Title | Disability and decline in physical function associated with hospital use at end of life. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | Kelley, A, Ettner, SL, R Morrison, S, Du, Q, Sarkisian, CA |
Journal | J Gen Intern Med |
Volume | 27 |
Issue | 7 |
Pagination | 794-800 |
Date Published | 2012 Jul |
ISSN Number | 1525-1497 |
Keywords | Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Chronic disease, Dementia, Disability Evaluation, Disabled Persons, Female, Frail Elderly, Geriatric Assessment, Hospitalization, Humans, Length of Stay, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Medicare, Socioeconomic factors, Terminal Care, United States |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Hospital use near the end of life is often undesirable to patients, represents considerable Medicare cost, and varies widely across regions. OBJECTIVE: To concurrently examine regional and patient factors, including disability and functional decline, associated with end-of-life hospital use. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: We sampled decedents aged 65 and older (n = 2,493) from the Health and Retirement Study (2000-2006), and linked data from individual Medicare claims and the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. Two-part regression models estimated the relationship between total hospital days in the last 6 months and patient characteristics including physical function, while adjusting for regional resources and hospital care intensity (HCI). KEY RESULTS: Median hospital days was 7 (range = 0-183). 53% of respondents had functional decline. Compared with decedents without functional decline, those with severe disability or decline had more regression-adjusted hospital days (range 3.47-9.05, depending on category). Dementia was associated with fewer days (-3.02); while chronic kidney disease (2.37), diabetes (2.40), stroke or transient ischemic attack (2.11), and congestive heart failure (1.74) were associated with more days. African Americans and Hispanics had more days (5.91 and 4.61, respectively). Those with family nearby had 1.62 fewer days and hospice enrollees had 1.88 fewer days. Additional hospital days were associated with urban residence (1.74) and residence in a region with more specialists (1.97) and higher HCI (2.27). CONCLUSIONS: Functional decline is significantly associated with end-of-life hospital use among older adults. To improve care and reduce costs, health care programs and policies should address specific needs of patients with functional decline and disability. |
DOI | 10.1007/s11606-012-2013-9 |
User Guide Notes | |
Endnote Keywords | Public Policy/Medicare/end of life/Functional decline/Functional decline/Hospital Care Intensity Index/Hospital Care Intensity Index/end-of-life |
Endnote ID | 69430 |
Alternate Journal | J Gen Intern Med |
Citation Key | 7703 |
PubMed ID | 22382455 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3378753 |
Grant List | K23 AG040774 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States K24 AG022345 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30 AG028741 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |