Hospitalisations before and after entry into a residential aged care facility: An interrupted time series analysis
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Published:2023-10-20
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Volume:
Page:
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ISSN:1440-6381
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Container-title:Australasian Journal on Ageing
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Australas J Ageing
Author:
Seaman Karla1,
Huang Guogui1,
Wabe Nasir1,
Nguyen Amy1ORCID,
Pinto Sonali2,
Westbrook Johanna1
Affiliation:
1. Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia
2. Sydney Anglican Diocese Sydney New South Wales Australia
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveHospitalisations are an important indicator of safety and quality of care in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). This study aimed to investigate changes in hospital use 12 months before and 12 months after RACF entry using routinely collected data from 25 Australian RACFs.MethodsThis was a retrospective longitudinal cohort study using linked aged care provider and hospital record data. The sample comprised 1029 residents living in an aged care facility between July 2014 and December 2019 who had stayed a minimum of 12 months in an RACF. The outcome measures were all‐cause hospitalisations and fall‐related hospitalisations. We applied an interrupted time series analysis using segmented regression to examine changes in both outcome measures over time. Stratified analyses were conducted by gender and dementia status.ResultsThe rate of all‐cause hospitalisations increased dramatically over the 12 months before RACF entry, from 97 per 1000 residents per month 12 months prior to RACF admission to 303 per 1000 residents at the second month prior to RACF entry. All‐cause hospitalisations then decreased considerably to 55 per 1000 residents upon RACF admission and stabilised across the next 12 months. Such trajectories were also observed in fall‐related hospitalisations and were consistent for gender and dementia status.ConclusionsIn this study, hospitalisation rates decreased significantly after RACF entry, and such reductions were maintained for residents who stayed for 12 months in RACFs. Multiple hospital admissions are likely to precipitate entry into RACF. Additional investigation of how community‐based services can be successful in reducing the escalating hospitalisations is needed.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Subject
Geriatrics and Gerontology,Community and Home Care,General Medicine
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