High Hospital Use Research Articles

Predictors of high hospital admission and criminal reoffending in adults experiencing homelessness: a retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesTo examine the costs and predictors of high hospital use and criminal reoffending in adults experiencing homelessness. ApproachRetrospective cohort study of 2,140 adults who attended homeless hostel clinics in New South Wales, Australia using linked clinic, health, criminal offence, and mortality data from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2021. Multivariable logistic regression examined predictors of high all-cause hospital use (≥4 emergency department presentations in 12 months) and predictors of recidivism. ResultsThere were 27,466 hospitalisations at a total cost of AUD$548.2 million. Twenty-seven percent of the cohort had high hospital use. Factors associated with high use were age ≥45 years, female (AOR: 1.52; 95%CI 1.05-2.22), presence of a mental disorder, substance use disorder (AOR: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.03-1.82), or being homeless for >1 year (AOR: 1.31; 95%CI: 1.06-1.62). There were 1,646 (76.9%) adults who had contact with the criminal justice system. Most (75.3%) reoffended within 24 months after index offence, and reoffenders were more likely to be younger, have a personality disorder (AOR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.04-1.67), substance use disorder (AOR: 1.60; 95%CI 1.14-2.23), and had a previous charge dismissed on mental health grounds (AOR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.31-2.46). Reoffenders more likely to have a principal theft-related offence (AOR: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.29-2.66). Total court finalisation costs were AUD$11.3 million. ConclusionsThe high use of hospital and criminal justice services lends support to strategies to develop models of supported housing with a focus on integrated care, mental health support, improved referral pathways, and better coordination with community-based support agencies.

Acute Care Use Among Patients With Multiple Chronic Conditions Receiving Care From Nurse Practitioner Practices in Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Patients with multiple chronic conditions often have many care plans, polypharmacy, and unrelieved symptoms that contribute to high emergency department and hospital use. High-quality primary care delivered in practices that employ nurse practitioners can help prevent the need for such acute care services. However, such practices located in primary care health professional shortage areas face challenges caring for these patients because of higher workloads and fewer resources. We examined differences in hospitalization and emergency department use among patients with multiple chronic conditions who receive care from practices that employ nurse practitioners in health professional shortage areas compared to practices that employ nurse practitioners in non-health professional shortage areas. We performed an analysis of Medicare claims, merged with Health Resources and Services Administration data on health professional shortage area status in five states. Our sample included 394,424 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years, with at least two of 15 common chronic conditions who received care in 779 practices that employ nurse practitioners. We used logistic regression to assess the relationship between health professional shortage area status and emergency department visits or hospitalizations. We found a higher likelihood of emergency department visits among patients in health professional shortage areas compared to those in non-health professional shortage areas and no difference in the likelihood of hospitalization. Emergency department use differences exist among older adults with multiple chronic conditions receiving care in practices that employ nurse practitioners in health professional shortage areas, compared to those in non-health professional shortage areas. To address this disparity, the health professional shortage area program should invest in recruiting and retaining nurse practitioners to health professional shortage areas to ease workforce shortages.

COVID-19 Admission Rates and Changes in Care Quality in US Hospitals

Unprecedented increases in hospital occupancy rates during COVID-19 surges in 2020 caused concern over hospital care quality for patients without COVID-19. To examine changes in hospital nonsurgical care quality for patients without COVID-19 during periods of high and low COVID-19 admissions. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2019 and 2020 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases. Data were obtained for all nonfederal, acute care hospitals in 36 states with admissions in 2019 and 2020, and patients without a diagnosis of COVID-19 or pneumonia who were at risk for selected quality indicators were included. The data analysis was performed between January 1, 2023, and March 15, 2024. Each hospital and week in 2020 was categorized based on the number of COVID-19 admissions per 100 beds: less than 1.0, 1.0 to 4.9, 5.0 to 9.9, 10.0 to 14.9, and 15.0 or greater. The main outcomes were rates of adverse outcomes for selected quality indicators, including pressure ulcers and in-hospital mortality for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, acute stroke, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hip fracture, and percutaneous coronary intervention. Changes in 2020 compared with 2019 were calculated for each level of the weekly COVID-19 admission rate, adjusting for case-mix and hospital-month fixed effects. Changes during weeks with high COVID-19 admissions (≥15 per 100 beds) were compared with changes during weeks with low COVID-19 admissions (<1 per 100 beds). The analysis included 19 111 629 discharges (50.3% female; mean [SD] age, 63.0 [18.0] years) from 3283 hospitals in 36 states. In weeks 18 to 48 of 2020, 35 851 hospital-weeks (36.7%) had low COVID-19 admission rates, and 8094 (8.3%) had high rates. Quality indicators for patients without COVID-19 significantly worsened in 2020 during weeks with high vs low COVID-19 admissions. Pressure ulcer rates increased by 0.09 per 1000 admissions (95% CI, 0.01-0.17 per 1000 admissions; relative change, 24.3%), heart failure mortality increased by 0.40 per 100 admissions (95% CI, 0.18-0.63 per 100 admissions; relative change, 21.1%), hip fracture mortality increased by 0.40 per 100 admissions (95% CI, 0.04-0.77 per 100 admissions; relative change, 29.4%), and a weighted mean of mortality for the selected indicators increased by 0.30 per 100 admissions (95% CI, 0.14-0.45 per 100 admissions; relative change, 10.6%). In this cross-sectional study, COVID-19 surges were associated with declines in hospital quality, highlighting the importance of identifying and implementing strategies to maintain care quality during periods of high hospital use.

Disruption of hospital care during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted socioeconomic groups differently: population based study using routine registration data

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, provision of non-COVID healthcare was recurrently severely disrupted. The objective was to determine whether disruption of non-COVID hospital use, either due to cancelled, postponed, or forgone care, during the first pandemic year of COVID-19 impacted socioeconomic groups differently compared with pre-pandemic use.MethodsNational population registry data, individually linked with data of non-COVID hospital use in the Netherlands (2017–2020). in non-institutionalised population of 25–79 years, in standardised household income deciles (1 = low, 10 = high) as proxy for socioeconomic status. Generic outcome measures included patients who received hospital care (dichotomous): outpatient contact, day treatment, inpatient clinic, and surgery. Specific procedures were included as examples of frequently performed elective and acute procedures, e.g.: elective knee/hip replacement and cataract surgery, and acute percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Relative risks (RR) for hospital use were reported as outcomes from generalised linear regression models (binomial) with log-link. An interaction term was included to assess whether income differences in hospital use during the pandemic deviated from pre-pandemic use.ResultsHospital use rates declined in 2020 across all income groups. With baseline (2019) higher hospital use rates among lower than higher income groups, relatively stronger declines were found for lower income groups. The lowest income groups experienced a 10% larger decline in surgery received than the highest income group (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.87 – 0.93). Patterns were similar for inpatient clinic, elective knee/hip replacement and cataract surgery. We found small or no significant income differences for outpatient clinic, day treatment, and acute PCI.ConclusionsDisruption of non-COVID hospital use in 2020 was substantial across all income groups during the acute phases of the pandemic, but relatively stronger for lower income groups than could be expected compared with pre-pandemic hospital use. Although the pandemic’s impact on the health system was unprecedented, healthcare service shortages are here to stay. It is therefore pivotal to realise that lower income groups may be at risk for underuse in times of scarcity.

Impact of multimorbidity on health care utilisation in Australian older adults aged 45 years and over: a large population-based data linkage cohort study

Background: Multimorbidity (MM), co-occurrence of two or more chronic health conditions in an individual, is often used in the assessment of complex healthcare needs and their impact on health outcomes. Management of MM is complex, but little is known about the impact of MM on health care services.&#x0D; Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among people aged 45+ years in New South Wales, Australia, who completed baseline questionnaires in the 45 and Up Study between 2005-2009. Baseline questionnaire data were linked to hospital, primary care Medicare billings, emergency department (ED), and deaths registry data. Our outcome of interest was high use of health care services within the 3-year baseline period (averaged over the years before, during and after recruitment). People who died during that period were excluded. High use was defined as: ≥11 General Practice (GP) visits, ≥2 ED visits, and ≥2 hospital admissions. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were used to measure the impact of MM, and Poisson regression models were used to estimate adjusted and unadjusted PRs with 95% confidence intervals.&#x0D; Results: Among 251,689 participants (46.5% male, and 46.1% aged &lt;60 years), the overall prevalence of MM was 44.1% and prevalence increased with age: 32.2% in 45-59 years, 50.3% in 60-74 years, and 63.3% in 75+ years. After adjusting for confounding, MM was associated with high service use: adjusted PR (95% CI) was 2.27 (2.06-2.51) for high hospital use, 2.02 (1.98-2.06) for high GP use, and 2.04 (1.90-2.21) for high ED use. The impact of MM on health care utilisation was higher among the younger age group.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study illustrates the burden of multimorbidity on service use within the health system. It also highlights the need to examine and rationalise service provision and utilisation across the health system to assist people with multimorbidity efficiently manage their conditions.

Hospital resource utilization in a national cohort of functionally single ventricle patients undergoing surgical treatment

ObjectiveThe study objective was to provide a detailed overview of health resource use from birth to 18 years old for patients with functionally single ventricles and identify associated risk factors. MethodsAll patients with functionally single ventricles treated between 2000 and 2017 in England and Wales were linked to hospital and outpatient records using data from the Linking AUdit and National datasets in Congenital HEart Services project. Hospital stay was described in yearly age intervals, and associated risk factors were explored using quantile regression. ResultsA total of 3037 patients with functionally single ventricles were included, 1409 (46.3%) undergoing a Fontan procedure. During the first year of life, the median days spent in hospital was 60 (interquartile range, 37-102), mostly inpatient days, mirroring a mortality of 22.8%. This decreases to between 2 and 9 in-hospital days/year afterward. Between 2 and 18 years, most hospital days were outpatient, with a median of 1 to 5 days/year. Lower age at the first procedure, hypoplastic left heart syndrome/mitral atresia, unbalanced atrioventricular septal defect, preterm birth, congenital/acquired comorbidities, additional cardiac risk factors, and severity of illness markers were associated with fewer days at home and more intensive care unit days in the first year of life. Only markers of early severe illness were associated with fewer days at home in the first 6 months after the Fontan procedure. ConclusionsHospital resource use in functionally single ventricle cases is not uniform, decreasing 10-fold during adolescence compared with the first year of life. There are subsets of patients with worse outcomes during their first year of life or with persistently high hospital use throughout their childhood, which could be the target of future research.

Sex Differences in Oxycodone/Naloxone vs. Tapentadol in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: An Observational Real-World Study.

Despite the large body of research on sex differences in pain, there is a lack of translation to real-world pain management. Our aim was to analyse the sex differences in the analgesic response to oxycodone/naloxone (OXN) and tapentadol (TAP), in comparison with other opioids (OPO) commonly prescribed for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP). An observational and cross-sectional study was conducted on ambulatory CNCP patients (n = 571). Sociodemographic, clinical (pain intensity, relief, and quality of life), safety (adverse events (AEs), adverse drug reactions), hospital frequentations and pharmacological (morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD)) variables were collected. Multiple linear regressions were carried out to assess the association between sex and outcomes. Sex differences were observed, with lower female tolerability and higher hospital frequentation, especially in the OXN group (OR AEs report = 2.8 [1.8–4.4], p < 0.001). Here, females showed higher hospital use (23% hospital admission, 30% prescription change, p < 0.05), requiring a higher MEDD (127 ± 103 mg/day, p < 0.05), compared to OXN men. Regardless of the opioid group, CNCP women were significantly older than men (three years), with significantly higher benzodiazepine use (OR = 1.6 [1.1–2.3]), more constipation (OR = 1.34 [0.93–1.90]) and headache (OR = 1.45 [0.99–2.13]) AEs, than men who were more likely to refer sexual dysfunction (OR = 2.77 [1.53–5.01]), and loss of libido (OR = 1.93 [1.22–3.04]). Sex-differences were found related to poorer female drug tolerability and higher hospital resources, even worst in OXN female users. Other differences related to older female ages and benzodiazepine prescription, need to be further analysed from a gender perspective.

Healthcare cost expenditures associated to frailty and sarcopenia

ObjectivesFrailty and sarcopenia have been related with adverse events, including hospitalization. However, its combined effect with hospitalization-related outcomes, including costs, has not been previously investigated. Our purpose was to explore how frailty, sarcopenia and its interaction could impact on healthcare expenditures.Methods1358 community-dwelling older adults from the Toledo Study of Healthy Ageing (TSHA) were included. Sarcopenia was measured using the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health criteria fitted to our cohort. Frailty was defined according to Frailty Trait Scale 5 (FTS5) and the Frailty Index fitted to the cut-off points of TSHA population. Hospitalization costs were taken from hospital records and costs were attributed according to Diagnostic-Related Groups, using as the cost base year 2015. Two-part regression models were used to analyze the relationship between frailty and sarcopenia and hospital admission, number of hospitalizations, length of stay and hospitalization costs.ResultsSarcopenia was associated only with the probability of being admitted to hospital. Frailty was also associated with higher hospital use, regardless of the frailty tool used, but in addition increased hospital admission costs at follow-up by 23.72% per year and by 19.73% in the full model compared with non-frail individuals. The presence of sarcopenia did not increase the costs of frailty but, by opposite, frailty significantly increased the costs in people with sarcopenia, reaching by 46–56%/patient/year at follow-up. Older adults with frailty and sarcopenia had a higher risk of hospitalization, disregarding the tool used to assess frailty, and higher hospitalization costs (FTS5) in the full model, at the cross-sectional and at the follow-up level.ConclusionsFrailty is associated with increased hospitalization costs and accounts for the potential effects of sarcopenia.

Characterizing Multisystem High Users of the Homeless Services, Jail, and Hospital Systems in Chicago, Illinois.

This study investigated the demographic characteristics, service use patterns, and needs of people who were high users of the homeless services, Cook County Jail, or hospital systems in Chicago, Illinois. Definitions of "high users" in each system were based on number of stays and days. K-means cluster analysis was performed on the subset of individuals who interacted with all three systems and were high users of at least one system. Cluster analysis was conducted on 1,232 individuals and revealed three profiles. The largest cluster (N=1,059; 86%) consisted of older single individuals exhibiting high rates of disabling conditions and health issues. A second cluster (N=124; 10%) distinguished a particularly vulnerable subgroup with the highest rates of medical and mental health needs. The final, smallest cluster (N=49; 4%) consisted of predominantly younger Black women with children who exhibited the lowest rates of behavioral health issues, but high hospital use.

An Analysis of Hospital Costs for Childhood Cancer Care.

This study used a linked dataset consisting of all childhood cancers recorded over the course of 10 years in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, to evaluate the hospital and emergency department costs (from a payer perspective) and resources used by patients with childhood cancer. We also analyzed determinants responsible for high-frequency hospital admissions, hospital length of stay (LoS), and hospital costs. We analyzed linked data at the individual patient level for a retrospective cohort of 2,966 patients with cancer aged <18 years with a diagnosis date between 2001 and 2012 from the NSW Central Cancer Registry, Australia. We reported costs and use of hospitalization and emergency department presentation 1 year before the date of diagnosis, 1 year after diagnosis, and 2 to 5 years after diagnosis. We also examined the association between cancer types and hospital admission and hospital costs from the payer perspective. Patient characteristics associated with the frequency of hospital admissions, hospital LoS, and hospital costs were also determined using a generalized linear model. Most hospital admission costs occurred in the first year after diagnosis, accounting for >70% of hospital costs within 5 years after diagnosis. The estimated median annual cost of hospitalization in the first year after diagnosis was A$88,964 (interquartile range [IQR], A$34,399-A$163,968) for patients diagnosed at age 0 to 14 years and A$23,384 (IQR, A$5,585-A$91,565) for those diagnosed at age 15 to 17 years. Higher frequency of hospital admissions, hospital LoS, and hospital costs were significantly associated with younger age at cancer diagnosis, cancer metastases, and living in remote/disadvantaged socioeconomic areas. Our study represents one of the first in Australia to include detailed hospitalization cost information for all childhood cancer cases. This study highlights the high hospital use by pediatric patients and the importance of early diagnosis. Our findings also demonstrate the health inequities experienced by patients from remote areas and the lowest socioeconomic areas.

Aligning care with the personal values of patients with complex care needs.

To identify opportunities to align care with the personal values of patients from three distinct groups with complex medical, behavioral, and social needs. Between June and August 2019, we conducted semi-structured interviews with individuals with complex care needs in two integrated health care delivery systems. Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. We interviewed three groups of patients at Kaiser Permanente Washington and Kaiser Permanente Colorado representing three distinct profiles of complex care needs: Group A ("obesity, opioid prescription, and low-resourced neighborhood"), Group B ("older, high medical morbidity, emergency department, and hospital use"), and Group C ("older, mental and physical health concerns, and low-resourced neighborhood"). These profiles were identified based on prior work and prioritized by internal primary care stakeholders. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Twenty-four patients participated; eight from each complex needs profile. Mean age across groups was 71 (range 48-86) years. We identified five themes common across the three groups that captured patients' views regarding values-aligned care. These themes focused on the importance of care teams exploring and acknowledging a patient's values, providing access to nonphysician providers who have different perspectives on care delivery, offering values-aligned mental health care, ensuring connection to community-based resources that support values and address needs, and providing care that supports the patient plus their family and caregivers. Our results suggest several opportunities to improve how care is delivered to patients with different complex medical, behavioral, and social needs. Future research is needed to better understand how to incorporate these opportunities into health care.

Predisposing, enabling and need factors associated with increased use and ongoing increased use of inpatient mental health care: A population-based longitudinal study.

The study investigated factors associated with frequent (admissions), high (total length of stay) or heavy (frequent and high) hospital use, and with ongoing increased hospital use, for mental health conditions in a regional health district. A retrospective population-based study using longitudinal hospital, emergency department and community service use data for people admitted with a mental health condition between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2016. Multivariate logistic regression models assessed the association of predisposing, enabling and need factors with increased, and ongoing increased, hospital use. A total of 5,631 people had at least one mental health admission. Frequent admission was associated with not being married (odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval = [1.5, 3.3]), no private hospital insurance (odds ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval = [1.2, 3.8]), previous mental health service use (community, emergency department, lengthy admissions) and a history of a substance use disorder, childhood trauma, self-harm or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. High and heavy hospital use was associated with marital status, hospital insurance, admission for schizophrenia, previous mental health service use and a history of self-harm. Ongoing frequent use was less likely among those aged 65 and older (odds ratio = 0.2, 95% confidence interval = [0.1, 1.0]) but more likely among those with a history of depression (odds ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval = [1.1, 4.4]). Ongoing high use was also associated with admissions for schizophrenia and a history of self-harm. Interventions targeted at younger people hospitalised with schizophrenia, a history of depression or self-harm, particularly with evidence of social and or health disadvantage, should be considered to improve long-term consumer and health system outcomes. These data can support policymakers to better understand the context and need for improvements in stepped or staged care for people frequently using inpatient mental health care.

Priorities and Outcomes for Youth-Adult Transitions in Hospital Care: Perspectives of Inpatient Clinical Leaders at US Children's Hospitals.

Adults with chronic conditions originating in childhood experience ongoing hospitalizations; however, efforts to guide youth-adult transitions rarely address transitioning to adult-oriented inpatient care. Our objectives were to identify perceptions of clinical leaders on important and feasible inpatient transition activities and outcomes, including when, how, and for whom inpatient transition processes are needed. Clinical leaders at US children's hospitals were surveyed between January and July 2016. Questionnaires were used to assess 21 inpatient transition activities and 13 outcomes. Perceptions about feasible and important outcome measures and appropriate patients and settings for activities were summarized. Each transition activity was categorized into one of the Six Core Elements (policy, tracking, readiness, planning, transfer, or completion). Associations between perceived transition activity importance or feasibility, hospital characteristics, and transition activity performance were evaluated. In total, 96 of 195 (49.2%) children's hospital leaders responded. The most important and feasible activities were identifying patients needing or overdue for transition, discussing transition timing with youth and/or families, and informing youth and/or families that future stays would be at an adult facility. Feasibility, but not importance, ratings were associated with current performance of transition activities. Inpatient transition activities were perceived to be important for children with medical and/or social complexity or high hospital use. Emergency department visits and patient experience during transition were top outcome measurement priorities. Children's hospital clinical leaders rated inpatient youth-adult transition activities and outcome measures as important and feasible; however, feasibility may ultimately drive implementation. This work should be used to inform initial research and quality improvement priorities, although additional stakeholder perspectives are needed.

Frequently Hospitalized Patients' Perceptions of Factors Contributing to High Hospital Use.

A small proportion of patients accounts for a large proportion of hospitalizations. To obtain patients' perspectives of factors associated with the onset and continuation of high hospital use. Qualitative research study where a research coordinator conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews. A team of researchers performed inductive coding and analysis. A single urban academic hospital. Patients with two unplanned 30-day readmissions within 12 months and one or more of the following: ≥1 readmission in the last six months, a referral from a clinician, or ≥3 observation visits. Overall, 26 participants completed the interviews. Four main themes emerged. First, major medical problems were universal, but the onset of frequent hospital use varied. Second, participants perceived fluctuations in their course to be related to psychological, social, and economic factors. Social support was perceived as helpful and participants benefited when providing social support to others. Third, episodes of illness varied in onset and generally seemed uncontrollable and often unpredictable to the participants. Fourth, participants strongly desired to avoid hospitalization and typically sought care only after self-management failed. Emergent themes pointed to factors which influence patients' onset of high hospital use, fluctuations in their illness over time, and triggers to seek care during an episode of illness. These findings enable patients' perspectives to be incorporated into the design of programs serving similar populations of frequently hospitalized patients.

Characteristics and behavioral health needs of patients with patterns of high hospital use: implications for primary care providers

BackgroundA small percentage of patients relies extensively on hospital-based care and account for a disproportionately high share of health care spending in the United States. Evidence shows that behavioral health conditions are common among these individuals, but understanding of their behavioral health needs is limited. This study aimed to understand the behavioral health characteristics and needs of patients with high hospital utilization patterns in Camden, New Jersey.MethodsThe sample consisted of patients in a care management intervention for individuals with patterns of high hospital utilization who were referred for behavioral health assessments (N = 195). A clinical psychologist conducted the assessments, which informed a multiaxial evaluation with diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and a Mental Status Examination, to facilitate accurate diagnosis. Demographic characteristics, housing instability, exposure to trauma, and health care service utilization data were also collected through self-report and chart reviews.ResultsNinety percent of patients were diagnosed with a psychiatric and/or active substance use disorder. Depression was the most common psychiatric disorder and alcohol use was the most common substance use disorder. However, only 10% of patients with an active substance use disorder were in treatment, and only 17% of patients with a mental health diagnosis were receiving mental health treatment. Nearly all (91%) patients reported having a primary care provider at the time of assessment and most had seen their primary care provider within three months of their last hospital discharge. Non-medical barriers to health and wellness, specifically housing instability and exposure to trauma, were also common (35 and 61% of patients, respectively) among patients.ConclusionFindings highlight the importance of identifying and treating patients with behavioral health needs in the primary care setting. Developing connections with community agencies who provide behavioral health and substance use treatment can enhance primary care providers’ efforts to address their patients’ non-medical barriers to treatment, as can embedding behavioral health providers within primary care offices. The study also underscores the need for trauma-informed care in primary care settings.

The effect of cross-jurisdictional linked hospital and death data on estimating risk-adjusted grouped hospital standardised mortality ratios in Australia

ABSTRACT&#x0D; ObjectivesThe Population Health Research Network (PHRN) was established to increase data linkage capacity in Australia. A proof of concept study investigating cross border hospital use and hospital mortality was undertaken to demonstrate the effectiveness of increased data linkage capacity in supporting nationally significant health research. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether cross-jurisdictional linkage of hospital and death records across Australian states could refine estimation of Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratios (HSMRs).&#x0D; ApproachIn Australia, administrative hospital and death data are collected by individual state governments. The newly established Centre for Data Linkage created a cross-jurisdictional linkage key that brought together hospital and death records belonging to individuals across four Australian states over a five year period (1st July 2004 – 30th June 2009). Hospital inpatient records from public, psychiatric and private hospitals and private day surgery centres were provided by New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland. South Australia provided public hospital inpatient records only. The linked data underwent extensive cleaning and standardisation to improve the validity of interstate comparisons.&#x0D; The final cohort comprised 7.7 million hospital patients. In-hospital deaths and deaths within 30 days of hospital discharge from the four state jurisdictions were used to estimate the SMR of hospital groups defined by geography and type of hospital (grouped HSMR) under three record linkage scenarios; 1) cross-jurisdictional person-level linkage, 2) within-jurisdictional (state-based) person-level linkage and 3) unlinked records. All public and private hospitals in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and public hospitals in South Australia were included in this study. Death registrations from all four states were obtained from state-based registries of births, deaths and marriages.&#x0D; Results Cross-jurisdictional linkage identified 11,116 cross-border hospital transfers of which 170 resulted in a cross-border in-hospital death. An additional 496 cross-border deaths occurred within 30 day of hospital discharge. The inclusion of cross-jurisdictional person-level links to unlinked hospital records reduced the coefficient of variation amongst the grouped HSMRs from 0.19 to 0.15; the inclusion of 30 day deaths reduced the coefficient of variation further to 0.11. There were minor changes in grouped HSMRs between cross-jurisdictional and within-jurisdictional linkages, although the impact of cross-jurisdictional linkage increased when restricted to geographic regions with high cross-border hospital use such as the New South Wales and Queensland border area.&#x0D; ConclusionCross-jurisdictional data linkage modified estimates of grouped HSMRs, particularly for hospitals groups that were likely to receive a high proportion of cross-border users.

Improving the Estimation of Risk-Adjusted Grouped Hospital Standardized Mortality Ratios Using Cross-Jurisdictional Linked Administrative Data: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Hospitals and death registries in Australia are operated under individual state government jurisdictions. Some state borders are located in heavily populated areas or are located near to major capital cities. Mortality indicators for hospital located near state borders may not be estimated accurately if patients are lost as they cross state borders. The aim of this study was to evaluate how cross-jurisdictional linkage of state hospital and death records across state borders may improve estimation of the hospital standardized mortality ratio (HSMR), a tool used in Australia as a hospital performance indicator. Retrospective cohort study of 7.7 million hospital patients from July 2004 to June 2009. Inhospital deaths and deaths within 30 days of hospital discharge from four state jurisdictions were used to estimate the standardized mortality ratio of hospital groups defined by geography and type of hospital (grouped HSMR) under three record linkage scenarios, as follows: (1) cross-jurisdictional person-level linkage, (2) within-jurisdictional (state-based) person-level linkage, and (3) unlinked records. All public and private hospitals in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, and public hospitals in South Australia were included in this study. Death registrations from all four states were obtained from state-based registries of births, deaths, and marriages. Cross-jurisdictional linkage identified 11,116 cross-border hospital transfers of which 170 resulted in a cross-border inhospital death. An additional 496 cross-border deaths occurred within 30 days of hospital discharge. The inclusion of cross-jurisdictional person-level links to unlinked hospital records reduced the coefficient of variation among the grouped HSMRs from 0.19 to 0.15; the inclusion of 30-day deaths reduced the coefficient of variation further to 0.11. There were minor changes in grouped HSMRs between cross-jurisdictional and within-jurisdictional linkages, although the impact of cross-jurisdictional linkage increased when restricted to regions with high cross-border hospital use. Cross-jurisdictional linkage modified estimates of grouped HSMRs in hospital groups likely to receive a high proportion of cross-border users. Hospital identifiers will be required to confirm whether individual hospital performance indicators change.

Family caregiving for adults with sickle cell disease and extremely high hospital use.

This study investigated coping with chronic illness in the adult patient-caregiver relationship for sickle cell disease, marked by debilitating acute and chronic pain. One-on-one interviews (N = 16) were conducted with eight primary caregivers of eight adults with extremely high hospital use, severe sickle cell disease with hospital admissions several times monthly over successive years. Caregivers were predominantly parents; two were romantic partners. Caregivers attributed disruptions to the disease's variability, tensions in how much support to give, and adults' inability to fulfill parental obligations. Both groups expressed fears of patients' increasing age, declining health, and early death. Targeted counseling and resilience training is recommended.

Differential Health and Social Needs of Older Adults Waitlisted for Public Housing or Housing Choice Vouchers

ABSTRACTAffordable housing is an important form of income security for low-income older persons. This article describes characteristics of older persons waitlisted for either public housing or a housing choice voucher (HCV; previously Section 8) in Portland, Oregon. 358 persons (32% response rate) completed a mailed survey with questions about demographics, health and housing status, food insecurity, and preference for housing with services. Findings indicate that many waitlisted older persons experienced homelessness or housing instability, poor health, high hospital use, and food insecurity. Public housing applicants were significantly more likely to report lower incomes, homelessness, and food insecurity than HCV applicants. We conclude with policy implications for housing and health agencies that serve low-income older persons.

Effect of Structured Physical Activity on Respiratory Outcomes in Sedentary Elderly Adults with Mobility Limitations.

To evaluate the effect of structured physical activity on respiratory outcomes in community-dwelling elderly adults with mobility limitations. Multicenter, randomized trial of physical activity vs health education, with respiratory variables prespecified as tertiary outcomes over an intervention period of 24-42months. Physical activity included walking (goal of 150min/week) and strength, flexibility, and balance training. Health education included workshops on topics relevant to older adults and upper extremity stretching exercises. Lifestyle Interventions and Independence in Elders (LIFE) Study. Community-dwelling persons aged 70-89 with Short Physical Performance Battery scores less than 10 (N=1,635). Dyspnea severity (defined as moderate to severe according to a Borg index >2 immediately after a 400-m walk), forced expiratory volume in 1second (FEV1) (<lower limit of normal (LLN) defined low breathing capacity), and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) (<LLN defined respiratory muscle weakness) were assessed at baseline and 6, 18, and 30months. Hospitalization for exacerbation of obstructive airways disease (EOAD) and pneumonia was also ascertained over the 42-month follow-up period. The randomized groups were similar in baseline demographics, including mean age (79) and sex (67% female). The effect of physical activity on dyspnea severity, FEV1, and MIP was no different from that of health education but was associated with higher likelihood of respiratory hospitalization, significantly for EOAD (hazard ratio (HR)=2.34, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.19-4.61, P=.01) and marginally for pneumonia (HR=1.54, 95% CI=0.98-2.42, P=.06). In older persons with mobility limitations, physical activity was associated with higher likelihood of respiratory hospitalization than health education, but differences in dyspnea severity, FEV1, and MIP did not accompany this effect-indicating that higher hospital use could be attributable to greater participant contact.