Early recognition of risk factors for adverse outcomes during hospitalization among Medicare patients: a prospective cohort study

BMC Geriatrics

Research Article

Jeff Borenstein¹  Jua Choi²  Catherine Bresee²  Linda Burnes Bolton²  Glenn D Braunstein²  Harriet Udin Aronow³ 

[1] Applied Health Services Research, Cedars-Sinai Health System, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 90048, Los Angeles, CA, USA;Cedars-Sinai Health System, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 90048, Los Angeles, CA, USA;Nursing Research, Cedars-Sinai Health System, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 90048, Los Angeles, CA, USA;

关键词: Frailty;    Readmissions;    Patient safety;    Medicare;    Hospitalized elderly;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2318-13-72

 received in 2012-08-21, accepted in 2013-06-25,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThere is a persistently high incidence of adverse events during hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries. Attributes of vulnerability are prevalent, readily apparent, and therefore potentially useful for recognizing those at greatest risk for hospital adverse events who may benefit most from preventive measures. We sought to identify patient characteristics associated with adverse events that are present early in a hospital stay.MethodsAn interprofessional panel selected characteristics thought to confer risk of hospital adverse events and measurable within the setting of acute illness. A convenience sample of 214 Medicare beneficiaries admitted to a large, academic medical center were included in a quality improvement project to develop risk assessment protocols. The data were subsequently analyzed as a prospective cohort study to test the association of risk factors, assessed within 24 hours of hospital admission, with falls, hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPU) and infections (HAI), adverse drug reactions (ADE) and 30-day readmissions.ResultsMean age = 75(±13.4) years. Risk factors with highest prevalence included >4 active comorbidities (73.8%), polypharmacy (51.7%), and anemia (48.1%). One or more adverse hospital outcomes occurred in 46 patients (21.5%); 56 patients (26.2%) were readmitted within 30 days. Cluster analysis described three adverse outcomes: 30-day readmission, and two groups of in-hospital outcomes. Distinct regression models were identified: Weight loss (OR = 3.83; 95% CI = 1.46, 10.08) and potentially inappropriate medications (OR = 3.05; 95% CI = 1.19, 7.83) were associated with falls, HAPU, procedural complications, or transfer to intensive care; cognitive impairment (OR = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.24, 4.37), anemia (OR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.00, 3.51) and weight loss (OR = 2.89; 95% CI = 1.38, 6.07) were associated with HAI, ADE, or length of stay >7 days; hyponatremia (OR = 3.49; 95% CI = 1.30, 9.35), prior hospitalization within 30 days (OR = 2.66; 95% CI = 1.31, 5.43) and functional impairment (OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.02, 4.13) were associated with 30-day readmission.ConclusionsPatient characteristics recognizable within 24 hours of admission can be used to identify increased risk for adverse events and 30-day readmission.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Borenstein et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013