), the need for mechanical ventilation (1.5% vs. 1.8%; OR, 0.78; 95%Cl, 0.39-1.59), and discharge to locations other than home (8.1% vs. 14.1%; OR, 0.72; 95%Cl, 0.51-1.02). The association between the diabetic treatment and in-hospital mortality remained insignificant across weight subgroups (underweight: OR, 0.47; 95%Cl, 0.13-1.67; normal weight: OR, 0.66; 95%Cl, 0.34-1.25; and overweight/obesity: OR 1.06; 95%Cl, 0.43-2.65).

CONCLUSIONS

Regular SGLT2i use in patients with diabetes admitted with pneumonia without heart failure may not be associated with improved in-hospital mortality outcomes compared with DPP-4i use.

[Effectiveness of programs developed for nurses to improve dementia nursing intervention ability in an acute care setting]

PURPOSE

The number of hospitalizations of older patients with dementia who require medical treatment has increased and delirium or physical restriction have become problems in the acute care setting. Dementia nursing intervention ability developing program by e-learning assumed the quality improvement of dementia medical care and the nursing of older patients with dementia based on person-centered aimed at reduction of body restriction. The purpose of this study was to validate the effectiveness of the developed e-learning programs for nurses in the acute care setting of seven to one nursing standards.

METHOD

This study was conducted between April and December 2020. This study was introduced to the floor nurse of the hospital for suitable application. Interested nurses were asked to attend "Developing programs for Dementia nursing intervention ability (4 weeks)" at four different time points (1) before attendance (baseline), post-attendance (1 month later), (3) practiced 3 months post-attendance, and (4) practiced 6 months post-attendance. A questionnaire to evaluate program effectiveness asked about consciousness of the dementia nursing with four items on "Interest in nursing of people with dementia and so on (four items)".In the evaluation on the person-centered dementia care, using the Self-assessment Scale of Nursing Practice for Elderly Patients with Cognitive Impairment, the Approach to Dementia Questionnaire - Japanese Edition (19 items). In the evaluation of ethics, ethical sensitivity scale for clinical nurses (19 items), self-efficacy on reduction of the physical restriction (six items). A statistical analysis was conducted using the Bonferroni test as the multiple test method to compare baseline values with the values obtained 1, 3, and 6 months later.

RESULTS

A total of 70 subjects were analyzed in this study. They belonged to different wards including the surgical and internal wards from where 60 subjects (85.7%) were recruited. The average clinical experience of the nurses was 13.5±9.5 years. The degree of self-efficacy was assessed in terms of attaching mitten type gloves as a physical restraint to avoid the pulling of tubes used for intravenous feeding, central veins, normal feeding, etc. by the patients and so on. Most patients had cognitive functional disorder, including dementia [n = 30 (42.9%)]. The self-assessed scale of nursing practice for elderly people with cognitive impairment, which aimed to promote person-centered care in an acute care hospital, revealed that the total score of each of the Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire - Japanese Edition significantly increased just after intervention (1 month) in comparison to baseline, and 3 months and 6 months after intervention.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that the program developed to improve dementia nursing intervention ability significantly increased the above-mentioned evolution and consciousness of nurses after the intervention program (1 month), followed by 3 months and 6 months later. Along with ethical sensitivity, practice aimed at person-centered care was also found to improve. It was suggested that the intervention program of this study was effective and that nurses could easily learn using their respective free time and practice.

Activities of daily living associated with postoperative intensive care unit survival in elderly patients following elective major abdominal surgery: An observational cohort study

Elderly patients who undergo major abdominal surgery are being in increasing numbers. Intensive care unit (ICU) survival is critical for surgical decision-making process. Activities of daily living (ADL) are associated with clinical outcomes in the elderly. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ADL and postoperative ICU survival in elderly patients following elective major abdominal surgery.We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving patients aged ≥65 years admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) following elective major abdominal surgery. Data from all patients were extracted from the electronic medical records. The Barthel Index (BI) was used to assess the level of dependency in ADL at the time of hospital admission.ICU survivors group had higher Barthel Index (BI) scores than non-survivors group (P < .001). With the increase of BI score, postoperative ICU survival rate gradually increased. The ICU survivals in patients with BI 0-20, BI 21-40, BI 41-60, BI 61-80 and BI 81-100 were 55.7%, 67.6%, 72.4%, 83.3% and 84.2%, respectively. In logistic regression, The Barthel Index (BI) was significantly correlated with the postoperative ICU survival in elderly patients following elective major abdominal surgery (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.20-1.47, P = .02). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of Barthel Index in predicting postoperative ICU survival was 0.704 (95% CI, 0.638-0.771). Kaplan-Meier survival curve in BI≥30 patients and BI < 30 patients showed significantly different.Activity of daily living upon admission was associated with postoperative intensive care unit survival in elderly patients following elective major abdominal surgery. The Barthel Index(BI) ≥30 was associated with increased postoperative ICU survival. For the elderly with better functional status, they could be given more surgery opportunities. For those elderly patients BI < 30, these results provide useful information for clinicians, patients and their families to make palliative care decisions.

Activity of daily living upon admission is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in older patients with community-acquired pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Older patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are at high risk for short-term mortality. Activity of daily living (ADL) is associated with clinical outcomes in older patients. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of ADL upon admission on the in-hospital mortality in older patients with CAP.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving patients aged ≥65 years admitted to Beijing Chao-Yang hospital due to CAP between June 2012 and June 2020. ADL evaluation upon admission was performed by Barthel Index (BI). Data from all patients were extracted from the electronic medical records.

RESULTS

Four thousand eight hundred eighty patients were included, 131 patients (2.7%) died during their hospitalization. Median BI in the Deceased group was 45 (20-65), Deceased group had lower BI scores than Survivors group (p < 0.001). Low BI (< 60) was more frequent in patients who died in the hospital than in patients discharged alive (69.5% vs. 13%, p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was higher among patients with worse ADL upon admission (BI< 60) compared to those BI≥60 (12.6% vs. 0.9%). The worse ADL upon admission (BI< 60) was associated with an increase in the risk of death during CAP hospitalization, worse ADL upon admission (BI< 60) showed an odds ratio (OR) for in-hospital mortality of 7.53 (95%CI: 2.77-20.48; P < 0.01). This association remained significant after adjustment for age, comorbid conditions, respiratory failure, pathogens and laboratory findings (OR, 3.74; 95%CI, 2.37-5.91; P < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that BI upon admission is a predictor related to in-hospital mortality in elderly patients, the area under the ROC curve of BI in predicting in-hospital mortality was 0.81 (with 95% confidence interval: 0.78-0.85). The predictive value of ADL upon admission was better than age in our study population.

CONCLUSION

Activity of daily living upon admission is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in older patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Dementia and the risk of short-term readmission and mortality after a pneumonia admission

BACKGROUND

At time of discharge after a pneumonia admission, care planning for older persons with dementia is essential. However, care planning is limited by lack of knowledge on the short-term prognosis.

AIM

To investigate 30-day mortality and readmission after hospital discharge for pneumonia in persons with versus without dementia, and to investigate how these associations vary with age, time since discharge, and medication use.

METHODS

Using the Danish registries, we investigated 30-day mortality and readmission in persons (+65 years) discharged after pneumonia in 2000-2016 (N = 298,872). Adjusted mortality rate ratios (aMRRs) and incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) were calculated for persons with versus without dementia, and we investigated if these associations varied with use of benzodiazepines, opioids, and antipsychotics, and with age and time since discharge.

RESULTS

Among 25,948 persons with dementia, 4,524 died and 5,694 were readmitted within 30 days. The risk of 30-day mortality was 129% higher (95% CI 2.21-2.37) in persons with versus without dementia after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, admission-related factors, and comorbidities. Further, the highest mortality risk was found in persons with both dementia and use of antipsychotics (aMRR: 3.39, 95% CI 3.19-3.59); 16% of deaths in this group could not be explained by the independent effect of each exposure. In those with dementia, the highest aMRRs were found for the youngest and for the first days after discharge. The risk of 30-day readmission was 7% higher (95% CI 1.04-1.10) in persons with versus without dementia. In those with dementia, the highest aIRRs were found for the first days after discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Dementia was associated with higher short-term mortality after pneumonia, especially in users of antipsychotics, and with slightly higher readmission, especially in the first days after discharge. This is essential knowledge in the care planning for persons with dementia who are discharged after a pneumonia admission.

[Factors related to the physical restriction practiced by nurses in acute care hospitals: An analysis using nurses' self-assessment]

AIM

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between physical restriction as a nursing practice and the perceived extent of person-centered care towards elderly patients with cognitive impairment in acute care hospitals (SSNPEC).

RESEARCH METHODS

This study was conducted on ward nurses in 4 hospitals (nursing staff ratio of 7:1; >500 beds) in H city from April 2016 to March 2017. The evaluation of physical restriction in the hospital comprised the following six items: the use of trunk belts, wearing of mitten-type gloves, the use of shoulder harnesses (such as for patients in wheelchairs), wearing care clothes, the use of a bed fence, and psychotropic drugs. In the multiple regression analysis, the total physical restriction score was the dependent variable. Results pertaining to the prediction of physical restriction were as follows: "Care that values psycho-social approaches based on predicted potential problems", "Care that is tailored to the individual and their cognitive function", and "Improvement in the quality of the care" significantly decreased physical restrictions.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that nursing practices in acute care hospitals that are based on person-centered care emphasizing clinical ethics decreased the application of physical restrictions. A balance existed between safety management through nursing practices and respect for patients in acute hospitals.