Abstract 14800: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Limits Days at Home Among Medicare Beneficiaries Hospitalized for Heart Failure (HF)

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are highly prevalent among adults with heart failure (HF). HF is associated with disability among older adults, especially those with ADRD. This may impact aging in place after HF hospitalizations, which is concerning given this is an important outcome for patients recovering from serious illnesses. We aimed to examine the association between ADRD and aging in place among Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for HF. Methods: We identified 80,694 fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized for HF between 2017 and 2019 in a 20% random sample of Medicare claims. HF hospitalization and ADRD were identified using ICD codes. The primary outcome was restricted home time, a patient-centered claims-based measure of successful aging in place defined as spending ≥ 10 days not at home (e.g., hospitalized, nursing home, inpatient facility) over 6 months post-discharge. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between ADRD and restricted home time adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics; secondary analyses evaluated the likelihood of returning to pre-hospitalization days at home 6 months post-discharge. Results: Eighteen percent (n= 14,503/80,694) of adults hospitalized for HF had concurrent ADRD. HF patients with ADRD were older (83 vs 77 years), more likely to be female (56% vs 48%), and have dual Medicaid/Medicare eligibility (27% vs 21%), but had similar hospital length of stays and days at home preceding HF hospitalization compared to those without ADRD. Of HF patients with ADRD, 63% had restricted home time (vs. 51% without ADRD) and 52% failed to return to baseline days at home (vs. 42% without ADRD). In adjusted models, older adults with ADRD had 34% greater odds of experiencing restricted home time (OR=1.34, 1.30-1.40), and 20% lower odds of returning to baseline days at home (OR=0.80, 0.77-0.83) 6 months post- discharge than those without ADRD. Conclusions: HF hospitalizations impact the ability of older adults to successfully age in place, especially among those with ADRD. Tailored post-discharge care solutions are urgently needed to address the challenges faced by HF patients with ADRD.