Post-discharge Healthcare Utilization Research Articles

Days Not at Home: Association of Vulnerability with Healthcare Utilization After Hospitalization for Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) hospitalizations are characterized by vulnerability in functioning and frequent post-discharge healthcare utilization in both acute and post-acute settings. To determine, in patients hospitalized for decompensated HF, the association of vulnerability with (1) detailed forms of post-discharge healthcare utilization, and (2) days spent away from home after initial hospital discharge. Secondary analysis of a prospective longitudinal cohort study from a single-center academic institution in the USA. Adults admitted with acute decompensated HF who were discharged alive. The Vulnerable Elders Survey 13 (VES-13) measured functional vulnerability at baseline. The primary outcome was the Highest Healthcare Utilization (HHU) 90days post-discharge, from the following ordered categories: at home, emergency room visit, skilled nursing facility stay, hospital readmission, or death. The secondary outcome was the proportion of days not at home (DNAH) within the first 90days. Analyses were performed using a partial proportional odds model with adjustment for demographics and health characteristics. A total of 806 patients were included with median age 65, interquartile range [IQR] 55-73years. Fewer than half (N = 345 [43%]) of patients remained alive and at home during 90-day follow-up. There were 286 [35%] hospital readmissions and 70 [8.7%] participants died. The median DNAH was 3 [IQR 0-16]. Increased vulnerability was associated with (1) HHU, (2) higher odds of utilizing healthcare or dying versus being at home alive 90days post-discharge (OR 1.81 [95% CI, 1.35, 2.42]), and (3) higher odds of DNAH in the first 90days (OR 1.55 [95% CI, 1.27, 1.89]). In this cohort of patients hospitalized for decompensated HF, vulnerability predicted higher levels of healthcare utilization, as well as total days not at home in the 90days following hospitalization. Vulnerability may have clinical applications to identify patients at greatest need for comprehensive, patient-centered discharge planning.

Post-discharge Outcomes and Healthcare Utilization Among Hispanic/Latinx Injury Survivors: English Language Proficiency Matters.

We sought to compare post-discharge outcomes and healthcare utilization between English-speaking non-Hispanic White (NHW), English-speaking Hispanic/Latinx (ESHL), and Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latinx (SSHL) survivors of traumatic injury. While there is evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare utilization and post-discharge outcomes after injury, the role of English language proficiency in these disparities remains unclear. Moderate to severely injured adults from three level-1 trauma centers completed an interview in English or Spanish between 6-12 months post-injury to assess physical health-related quality of life (SF-12-PCS), return to work, and post-discharge healthcare utilization. The language used in the interview was used as a proxy for English-language proficiency, and participants were categorized as either NHW (reference), ESHL, or SSHL. Multivariable regression models estimated independent associations between language and race/ethnicity with SF-12-PCS, return to work, and post-discharge healthcare utilization outcomes. 3,304 injury survivors were followed: 2,977 (90%) NHW, 203 (6%) ESHL, and 124 (4%) SSHL. In adjusted analyses, no significant differences were observed between ESHL and NHW injury survivors for any outcomes at 6-12 months post-injury. However, SSHL injury survivors exhibited a lower mean SF-12-PCS (41.6 vs. 38.5), -3.07 (95% CI=-5.47, -0.66; P=0.012), decreased odds of returning to work (OR=0.47; CI=0.27 to 0.81; P=0.007), and were less likely to engage in non-injury related outpatient visits, such as primary care visits (OR=0.45; 95% CI 0.28, 0.73; P=0.001), compared to NHW patients. Hispanic/Latinx injury survivors have worse post-discharge outcomes and lower non-injury-related healthcare utilization than NHW if they have limited English-language proficiency. Addressing LEP-related barriers to care could help mitigate outcome and healthcare utilization disparities among Hispanic/Latinx injury survivors.

Effects of liposomal bupivacaine on opioid use and healthcare resource utilization after outpatient spine surgery: a real-world assessment

BACKGROUND CONTEXTPerioperative pain management affects cost and outcomes in elective spine surgery. PURPOSEThis study investigated the association between liposomal bupivacaine (LB) and outpatient spine surgery outcomes, including perioperative, postoperative, and postdischarge opioid use and healthcare resource utilization. STUDY DESIGNThis was a retrospective comparative study. PATIENT SAMPLEEligibility criteria included adults with ≥6 months of continuous data before and after outpatient spine procedures including discectomy, laminectomy, or lumbar fusion. Patients receiving LB were matched 1:3 to patients receiving non-LB analgesia by propensity scores. OUTCOME MEASURESOutcomes included (1) opioid use in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) during the perioperative and postdischarge periods and (2) postdischarge readmission and emergency department (ED) visits up to 3 months after surgery. Generalized linear mixed-effects modeling with appropriate distributions was used for analysis. METHODSDeidentified data from the IQVIA linkage claims databases (2016-2019) were used for the analysis. This study was funded by Pacira BioSciences, Inc. RESULTSIn total, 381 patients received LB and 1143 patients received non-LB analgesia. Baseline characteristics were well balanced after propensity score matching. The LB cohort used fewer MMEs versus the non-LB cohort before discharge (80 vs 132 MMEs [mean difference, −52 MMEs; p=.0041]). Following discharge, there was a nonsignificant reduction in opioid use in the LB cohort versus the non-LB cohort within 90 days (429 vs 480 MMEs [mean difference, −50 MMEs; p=.289]) and from >90 days to 180 days (349 vs 381 MMEs [mean difference, −31 MMEs; p=.507]). The LB cohort had significantly lower rates of ED visits at 2 months after discharge versus the non-LB cohort (3.9% vs 7.6% [odds ratio, 0.50; p=.015]). Postdischarge readmission rates did not differ between cohorts. CONCLUSIONSUse of LB for outpatient spine surgery was associated with reduced opioid use at the hospital and nonsignificant reduction in opioid use at all postoperative timepoints examined through 90 days after surgery versus non-LB analgesia. ED visit rates were significantly lower at 60 days after discharge. These findings support reduced cost and improved quality metrics in patients treated with LB versus non-LB analgesia for outpatient spine surgery.

Association of Continuity of Care With Health Care Utilization and Expenditures Among Patients Discharged Home After Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

To examine the association of prestroke continuity of care (COC) with postdischarge health care utilization and expenditures. The study population included 2233 patients with a diagnosis of stroke or a transient ischemic attack hospitalized in one of 41 hospitals in North Carolina between March 2016 and July 2019 and discharged directly home from acute care. COC was assessed from linked Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare claims using the Modified, Modified Continuity Index. Logistic regressions and 2-part models were used to examine the association of prestroke primary care COC with postdischarge health care utilization and expenditures. Relative to patients in the first (lowest) COC quartile, patients in the second and third COC quartiles were more likely [21% (95% CI: 8.5%, 33.5%) and 33% (95% CI: 20.5%, 46.1%), respectively] to have an ambulatory care visit within 14 days. Patients in the highest COC quartile were more likely to visit a primary care provider but less likely to see a stroke specialist. Highest as compared with lowest primary care COC quartile was associated with $45 lower (95% CI: $14, $76) average expenditure for ambulatory care visits within 30 days postdischarge. Patients in the highest, as compared with the lowest, primary care COC quartile were 36% less likely (95% CI: 8%, 64%) to be readmitted within 30 days postdischarge and spent $340 less (95% CI: $2, $678) on unplanned readmissions. These findings underscore the importance of primary care COC received before stroke hospitalization to postdischarge care and expenditures.

Post-discharge Healthcare Usage and Costs From March 2020 Through the Omicron Surge for Individuals Hospitalized With COVID-19.

Despite the rise of post-COVID care centers, few studies exist that quantify the burden of patient healthcare usage and hospital costs after COVID-19 hospitalization. It is essential to target post-COVID follow-up care to the individuals who need it most, such that costs and emergencies are minimized and health and appointment attendance are optimized. This was a retrospective cohort comparison among four groups of 50 patients (200 total). Post-discharge healthcare utilization metrics were collected for individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 during the first four surges of the pandemic to compare how patients receive and seek care in the year after they contract COVID-19. A brief cost analysis was done to identify high-usage groups that could be targeted for intervention to decrease post-COVID hospitalization emergencies and burden. Patients hospitalized during the Omicron surge were scheduled for the most specialist visits on average, significantly higher than average specialist visits in the Delta surge (p<0.05).The Delta surge had significantly less specialty care and missed visits than all other surges (p<0.05) and less primary care than the first two surges of the pandemic (p<0.05). Patients with type 2 diabetes and asthma had the highest overall costs (p<0.05). Females and Hispanic patients had the highest specialty and ED costs (p<0.05). Each surge reflects a different approach to post-COVID care, with the Omicron surge demonstrating the heaviest usage overall, particularly with specialty visits. Increased specialty referrals may exacerbate rates of missed appointments, while primary care may lower emergency visits. Future approaches to post-COVID care design should identify patients at risk for emergencies and reinstate them with primary care.

Consumer Wearables Define a Normative Recovery Trajectory Following the Modified Nuss Procedure

IntroductionThe modified Nuss procedure is an elective procedure associated with a lengthy recovery, uncontrolled pain, and risk of infrequent, yet life-threatening complications. The absence of objective measures of normative postoperative recovery creates uncertainty about the postdischarge period, which remains highly dependent on the patients' and their caregivers’ expectations and management of recovery. We aimed to describe an objective-normative, physical activity recovery trajectory after the modified Nuss procedure, using step counts from the Fitbit. MethodsThis observational study enrolled children ≤18 y with pectus excavatum who underwent the modified Nuss procedure from 2021 to 2022. The Fitbit was worn for 21 postoperative days. Postdischarge outcomes and health-care utilization were evaluated. For patients without postoperative complications, piecewise linear regression analysis was conducted to generate a normative recovery trajectory model of daily step counts. ResultsOf 80 patients enrolled, 66 (86%) met eligibility criteria (mean age, 15.1 ± 1.3 y; 89.4% male, 62.1% non-Hispanic White). The mean number of telephone and electronic message encounters regarding concerns with the patient's recovery within 30 d postoperatively was 2.1 (standard deviation = 2.7). Ten patients (15.2%) returned to the emergency department (ED) within the 30-d postoperative period. Seven patients (10.6%) presented to the ED one time, and three patients (4.5%) presented to the ED twice. Thirty-day readmission rate was four patients (6.0%). Piecewise regression model showed that patients without complications steadily increased their daily step count on each postoperative day and plateaued on day 18. ConclusionsWe have developed a normative recovery trajectory following the modified Nuss procedure using step count data collected by a consumer wearable device. This offers the potential to inform preoperative patient expectations and reduce avoidable health-care utilization through informed preoperative counseling, thus laying the ground work for the use of consumer wearable devices as a postdischarge remote monitoring tool.

Effects of COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ICU Survivor Telemedicine Clinic on Patient Readmission, Pain Perception and Self-Assessed Health Scores: A Randomized, Prospective, Single-Center Exploratory Study.

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) affects up to 50% of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors leading to long-term neurocognitive, psychosocial, and physical impairments. Approximately 80% of COVID-19 pneumonia patients who require ICU level care are at elevated risk for developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Survivors of COVID-19 ARDS are at high-risk for unanticipated healthcare utilization post discharge. Common to this group of patients are increased readmission rates, long term decreased mobility, and overall poorer outcomes. Multidisciplinary post-ICU clinics for ICU survivors are usually located in large urban academic medical centers providing in-person consultation. Data is lacking on the feasibility of providing telemedicine post-ICU care for COVID-19 ARDS survivors. We explored the feasibility of instituting a COVID-19 ARDS ICU survivor telemedicine clinic and examined its effect on healthcare utilization post hospital discharge. This randomized, unblinded, single-center, parallel-group exploratory study was conducted at a rural, academic, tertiary-care medical center. Study group (SG) participants underwent a telemedicine visit within 14 days of discharge, during which a six-minute walk test (6MWT), a EuroQoL 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, and vital signs logs (VSL) were reviewed by an intensivist. Additional appointments were arranged as needed based on the outcome of these review and tests. The control group (CG) received a telemedicine visit within six weeks of discharge and completed the EQ-5D questionnaire; additional care was provided as needed based on findings in this telemedicine visit. Both SG (n=20) and CG (n=20) participants had similar baseline characteristics and dropout rate (10%). Among SG participants, 72.2% agreed to follow up in the pulmonary clinic compared to 50.0% of CG participants (P=.31). Unanticipated visits to the emergency department were 11.1% in the SG compared to 5.6% CG (not sig.). The rate of pain/discomfort was noted to be 66.7% in the SG compared to 61.1% in the CG (P=.72). The anxiety/depression rate was 72.2% vs. 61.1% (P=.59) in the SG compared to the CG. Participants' self-assessed health rating scores was M=73.9, SD 16.1 in the SG compared to M=70.6, SD 20.9 in the CG (P=.59). Both primary care physicians (PCPs) and participants in the SG perceived the telemedicine clinic as a favorable model for post-discharge critical illness follow-up in an open-ended questionnaire regarding care. This exploratory study found no statistically significant results in reducing healthcare utilization post-discharge and health related quality of life. However, PCPs and patients perceived telemedicine as a feasible and favorable model for post-discharge care among COVID-19 ICU survivors to facilitate expedited subspecialty assessment, decrease unanticipated post-discharge healthcare utilization, and reduce PICS. Further investigation is warranted to determine the feasibility of incorporating telemedicine-based post-hospitalization follow-up for all medical ICU survivors which may show improvement in healthcare utilization in a larger population.

Disparities in Utilization of Same-Day Discharge Following Appendectomy in Children

IntroductionDisparities in the delivery of pediatric surgical care exist for racial and ethnic minority groups. Utilization of same-day discharge (SDD) following appendectomy for acute, uncomplicated appendicitis is increasing; however, rates among diverse populations have not been explored to evaluate equitable care delivery and healthcare utilization. Our objective was to determine whether race and ethnicity are associated with rates of SDD and postdischarge healthcare utilization. We hypothesized that racial and ethnic minority groups would have lower rates of SDD. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study used data from the 2015-2019 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric clinical registry and included children who underwent appendectomy. Patients with complicated appendicitis were excluded. Primary exposure was racial or ethnic group. The primary outcome was SDD, and secondary outcomes included postdischarge emergency department visits and hospital readmissions. ResultsOf 37,579 simple appendicitis patients, SDD after appendectomy occurred in 10,012 (26.6%). On multivariable analysis, Black or African American race was associated with lower likelihood of SDD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.85; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]:0.79-0.92; P < 0.0001). Hispanic ethnicity was associated with higher likelihood of SDD (aOR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.12-1.25; P < 0.0001). Likelihood of postoperative emergency department visits was higher in Black or African American patients (aOR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.14-1.62; P < 0.001) and Hispanic patients (aOR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.12-1.58; P < 0.0001). Hospital readmission rates were similar across groups. ConclusionsRates of SDD following appendectomy vary among racial and ethnic groups. Interventions to achieve equitable healthcare delivery including SDD after appendectomy are needed.

The burden of pre-admission pain, depression, and caregiving on palliative care needs for seriously ill trauma patients.

Increasing numbers of individuals admitted to hospitals for trauma are older adults, many of whom also have underlying serious illnesses. Older adults with serious illness benefit from palliative care, but the palliative care needs of seriously ill older adults with trauma have not been elucidated. We hypothesize that older adults with serious illness have a high prevalence of pain, depression, and unpaid caregiving hours before trauma admission. Using Health and Retirement Study data (2008-2018) linked to Medicare claims, we identified patients 66 years or older who met an established definition of serious illness in surgery and were admitted with trauma. Descriptive analyses were performed for baseline patient characteristics, pre-admission pain (dichotomized as none/mild vs. moderate/severe), depression (dichotomized as no, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale [CES-D] < 3 vs. yes, CES-D ≥ 3), and unpaid caregiving hours (dichotomized as low (<30 h/month), high (≥30 h/month)). We identified 1741 patients, 67.4% were female and 86.8% White. Mean age was 83 (SD 7.5), and 60.3% had ≥4 comorbidities. The majority (62.9%) were admitted due to falls, 33.5% had isolated hip fracture. The prevalence of baseline moderate/severe pain and depression were 38.1% and 42.6%, respectively. Among the cohort, 42.2% had unpaid caregiving, of those 27.7% had ≥30 h/week of unpaid caregiving hours. Prior to trauma admission, older adults with serious illness have a high prevalence of pain, depression, and unpaid caregiving hours. These findings may inform targeted palliative care interventions to reduce symptom burden and post-discharge healthcare utilization.

A Structured Discharge Education Intervention for Parents of Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Oncology Patients.

Background: Parents of children newly diagnosed with cancer require specialized knowledge and skills in order to safely care for their children at home. The Children's Oncology Group (COG) developed expert consensus recommendations to guide new diagnosis education; however, these recommendations have not been empirically tested. Methods: We used a sequential two-cohort study design to test a nurse-led Structured Discharge Teaching Intervention (SDTI) that operationalizes the COG expert recommendations in the setting of a tertiary children's hospital. Outcomes included parent Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS); Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale (QDTS); Post-Discharge Coping Difficulty (PDCD); Nurse Satisfaction; and post-discharge unplanned healthcare utilization. Results: The process for discharge education changed significantly before and after implementation of the SDTI, with significantly fewer instances of one-day discharge teaching, and higher involvement of staff nurses in teaching. Overall, parental RHDS, QDTS, and PDCD scores were similar in the unintervened and intervened cohorts. Almost 60% of patients had unplanned healthcare encounters during the first 30 days following their initial hospital discharge. Overall nurse satisfaction with the quality and process of discharge education significantly increased post-intervention. Discussion: Although the structure for and process of delivering discharge education changed significantly with implementation of the SDTI, parent RHDS and QDTS scores remained uniformly high and PDCD scores and non-preventable unplanned healthcare utilization remained similar, while nurse satisfaction with the quality and process of discharge education significantly improved, suggesting that further testing of the SDTI across diverse pediatric oncology settings is warranted.

Evaluation of concurrent benzodiazepine and opioid prescribing patterns with a focus on acute muscle spasms indication at hospital discharge

• Concurrent opioids and benzodiazepines increase risk of respiratory depression • Tools to promote risk mitigation with concurrent prescribing • Naloxone recommendations In 2016, the CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids in Chronic Pain recommended avoiding the co-prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines when possible. This evaluation provides one institution's approach to improve safety for new, acute concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing. Patients prescribed new, concurrent opioids and benzodiazepines upon discharge within one organization were identified. A chart review for the highest prescribing specialties was completed for a random sample of 100 patients to determine indications for prescribing, safety measures, and post discharge healthcare utilization. Orthopedic surgery, the hospitalist service, neurosurgery, and general surgery had the highest concurrent prescribing rates. The most common indication for benzodiazepine prescribing was muscle spasms, but quantity variability existed across and within all four specialties. Of the subset of patients reviewed, patients were consistently not prescribed naloxone. A prescribing guideline was implemented to provide educational tools, standardized benzodiazepine quantities, and naloxone co-prescribing recommendations for the indication of muscle spasms.

Prognosis of Myocarditis Developing After mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination Compared With Viral Myocarditis

BackgroundAssociation between messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines and myocarditis has aroused public concern over vaccine safety. ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to compare the prognosis of this condition with viral infection–related myocarditis over 180 days. MethodsA territory-wide electronic public health care database in Hong Kong linked with population-based vaccination records was used to conduct a retrospective cohort study. Since the roll-out of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech), patients aged ≥12 years hospitalized with myocarditis within 28 days after BNT162b2 vaccination were compared against viral infection–related myocarditis recorded before the pandemic (2000-2019), over a 180-day follow-up period (starting from diagnosis of myocarditis). All-cause mortality, heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy, heart transplant, and postdischarge health care utilization were examined with Cox proportional hazards models. ResultsA total of 866 patients were included for analysis. Over the follow-up period, 1 death (1.0%) of 104 patients with postvaccination myocarditis and 84 deaths (11.0%) of 762 patients with viral infection–related myocarditis were identified. One case (1.0%) of dilated cardiomyopathy and 2 cases (1.9%) of heart failure were identified in the postvaccination group, compared with 28 (3.7%) and 93 (12.2%) in the viral infection–related myocarditis group, respectively. Adjusted analysis showed that the postvaccination myocarditis group had a 92% lower mortality risk (adjusted HR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01-0.57). No significant differences in other prognostic outcomes were seen. ConclusionsThis study found a significantly lower rate of mortality among individuals with myocarditis after mRNA vaccination compared with those with viral infection–related myocarditis. Prognosis of this iatrogenic condition may be less severe than naturally acquired viral infection–related myocarditis.

Long-term Health Care Utilization and Associated Costs After Dialysis-Treated Acute Kidney Injury in Children

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common among hospitalized children and is associated with increased hospital length of stay and costs. However, there are limited data on postdischarge health care utilization after AKI hospitalization. Our objectives were to evaluate health care utilization and physician follow-up patterns after dialysis-treated AKI in a pediatric population. Retrospective cohort study, using provincial health administrative databases. All children (0-18 years) hospitalized between 1996 and 2017 in Ontario, Canada. Excluded individuals comprised non-Ontario residents; those with metabolic disorders or poisoning; and those who received dialysis or kidney transplant before admission, a kidney transplant by 104 days after discharge, or were receiving dialysis 76-104 days from dialysis start date. Episodes of dialysis-treated AKI, identified using validated health administrative codes. AKI survivors were matched to 4 hospitalized controls without dialysis-treated AKI by age, sex, and admission year. Our primary outcome was postdischarge hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and outpatient physician visits. Secondary outcomes included outpatient visits by physician type and composite health care costs. Proportions with≥1 event and rates (per 1,000 person-years). Total and median composite health care costs. Adjusted rate ratios using negative binomial regression models. We included 1,688 pediatric dialysis-treated AKI survivors and 6,752 matched controls. Dialysis-treated AKI survivors had higher rehospitalization and emergency department visit rates during the analyzed follow-up periods (0-1, 0-5, and 0-10 years postdischarge, and throughout follow-up), and higher outpatient visit rates in the 0-1-year follow-up period. The overall adjusted rate ratio for rehospitalization was 1.46 (95% CI, 1.25-1.69; P<0.0001) and for outpatient visits was 1.16 (95% CI, 1.09-1.23; P=0.01). Dialysis-treated AKI survivors also had higher health care costs. Nephrologist follow-up was infrequent among dialysis-treated AKI survivors (18.6% by 1 year postdischarge). Potential miscoding of study exposures or outcomes. Residual uncontrolled confounding. Data for health care costs and emergency department visits was unavailable before 2006 and 2001, respectively. Dialysis-treated AKI survivors had greater postdischarge health care utilization and costs versus hospitalized controls. Strategies are needed to improve follow-up care for children after dialysis-treated AKI to prevent long-term complications.

There is little association between prehospital delay, persistent symptoms, and post-discharge healthcare utilization in patients evaluated for acute coronary syndrome

AimsTest for an association between prehospital delay for symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), persistent symptoms, and healthcare utilization (HCU) 30-days and 6-months post hospital discharge. BackgroundDelayed treatment for ACS increases patient morbidity and mortality. Prehospital delay is the largest factor in delayed treatment for ACS. MethodsSecondary analysis of data collected from a multi-center prospective study. Included were 722 patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with symptoms that triggered a cardiac evaluation. Symptoms and HCU were measured using the 13-item ACS Symptom Checklist and the Froelicher's Health Services Utilization Questionnaire-Revised instrument. Logistic regression models were used to examine hypothesized associations. ResultsFor patients with ACS (n = 325), longer prehospital delay was associated with fewer MD/NP visits (OR, 0.986) at 30 days. Longer prehospital delay was associated with higher odds of calling 911 for any reason (OR, 1.015), and calling 911 for chest related symptoms (OR, 1.016) 6 months following discharge. For non-ACS patients (n = 397), longer prehospital delay was associated with higher odds of experiencing chest pressure (OR, 1.009) and chest discomfort (OR, 1.008) at 30 days. At 6 months, longer prehospital delay was associated with higher odds of upper back pain (OR, 1.013), palpitations (OR 1.014), indigestion (OR, 1.010), and calls to the MD/NP for chest symptoms (OR, 1.014). ConclusionsThere were few associations between prehospital delay and HCU for patients evaluated for ACS in the ED. Associations between prolonged delay and persistent symptoms may lead to increased HCU for those without ACS.

Association of Nonrecovery of Kidney Function After Pediatric Acute Kidney Injury With 5-Year Kidney and Nonkidney Outcomes.

Evaluated whether nonrecovery of kidney function, following acute kidney injury, was associated with postdischarge mortality, healthcare utilization, and chronic kidney disease. Retrospective, two-center, observational study. Two ICUs at tertiary children's hospitals in Montreal, QC. Pediatric patients (age ≤ 18 yr) with index admission to intensive care between January 1, 2003, and March 31, 2005. Children were excluded if they 1) died during admission, 2) did not have serum creatinine or urine output measured, 3) did not develop acute kidney injury, 4) could not be linked to administrative health data, and 5) (for chronic kidney disease outcome) had pre-existing renal disease by chart review, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate measurement, or administrative health data codes. Three-hundred seventy-eight patients' data were included for long-term mortality and healthcare utilization outcomes; 316 patients for long-term chronic kidney disease outcome. Outcomes were defined using provincial administrative healthcare data diagnosis, procedure, and billing codes. Nonrecovery of kidney function, defined as serum creatinine greater than or equal to 1.5× baseline at ICU discharge, occurred in 51 patients (13%). Nonrecovery of kidney function was not associated with long-term mortality (at 5-7 yr following hospital discharge), increased hospitalizations or emergency department visits (at 30-days, 1-year, and 5-yr follow-up), or increased physician visits (at 1- and 5-yr follow-up). Nonrecovery was associated with increased 30-day physician visits (adjusted relative risk, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.13-1.73) and chronic kidney disease diagnosis within 5 years of discharge (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.92, 95% CI, 1.77-13.70). Nonrecovery of kidney function following an episode of acute kidney injury in critically ill children is associated with nearly five-fold increased risk for long-term chronic kidney disease. Acute kidney injury nonrecovery may be a useful marker to identify patients that are particularly important to follow-up post discharge for chronic kidney disease detection.

Effects of Different Transitional Care Strategies on Outcomes after Hospital Discharge-Trust Matters, Too.

As health systems shift toward value-based care, strategies to reduce readmissions and improve patient outcomes become increasingly important. Despite extensive research, the combinations of transitional care (TC) strategies associated with best patient-centered outcomes remain uncertain. Using an observational, prospective cohort study design, Project ACHIEVE sought to determine the association of different combinations of TC strategies with patient-reported and postdischarge health care utilization outcomes. Using purposive sampling, the research team recruited a diverse sample of short-term acute care and critical access hospitals in the United States (N = 42) and analyzed data on eligible Medicare beneficiaries (N = 7,939) discharged from their medical/surgical units. Using both hospital- and patient-reported TC strategy exposure data, the project compared patients "exposed" to each of five overlapping groups of TC strategies to their "control" counterparts. Primary outcomes included 30-day hospital readmissions, 7-day postdischarge emergency department (ED) visits and patient-reported physical and mental health, pain, and participation in daily activities. Participants averaged 72.3 years old (standard deviation =10.1), 53.4% were female, and most were White (78.9%). Patients exposed to one TC group (Hospital-Based Trust, Plain Language, and Coordination) were less likely to have 30-day readmissions (risk ratio [RR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57-0.92, p < 0.001) or 7-day ED visits (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.55-0.93, p < 0.001) and more likely to report excellent physical and mental health, greater participation in daily activities, and less pain (RR ranged from 1.11 to 1.15, p < 0.01). In concert with care coordination activities that bridge the transition from hospital to home, hospitals' clear communication and fostering of trust with patients were associated with better patient-reported outcomes and reduced health care utilization.

Cost-effectiveness analysis protocol of the Smart Triage program: A point-of-care digital triage platform for pediatric sepsis in Eastern Uganda.

Sepsis is a clinical syndrome characterized by organ dysfunction due to presumed or proven infection. Severe cases can have case fatality ratio 25% or higher in low-middle income countries, but early diagnosis and timely treatment have a proven benefit. The Smart Triage program in Jinja Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda will provide expedited sepsis treatment in children through a data-driven electronic patient triage system. To complement the ongoing Smart Triage interventional trial, we propose methods for a concurrent cost-effectiveness analysis of the Smart Triage platform. We will use a decision-analytic model taking a societal perspective, combining government and out-of-pocket costs, as patients bear a sizeable portion of healthcare costs in Uganda due to the lack of universal health coverage. Previously published secondary data will be used to link healthcare utilization with costs and intermediate outcomes with mortality. We will model uncertainty via probabilistic sensitivity analysis and present findings at various willingness-to-pay thresholds using a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve. Our proposed analysis represents a first step in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of an innovative digital triage platform designed to improve clinical outcomes in pediatric sepsis through expediting care in low-resource settings. Our use of a decision analytic model to link secondary costing data, incorporate post-discharge healthcare utilization, and model clinical endpoints is also novel in the pediatric sepsis triage literature for low-middle income countries. Our analysis, together with subsequent analyses modelling budget impact and scale up, will inform future modifications to the Smart Triage platform, as well as motivate scale-up to the district and national levels. Trial registration of parent clinical trial: NCT04304235, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04304235. Registered 11 March 2020.

Impact of Postoperative Infections on Readmission and Resource Use in Elective Cardiac Surgery

BackgroundEfforts to reduce postoperative infections have garnered national attention, leading to practice guidelines for cardiac surgical perioperative care. The present study characterized the impact of health care–acquired infection (HAI) on index hospitalization costs and postdischarge health care utilization. MethodsAdults undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) or valve operations were identified in the 2016 to 2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Infections were categorized into bloodstream, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, surgical site, or urinary tract infections. Generalized linear or flexible hazard models were used to assess associations between infections and outcomes. Observed-to-expected ratios were generated to examine interhospital variation in HAI. ResultsOf an estimated 444,165 patients, 8% had HAI. Patients with HAI were older, had a greater burden of chronic diseases, and more commonly underwent CABG/valve or multivalve operations (all P < .001). HAI was independently associated with mortality (odds ratio 4.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.67 to 4.40), non-home discharge (odds ratio 3.48; 95% CI, 3.21 to 3.78), and a cost increase of $23,000 (95% CI, $20,900 to $25,200). At 90 days, HAI was associated with greater hazard of readmission (1.29; 95% CI, 1.24 to 1.35). Pulmonary infections had the greatest incremental impact on patient-level costs ($24,500; 95% CI, $23,100 to $26,000) and annual cohort costs ($121.8 million; 95% CI, $102.2 to $142.9 million). Significant hospital level variation in HAI was evident, with observed-to-expected ratios ranging from 0.17 to 4.30 for cases performed in 2018. ConclusionsInfections after cardiac surgery remain common and are associated with inferior outcomes and increased resource use. Interhospital variation in this contemporary cohort emphasizes the ongoing need for systematic approaches in their prevention and management.

Association of pediatric cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury with post-discharge healthcare utilization, mortality and kidney outcomes.

Acute kidney Injury (AKI) in children undergoing cardiac surgery (CS) is strongly associated with hospital morbidity. Post-discharge CS AKI outcomes are less clear. We evaluated associations between AKI and post-discharge (a) healthcare utilization, (b) chronic kidney disease (CKD) or hypertension and (c) mortality. This is a retrospective two-centre cohort study of children surviving to hospital discharge after CS. Primary exposures were post-operative ≥Stage 1 AKI and ≥Stage 2 AKI defined by Kidney Disease Impoving Global Outcomes. Association of AKI with time to outcomes was determined using multivariable Cox-Proportional Hazards analysis. Of 350 participants included (age 3.1 (4.5) years), 180 [51.4%] developed AKI and 60 [17.1%] developed ≥Stage 2 AKI. Twenty-eight (9%) participants developed CKD or hypertension (composite outcome), and 17 (5%) died within 5 years of discharge. Post-operative ≥Stage 1 and ≥Stage 2 AKI were not associated with post-discharge hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) visits, physician visits or CKD or hypertension in adjusted analyses. A trend was observed between ≥Stage 2 AKI and mortality but was not statistically significant. In unadjusted stratified analyses, AKI was associated with post-discharge hospitalizations in children with RACHS-1 score ≥3, complex chronic disease classification and children living in urban areas. Post-CS AKI is not associated with post-discharge healthcare utilization, death and CKD or hypertension, though it may be associated with healthcare utilization in more complex paediatric CS children. Studies should aim to better understand post-CS healthcare utilization patterns and non-AKI risk factors for CKD, hypertension and mortality, to reduce adverse long-term outcomes after CS.

Post-discharge healthcare utilization in infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome

The opioid epidemic in the United States has led to a significant increase in the incidence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS); however, the understanding of long-term consequences of NOWS is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate post-discharge healthcare utilization in infants with NOWS and examine the association between NOWS severity and healthcare utilization. A retrospective cohort design was used to ascertain healthcare utilization in the first year after birth-related discharge using the CERNER Health Facts® database. ICD-9/ICD-10 diagnostic codes were used to identify live births and to classify infants into two study groups: NOWS and uncomplicated births (a 25% random sample). Evaluated outcomes included rehospitalization, emergency department (ED) visits within 30-days and one-year after discharge, and a composite one-year utilization event (either hospitalization or emergency department visit during that year). NOWS severity was operationalized as pharmacologic treatment, length of hospitalization, and medical conditions often associated with NOWS. In 3,526 infants with NOWS (restricted to gestational age ≥ 33 weeks), NOWS severity was associated with an increase in composite one-year utilization (OR: 1.1; 95% CI: 1.04–1.2) after adjusting for prematurity, sepsis, jaundice, use of antibiotics, infant sex, insurance status, race, hospital bed size, year of birth, and census division. In a subset of full-term infants (3008 with NOWS and 88,452 uncomplicated births), having a NOWS diagnosis was associated with higher odds of a 30-day (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.03–2.4) and one-year rehospitalization (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1–2.4) after adjusting for infant sex, race, type of medical insurance, hospital location, census division, year of primary encounter, hospital bed size, and medical conditions. This study found higher healthcare utilization during the first year of life in infants diagnosed with NOWS, especially those with severe NOWS. Findings suggest a need for closer post-discharge follow-up and management of infants with NOWS.