Predicting excess cost for older inpatients with clinical complexity: A retrospective cohort study examining cognition, comorbidities and complications

Waiting for guardianship in a public hospital geriatric inpatient unit: a mixed methods observational case series

BACKGROUND

Patients in acute hospital settings waiting for guardianship and financial management (FM) hearings experience extended length of stay (LOS), with known consequences for frail elderly. This, together with universal agreement that substitute decision-making is a last resort measure, an imperative exists to examine guardianship and FM applications made from within hospital for geriatric inpatients.

AIMS

This study aims to examine processes around Guardianship applications in a public hospital Geriatric inpatient setting including times to, reasons for and outcomes of referral; and to explore the content of the medical records in relation to criteria for application.

METHOD

This was a mixed methods observational case series using descriptive data supplemented by qualitative case-note analysis of inpatients referred for guardianship (with/without FM) from 2018 to 2020 in a New South Wales Geriatric Medicine inpatient unit. Medical records were examined for evidence of operationalised criteria for guardianship, aligned with disability, capacity and need/risk common to most Australian jurisdictions.

RESULTS

Of 45 patients with guardianship applications, 98% were granted guardians and 33 of 37 (89%) FM applications. Multiple risks underpinned applications, most commonly frequent falls (49%) and medication mismanagement (49%). Although only 29% were in receipt of services preadmission, 98% were discharged to residential care. Average hospital LOS was 70 days (interquartile range, 35), contributed to by delays between admission and decision to apply for guardianship/FM (median, 28 inpatient days) and uncertainties around or lack of documented capacity assessments.

CONCLUSION

This study identifies potential points along pathways towards guardianship in hospital settings, which might be targeted to streamline if not divert some of these applications. Points of intervention include at initiation of applications, with consideration of alternatives to substitute decision-making by addressing patient needs and using supported decision-making, while improving clinician understanding of capacity assessment and guardianship.

Predicting Short-Term Mortality in Older Patients Discharged from Acute Hospitalizations Lasting Less Than 24 Hours

Purpose

Over coming decades, a rise in the number of short, acute hospitalizations of older people is to be expected. To help physicians identify high-risk patients prior to discharge, we aimed to develop a model capable of predicting the risk of 30-day mortality for older patients discharged from short, acute hospitalizations and to examine how model performance changed with an increasing amount of information.

Methods

This registry-based study included acute hospitalizations in Denmark for 2016-2018 lasting ≤24 hours where patients were permanent residents, ≥65 years old, and discharged alive. Utilizing many different predictor variables, we developed random forest models with an increasing amount of information, compared their performance, and examined important variables.

Results

We included 107,132 patients with a median age of 75 years. Of these, 3.3% (n=3575) died within 30 days of discharge. Model performance improved especially with the addition of laboratory results and information on prior acute admissions (AUROC 0.835), and again with comorbidities and number of prescription drugs (AUROC 0.860). Model performance did not improve with the addition of sociodemographic variables (AUROC 0.861), apart from age and sex. Important variables included age, dementia, number of prescription drugs, C-reactive protein, and eGFR.

Conclusion

The best model accurately estimated the risk of short-term mortality for older patients following short, acute hospitalizations. Trained on a large and heterogeneous dataset, the model is applicable to most acute clinical settings and could be a useful tool for physicians prior to discharge.

Leaving the hospital on time: hospital bed utilization and reasons for discharge delay in the Netherlands

Inappropriate bed occupancy due to delayed hospital discharge affects both physical and psychological well-being in patients and can disrupt patient flow. The Dutch healthcare system is facing ongoing pressure, especially during the current coronavirus disease pandemic, intensifying the need for optimal use of hospital beds. The aim of this study was to quantify inappropriate patient stays and describe the underlying reasons for the delays in discharge. The Day of Care Survey (DoCS) is a validated tool used to gain information about appropriate and inappropriate bed occupancy in hospitals. Between February 2019 and January 2021, the DoCS was performed five times in three different hospitals within the region of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. All inpatients were screened, using standardized criteria, for their need for in-hospital care at the time of survey and reasons for discharge delay. A total of 782 inpatients were surveyed. Of these patients, 94 (12%) were planned for definite discharge that day. Of all other patients, 145 (21%, ranging from 14% to 35%) were without the need for acute in-hospital care. In 74% (107/145) of patients, the reason for discharge delay was due to issues outside the hospital; most frequently due to a shortage of available places in care homes (26%, 37/145). The most frequent reason for discharge delay inside the hospital was patients awaiting a decision or review by the treating physician (14%, 20/145). Patients who did not meet the criteria for hospital stay were, in general, older [median 75, interquartile range (IQR) 65-84 years, and 67, IQR 55-75 years, respectively, P < .001] and had spent more days in hospital (7, IQR 5-14 days, and 3, IQR 1-8 days respectively, P < .001). Approximately one in five admitted patients occupying hospital beds did not meet the criteria for acute in-hospital stay or care at the time of the survey. Most delays were related to issues outside the immediate control of the hospital. Improvement programmes working with stakeholders focusing on the transfer from hospital to outside areas of care need to be further developed and may offer potential for the greatest gain. The DoCS can be a tool to periodically monitor changes and improvements in patient flow.

Analysis of hospital costs by morbidity group for patients with severe mental illness

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study is to analyse hospital costs and length of stay of patients admitted to psychiatric units in hospitals in a European region of the Mediterranean Arc. The aim is to identify the effects of comorbidities and other variables in order to create an explanatory cost model.

METHODS

In order to carry out the study, the Ministry of Health was asked to provide data on access to the mental health facilities of all hospitals in the region. Among other questions, this database identifies the most important diagnostic variables related to admission, like comorbidities, age and gender. The method used, based on the Manning-Mullahy algorithm, was linear regression. The results were measured by the statistical significance of the independent variables to determine which of them were valid to explain the cost of hospitalization.

RESULTS

Psychiatric inpatients can be divided into three main groups (psychotic, organic and neurotic), which have statistically significant differences in costs. The independent variables that were statistically significant (p <.05) and their respective beta and confidence intervals were: psychotic group (19,833.0 ± 317.3), organic group (9,878.4 ± 276.6), neurotic group (11,060.1 ± 287.6), circulatory system diseases (19,170 ± 517.6), injuries and poisoning (21,101.6 ± 738.7), substance abuse (20,580.6 ± 514, 6) and readmission (19,150.9 ± 555.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Unlike most health services, access to psychiatric facilities does not correlate with comorbidities due to the specific nature of this specialization. Patients admitted to psychosis had higher costs and a higher number of average staysKEY MESSAGESThe highest average hospital expenditure occurred in patients admitted for psychotic disorders.Due to the particularities of psychiatry units and unlike other medical specialties, the number of comorbidities did not influence the number of hospital stays or hospital expenditure.Apart from the main diagnostic group, the variables that were useful to explain hospital expenditure were the presence of poisoning and injuries as comorbidity, diseases of circulatory system as comorbidity, history of substance abuse and readmission.

Definition of patient complexity in adults: A narrative review

Background

Better identification of complex patients could help to improve their care. However, the definition of patient complexity itself is far from obvious. We conducted a narrative review to identify, describe, and synthesize the definitions of patient complexity used in the last 25 years.

Methods

We searched PubMed for articles published in English between January 1995 and September 2020, defining patient complexity. We extended the search to the references of the included articles. We assessed the domains presented in the definitions, and classified the definitions as based on (1) medical aspects (e.g., number of conditions) or (2) medical and/or non-medical aspects (e.g., socio-economic status). We assessed whether the definition was based on a tool (e.g., index) or conceptual model.

Results

Among 83 articles, there was marked heterogeneity in the patient complexity definitions. Domains contributing to complexity included health, demographics, behavior, socio-economic factors, healthcare system, medical decision-making, and environment. Patient complexity was defined according to medical aspects in 30 (36.1%) articles, and to medical and/or non-medical aspects in 53 (63.9%) articles. A tool was used in 36 (43.4%) articles, and a conceptual model in seven (8.4%) articles.

Conclusion

A consensus concerning the definition of patient complexity was lacking. Most definitions incorporated non-medical factors in the definition, underlining the importance of accounting not only for medical but also for non-medical aspects, as well as for their interrelationship.

Mortality of older acutely admitted medical patients after early discharge from emergency departments: a nationwide cohort study

Background

The mortality of older patients after early discharge from hospitals is sparsely described. Information on factors associated with mortality can help identify high-risk patients who may benefit from preventive interventions. The aim of this study was to examine whether demographic factors, comorbidity and admission diagnoses are predictors of 30-day mortality among acutely admitted older patients discharged within 24 h after admission.

Methods

All medical patients aged ≥65 years admitted acutely to Danish hospitals between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2014 surviving a hospital stay of ≤24 h were included. Demographic factors, comorbidity, discharge diagnoses and mortality within 30 days were described using data from the Danish National Patient Registry and the Civil Registration System. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause mortality.

Results

A total of 93,295 patients (49.4% men) with a median age of 75 years (interquartile range: 69–82 years), were included. Out of these, 2775 patients (3.0%; 95% CI 2.9–3.1%) died within 30 days after discharge. The 30-day mortality was increased in patients with age 76–85 years (aHR 1.59; 1.45–1.75) and 86+ years (aHR 3.35; 3.04–3.70), male gender (aHR 1.22; 1.11–1.33), a Charlson Comorbidity Index of 1–2 (aHR 2.15; 1.92–2.40) and 3+ (aHR 4.07; 3.65–4.54), and unmarried status (aHR 1.17; 1.08–1.27). Discharge diagnoses associated with 30-day mortality were heart failure (aHR 1.52; 1.17–1.95), respiratory failure (aHR 3.18; 2.46–4.11), dehydration (aHR 2.87; 2.51–3.29), constipation (aHR 1.31; 1.02–1.67), anemia (aHR 1.45; 1.27–1.66), pneumonia (aHR 2.24; 1.94–2.59), urinary tract infection (aHR 1.33; 1.14–1.55), dyspnea (aHR 1.57; 1.32–1.87) and suspicion of malignancy (aHR 2.06; 1.64–2.59).

Conclusions

Three percent had died within 30 days. High age, male gender, the comorbidity burden, unmarried status and several primary discharge diagnoses were identified as independent prognostic factors of 30-day all-cause mortality.

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers prevention: What is needed for patient safety? The perceptions of nurse stakeholders

AIM

The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions of 11 Portuguese nurses' stakeholders regarding pressure ulcers prevention practice and reality in the hospital setting.

METHODS

Convenience sampling was used to recruit nursing stakeholders for a heterogeneous focus group. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 11 nursing stakeholders involved in pressure ulcers prevention and/or patient safety. MaxQda 2020 qualitative analysis software was used in the content analysis and data processing. Informed consent was obtained, and anonymity was guaranteed.

RESULTS

Four themes were approached in the interview: (1) Pressure ulcer risk assessment; (2) Nurses and doctors pressure ulcers monitoring; (3) Pressure ulcer risk profiles; and (4) Effective interventions to improve patient safety. The categorisation of the four themes was created aposteriori based on the 'Awareness/Knowledge/Competence, Opportunity, and Motivation - Behaviour Change Wheel' (adapted COM-B system). Interest, responsibility, autonomy, leadership and prioritisation for decision-making were some categories linked to motivation. Braden scale operationalisation, education given during undergraduate degree continued professional health education, missing care, reliability of the records and patients' clinical characteristics emerged as categories associated with awareness/knowledge/competence. Understaffing/nursing hours, health policies, electronic health records systems and clinical language used, access to appropriate equipment and resources, teamwork and clinical support specialist on tissue viability/wound care were some categories related to opportunity.

CONCLUSIONS

Pressure ulcer prevention is complex and requires a focussed attitude, robust evidenced-based knowledge and enhanced skills in risk assessment, communication and team collaboration. The highlighted categories could be further analysed at an organisational level to develop tailored strategies that could contribute to successful evidence-based practice implementation.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The findings provide directions for behavioural change in the hospital context related to pressure ulcers prevention through awareness/knowledge/competence, motivation and opportunity to improve care delivered.

Cognition predicts days-alive-out-of-hospital after LVAD implantation

OBJECTIVE

Cognition influences hospitalization rates for a variety of patient groups but this association has not been examined in heart failure (HF) patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We used cognition to predict days-alive-out-of-hospital (DAOH) in patients after LVAD surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified 59 HF patients with cognitive assessment prior to LVAD. Cognitive tests of attention, memory, language, and visual motor speed were averaged into one score. DAOH was converted to a percentage based on total days from LVAD surgery to either heart transplant or 900 days post-LVAD. Variables significantly associated with DAOH in univariate analyses were included in a linear regression model to predict DAOH.

RESULTS

A linear regression model including LVAD type (continuous or pulsatile flow) and cognition significantly predicted DAOH (F(2,54) = 6.44, p = 0.003, R² = .19). Inspection of each variable revealed that cognition was a significant predictor in the model (β = .11, SE = .04, p = 0.007) but LVAD type was not (p = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive performance assessed prior to LVAD implantation predicted how much time patients spent out of the hospital following surgery. Further studies are warranted to identify the impact of pre-LVAD cognition on post-LVAD hospitalization.

Risk of acute deterioration and care complexity individual factors associated with health outcomes in hospitalised patients with COVID-19: a multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

Evidence about the impact of systematic nursing surveillance on risk of acute deterioration of patients with COVID-19 and the effects of care complexity factors on inpatient outcomes is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the association between acute deterioration risk, care complexity factors and unfavourable outcomes in hospitalised patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

A multicentre cohort study was conducted from 1 to 31 March 2020 at seven hospitals in Catalonia. All adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to hospitals and with a complete minimum data set were recruited retrospectively. Patients were classified based on the presence or absence of a composite unfavourable outcome (in-hospital mortality and adverse events). The main measures included risk of acute deterioration (as measured using the VIDA early warning system) and care complexity factors. All data were obtained blinded from electronic health records. Multivariate logistic analysis was performed to identify the VIDA score and complexity factors associated with unfavourable outcomes.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 1176 patients with COVID-19, 506 (43%) experienced an unfavourable outcome during hospitalisation. The frequency of unfavourable outcomes rose with increasing risk of acute deterioration as measured by the VIDA score. Risk factors independently associated with unfavourable outcomes were chronic underlying disease (OR: 1.90, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.72; p<0.001), mental status impairment (OR: 2.31, 95% CI 1.45 to 23.66; p<0.001), length of hospital stay (OR: 1.16, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.21; p<0.001) and high risk of acute deterioration (OR: 4.32, 95% CI 2.83 to 6.60; p<0.001). High-tech hospital admission was a protective factor against unfavourable outcomes (OR: 0.57, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.89; p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

The systematic nursing surveillance of the status and evolution of COVID-19 inpatients, including the careful monitoring of acute deterioration risk and care complexity factors, may help reduce deleterious health outcomes in COVID-19 inpatients.

The impact of frailty on the economic evaluation of geriatric surgery: hospital costs and opportunity costs based on meta-analysis

Objectives: We used a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the difference in costs between surgery for frail and non-frail elderly patients. The opportunity cost of frailty in geriatric surgery is estimated using the results.Methodology: Two literature reviews were carried out between 2000 and 2019: (1) studies comparing total hospital costs of frail and non-frail surgical patients; (2) studies evaluating the length of hospital stay and cost for surgical geriatric patients. We performed a meta-analysis of the items selected in the first review. We subsequently calculated the opportunity cost of frail patients, based on the design of a cost/time variable.Results: Twelve articles in the first review were selected (272,717 non-frail and 16,461 frail). Fourteen articles were selected from the second review. Frail patients had higher hospital costs than non-frail patients (22,282.541 € and 16,388.844, p < .001) and a longer hospital stay (10.16 days and 8.4 (p < .001)). The estimated opportunity cost in frail patients is 1,019.56 € (cost/time unit factor of 579.30 €/day).Conclusions: Frail surgical geriatric patients generate a higher total hospital cost, and an opportunity cost arising from not operating in the best possible state of health. Preoperatively treating the frailty of elderly patients will improve the use of health resources.

Care complexity individual factors associated with adverse events and in-hospital mortality

Introduction

Measuring the impact of care complexity on health outcomes, based on psychosocial, biological and environmental circumstances, is important in order to detect predictors of early deterioration of inpatients. We aimed to identify care complexity individual factors associated with selected adverse events and in-hospital mortality.

Methods

A multicenter, case-control study was carried out at eight public hospitals in Catalonia, Spain, from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017. All adult patients admitted to a ward or a step-down unit were evaluated. Patients were divided into the following groups based on the presence or absence of three adverse events (pressure ulcers, falls or aspiration pneumonia) and in-hospital mortality. The 28 care complexity individual factors were classified in five domains (developmental, mental-cognitive, psycho-emotional, sociocultural and comorbidity/complications). Adverse events and complexity factors were retrospectively reviewed by consulting patients’ electronic health records. Multivariate logistic analysis was performed to identify factors associated with an adverse event and in-hospital mortality.

Results

A total of 183,677 adult admissions were studied. Of these, 3,973 (2.2%) patients experienced an adverse event during hospitalization (1,673 [0.9%] pressure ulcers; 1,217 [0.7%] falls and 1,236 [0.7%] aspiration pneumonia). In-hospital mortality was recorded in 3,996 patients (2.2%). After adjustment for potential confounders, the risk factors independently associated with both adverse events and in-hospital mortality were: mental status impairments, impaired adaptation, lack of caregiver support, old age, major chronic disease, hemodynamic instability, communication disorders, urinary or fecal incontinence, vascular fragility, extreme weight, uncontrolled pain, male sex, length of stay and admission to a medical ward. High-tech hospital admission was associated with an increased risk of adverse events and a reduced risk of in-hospital mortality. The area under the ROC curve for both outcomes was > 0.75 (95% IC: 0.78–0.83).

Conclusions

Several care complexity individual factors were associated with adverse events and in-hospital mortality. Prior identification of complexity factors may have an important effect on the early detection of acute deterioration and on the prevention of poor outcomes.

Nursing care for older patients with pressure ulcers: A qualitative study

Aim

To explore the experience and perception of pressure ulcers in a group of nurses caring for older patients.

Design

A qualitative study based on interviews with (N = 6) nurses working with older patients.

Method

A qualitative approach was applied using thematic analysis influenced by Braun and Clarke.

Results

The findings comprised one main theme "Prevention of pressure ulcers is important" and four sub-themes "Nursing resources on the ward," "Basic nursing skills-lift the duvet," "Introduction of new nurses on the ward-bedside teaching" and "Missing articulation of pressure ulcers." Bedside teaching and experienced nurses may create a culture on the ward where basic nursing skills and observations are articulated.

Readmission of older acutely admitted medical patients after short-term admissions in Denmark: a nationwide cohort study

Background

Knowledge of unplanned readmission rates and prognostic factors for readmission among older people after early discharge from emergency departments is sparse. The aims of this study were to examine the unplanned readmission rate among older patients after short-term admission, and to examine risk factors for readmission including demographic factors, comorbidity and admission diagnoses.

Methods

This cohort study included all medical patients aged ≥65 years acutely admitted to Danish hospitals between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2014 and surviving a hospital stay of ≤24 h. Data on readmission within 30 days, comorbidity, demographic factors, discharge diagnoses and mortality were obtained from the Danish National Registry of Patients and the Danish Civil Registration System. We examined risk factors for readmission using a multivariable Cox regression to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for readmission.

Results

A total of 93,306 patients with a median age of 75 years were acutely admitted and discharged within 24 h, and 18,958 (20.3%; 95% CI 20.1 - 20.6%) were readmitted with a median time to readmission of 8 days (IQR 3 - 16 days). The majority were readmitted with a new diagnosis. Male sex (aHR 1.15; 1.11 - 1.18) and a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3 (aHR 2.28; 2.20 - 2.37) were associated with an increased risk of readmission. Discharge diagnoses associated with increased risk of readmission were heart failure (aHR 1.26; 1.12 - 1.41), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aHR 1.33; 1.25 - 1.43), dehydration (aHR 1.28; 1.17 - 1.39), constipation (aHR 1.26; 1.14 - 1.39), anemia (aHR 1.45; 1.38 - 1.54), pneumonia (aHR 1.15; 1.06 - 1.25), urinary tract infection (aHR 1.15; 1.07 - 1.24), suspicion of malignancy (aHR 1.51; 1.37 - 1.66), fever (aHR 1.52; 1.33 - 1.73) and abdominal pain (aHR 1.12; 1.05 - 1.19).

Conclusions

One fifth of acutely admitted medical patients aged ≥65 were readmitted within 30 days after early discharge. Male gender, the burden of comorbidity and several primary discharge diagnoses were risk factors for readmission.

An analysis of the costs of treating aged patients in a large clinical hospital in Poland under the pressure of recent demographic trends

INTRODUCTION

The aging of modern societies increases the general healthcare burden due to the growing demand for inpatient services, which lack adequate financing.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data concerning the costs of 312,250 hospitalizations at University Clinical Hospital in Wrocław, Poland in the years 2012-2015 were analyzed according to the age of the patients: below 65 years and 65 years and older, with subgroups (65-74, 75-84 and 85 years and older).

RESULTS

The mean length of stay (LOS) differed significantly for patients below 65 years and for patients 65 years old or older (3.5 vs. 4.7 person-days); over the 4 years covered by our data, these increased by 0.4 person-days, mostly among patients 85 years and older (by 0.7 person-days). The mean direct cost of hospitalization differed significantly for patients below 65 years and those 65 years or older (PLN 4,907.12 vs. PLN 6,357.15). The mean cost of laboratory tests and radiologic diagnostics was significantly higher among those in the 65+ group, and the difference had a rising trend. The differences between age groups in cost-related hospitalization characteristics and direct hospitalization costs that have been suggested by the medical literature have also been confirmed in Poland.

CONCLUSIONS

The mean hospitalization costs of patients aged 65 years and older in Poland are higher than for younger patients due to longer LOS and more complex and expensive treatment, especially laboratory and radiologic diagnostics, which is increasingly common in the oldest age groups. This demands an urgent systemic solution, especially in terms of adjusted financing of elderly patients' hospital treatment.

A Surgeon's Guide to Treating Older Patients with Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Review strategies to improve outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment in older patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Older colorectal patients face many barriers to recovery during their initial inpatient stay following surgery and after leaving the hospital. In addition to the risk of inpatient morbidity and mortality, older patients are more likely to require post-acute care services, to face nutritional deficits, and to experience complications of chemoradiation.

SUMMARY

In order to improve outcomes for older patients with colorectal cancer, it is important for surgeons to recognize their unique needs and to develop plans to address them. The involvement of a multidisciplinary team with geriatric experience can guide planning for surgery, the immediate postoperative recovery, and long-term survivorship.