scholarly journals NUTRITIONAL RISK PREDICTS HEALTH SERVICES UTILIZATION AND DEATH OVER 1 YEAR: RESULTS FROM THE UAB STUDY OF AGING II

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S347-S347
Author(s):  
David R Buys ◽  
Richard E Kennedy ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Julie Locher ◽  
Cynthia J Brown
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Nutritional Risk ◽  
Nursing Home Admission ◽  
Services Utilization

Abstract Nutritional risk has been demonstrated to be associated with poor health outcomes, increased risk of health services utilization (HSU), and mortality among older adults. The aim of this study was to assess the prospective relationship between nutritional risk; HSU focusing separately on emergency department visits, hospitalization, and nursing home admission; and mortality. Using the University of Alabama-Birmingham Study of Aging II, we examined this relationship among 419 community-dwelling older Alabamians (75+years). We used the Mini-Nutrition Assessment (MNA), a well-validated nutritional risk assessment, which classifies individuals as either well-nourished, at-risk or malnourished, collected at baseline. We assessed HSU by asking about healthcare encounters since the last monthly follow-up call for 12 months and verified death with family reports and official documents. We completed univariate, bivariate, and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses with one-year of follow-up data, adjusting for social support, social isolation, comorbidities, and demographic variables. Accounting for covariates, being either at-risk or malnourished, relative to well-nourished, was associated with emergency department visits (HR: 1.30, 95% CI:1.14,1.48), hospitalization (HR: 1.58, 95% CI:1.37,1.82), nursing home admission (HR: 8.94, 95% CI:3.99,20.02), and mortality (HR: 1.90, 95% CI:1.25,2.88). These findings underscore the growing awareness that nutritional risk, particularly for older adults, is a significant factor affecting their well-being and particularly their ability to continue living in the community. Nutrition assessment, interventions, and services for community-dwelling older adults may lead to a reduction in health care utilization, particularly nursing home placement, and ultimately to reduced healthcare costs to families and taxpayers.

Multidimensional Social Support and Health Services Utilization Among Noninstitutionalized Older Persons in Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 227-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razak M. Gyasi ◽  
David R. Phillips ◽  
Padmore Adusei Amoah
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Services Utilization ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Health Care Use ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Services Utilization

Objectives: This study examines multidimensional social supports as predictors of health services utilization among community-dwelling older Ghanaians. Method: Using data from a 2016/2017 Aging, Health, Psychological Wellbeing and Health-Seeking Behavior Study ( N = 1,200), Poisson regression models estimated the associations of aspects of informal social support and health facility utilization among older people. Results: Findings suggest that regular contacts with family/close friends (odds ratio [OR] = 1.299; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.111, 1.519]), social participation (OR = 1.021; 95% CI = [1.140, 1.910]), and remittances from adult children (OR = 1.091; 95%CI = [1.086, 1.207]) were associated with increased health services utilization with some gender variations. Having caregivers increased health care use generally (OR = 1.108; 95% CI = [1.016, 1.209]) and among men (OR = 1.181; 95% CI = [1.015, 1.373]). However, we found decrease in health care use among those who received pecuniary assistance (OR = 0.893; 95% CI = [0.805, 0.990]). Discussion: Perceived structural and functional social support domains appear influential in health care utilization among older adults in Ghana. The findings underscore the need for intervention programs and social policies targeted at both micro-factors and wider social factors, including the novel area of remittances to older adults.

scholarly journals Frailty and healthcare utilisation across care settings among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixia Ge ◽  
Chun Wei Yap ◽  
Bee Hoon Heng ◽  
Woan Shin Tan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Outpatient Clinic ◽  
Healthcare Utilisation ◽  
Day Surgery ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽  
Clinic Visits

Abstract Background Frailty is frequently found to be associated with increased healthcare utilisation in western countries, but little is known in Asian population. This study was conducted to investigate the association between frailty and healthcare utilisation in different care settings among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore. Methods Data from a population health survey among community-dwelling adults were linked with an administrative database to retrieve data of healthcare utilisation (including government primary care clinic visits, specialised outpatient clinic visits, emergency department visits, day surgery and hospitalisations) occurred during a six-month look-back period and six-month post-baseline respectively. Baseline frailty status was measured using the five-item FRAIL scale, which was categorised into three groups: robust (0), pre-frail (1–2), and frail (3–5). Negative binomial regression was applied to examine the association between frailty with respective healthcare utilisation (dependent variables), controlling for other confounding variables. Results In our sample of 701 older adults, 64.8% were of robust health, 27.7% were pre-frail, and 7.6% were frail. Compared to the robust group, frail individuals had a higher rate of specialised outpatient clinic visits (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–6.5), emergency department visits (IRR: 3.1, 95%CI: 1.1–8.1), day surgery attendances (IRR: 6.4, 95%CI: 1.3–30.9), and hospitalisations (IRR: 6.7, 95%CI: 2.1–21.1) in the six-month period prior to the baseline and in subsequent 6 months (IRR: 3.3, 95%CI: 1.6–7.1; 6.4, 2.4–17.2; 5.8, 1.3–25.8; 13.1, 4.9–35.0; respectively), controlling for covariates. Conclusions Frailty was positively associated with the number of specialised outpatient clinic visits, emergency department visits, day surgeries and hospitalisations occurred during 6 months prior to and after the baseline. As frailty is a potentially reversible health state with early screening and intervention, providing preventive activities that delay the onset or progression of frailty should have potential effect on delaying secondary and tertiary care utilisation.

scholarly journals The relationship of nutritional risk with diet quality and health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilse Bloom ◽  
Anna Pilgrim ◽  
Karen A. Jameson ◽  
Elaine M. Dennison ◽  
Avan A. Sayer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Risk Score ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Nutritional Risk ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nutrition Risk

Abstract Objectives To identify early nutritional risk in older populations, simple screening approaches are needed. This study aimed to compare nutrition risk scores, calculated from a short checklist, with diet quality and health outcomes, both at baseline and prospectively over a 2.5-year follow-up period; the association between baseline scores and risk of mortality over the follow-up period was assessed. Methods The study included 86 community-dwelling older adults in Southampton, UK, recruited from outpatient clinics. At both assessments, hand grip strength was measured using a Jamar dynamometer. Diet was assessed using a short validated food frequency questionnaire; derived ‘prudent’ diet scores described diet quality. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and weight loss was self-reported. Nutrition risk scores were calculated from a checklist adapted from the DETERMINE (range 0–17). Results The mean age of participants at baseline (n = 86) was 78 (SD 8) years; half (53%) scored ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ nutritional risk, using the checklist adapted from DETERMINE. In cross-sectional analyses, after adjusting for age, sex and education, higher nutrition risk scores were associated with lower grip strength [difference in grip strength: − 0.09, 95% CI (− 0.17, − 0.02) SD per unit increase in nutrition risk score, p = 0.017] and poorer diet quality [prudent diet score: − 0.12, 95% CI (− 0.21, − 0.02) SD, p = 0.013]. The association with diet quality was robust to further adjustment for number of comorbidities, whereas the association with grip strength was attenuated. Nutrition risk scores were not related to reported weight loss or BMI at baseline. In longitudinal analyses there was an association between baseline nutrition risk score and lower grip strength at follow-up [fully-adjusted model: − 0.12, 95% CI (− 0.23, − 0.02) SD, p = 0.024]. Baseline nutrition risk score was also associated with greater risk of mortality [unadjusted hazard ratio per unit increase in score: 1.29 (1.01, 1.63), p = 0.039]; however, this association was attenuated after adjustment for sex and age. Conclusions Cross-sectional associations between higher nutrition risk scores, assessed from a short checklist, and poorer diet quality suggest that this approach may hold promise as a simple way of screening older populations. Further larger prospective studies are needed to explore the predictive ability of this screening approach and its potential to detect nutritional risk in older adults.

scholarly journals Associations of insomnia symptoms with subsequent health services use among community-dwelling U.S. older adults

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Tzuang ◽  
Jocelynn T Owusu ◽  
Jin Huang ◽  
Orla C Sheehan ◽  
George W Rebok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Home Health Care ◽  
Home Health ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Health Services Use ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Insomnia Symptoms ◽  
Services Use

Abstract Study Objectives Determine the association of insomnia symptoms with subsequent health services use, in a representative sample of U.S. older adults. Methods Participants were 4,289 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries who had continuous fee-for-service Medicare coverage 30 days before, and 1 year after the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) Round 1 interview. Participants reported past-month insomnia symptoms (i.e. sleep onset latency >30 min, difficulty returning to sleep) which we categorized as 0, 1, or 2 symptoms. Outcomes were health services use within 1 year of interviews from linked Medicare claims: emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, 30-day readmissions, home health care (all measured as yes/no), and number of hospitalizations and ED visits. Results Overall, 18.5% of participants were hospitalized, 28.7% visited the ED, 2.5% had a 30-day readmission, and 11.3% used home health care. After adjustment for demographics, depressive and anxiety symptoms, medical comorbidities, and BMI, compared to participants with no insomnia symptoms, those with two insomnia symptoms had a higher odds of ED visits (odds ratio [OR) = 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.24–2.07, p < 0.001), hospitalizations (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.01–1.65, p < 0.05), and 30-day readmissions (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.88–3.29, p < 0.05). Reporting 2 insomnia symptoms, versus no insomnia symptoms, was associated with a greater number of ED visits and hospitalizations (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.23–1.87, p < 0.001; IRR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.02–1.44, p < 0.05, respectively) after adjusting for demographic and health characteristics. Conclusions Among older adults, insomnia symptoms are associated with greater health services use, including emergency department use, hospitalization, and 30-day readmission. Targeting insomnia may lower health services use.

scholarly journals Frailty and healthcare utilisation across care settings among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
GE LIXIA ◽  
Chun Wei Yap ◽  
Bee Hoon Heng ◽  
Woan Shin Tan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Outpatient Clinic ◽  
Healthcare Utilisation ◽  
Day Surgery ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽  
Clinic Visits

Abstract Background Frailty is frequently found to be associated with increased healthcare utilisation in western countries, but little is known in Asian population. This study was conducted to investigate the association between frailty and healthcare utilisation in different care settings among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore. Methods Data from a population health survey among community-dwelling adults were linked with an administrative database to retrieve data of healthcare utilisation (including government primary care clinic visits, specialised outpatient clinic visits, emergency department visits, day surgery and hospitalisations) occurred during a six-month look-back period and six-month post-baseline respectively. Baseline frailty status was measured using the five-item FRAIL scale, which was categorised into three groups: robust (0), pre-frail (1–2), and frail (3–5). Negative binomial regression was applied to examine the association between frailty with respective healthcare utilisation (dependent variables), controlling for other confounding variables. Results In our sample of 701 older adults, 64.8% were of robust health, 27.7% were pre-frail, and 7.6% were frail. Compared to the robust group, frail individuals had a higher rate of specialised outpatient clinic visits (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-6.5), emergency department visits (IRR: 3.1, 95%CI: 1.1-8.1), day surgery attendances (IRR: 6.4, 95%CI: 1.3-30.9), and hospitalisations (IRR: 6.7, 95%CI: 2.1-21.1) in the six-month period prior to the baseline and in subsequent six months (IRR: 3.3, 95%CI: 1.6-7.1; 6.4, 2.4-17.2; 5.8, 1.3-25.8; 13.1, 4.9-35.0; respectively), controlling for covariates. Conclusions Frailty was positively associated with the number of specialised outpatient clinic visits, emergency department visits, day surgeries and hospitalisations occurred during 6 months prior to and after the baseline. As frailty is a potentially reversible health state with early screening and intervention, providing preventive activities that delay the onset or progression of frailty should have potential effect on delaying secondary and tertiary care utilisation.

Trajectory of Quality of Life Before and After Entering a Nursing Home: A Longitudinal Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 089198872096425
Author(s):  
Roxane Villeneuve ◽  
Céline Meillon ◽  
Jean-François ◽  
Helene Amieva
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Subjective Quality ◽  
Nursing Home Admission ◽  
Subjective Quality Of Life ◽  
Before And After

Objectives: The objective of this longitudinal study was to compare the trajectory of subjective quality of life in 2 groups of older adults: those who entered a nursing home and those who remained living in the community with similar clinical conditions. Method: PAQUID is a prospective population-based study. It included, at baseline, 3777 community-dwelling participants aged 65 years and over. Participants were followed-up for up to 27 years. Among people living at home at baseline, 2 groups were compared: participants who entered a nursing home over a 20-year follow-up (n = 528) and those who remained community dwellers (n = 2273). We used latent process mixed models to estimate the relationship between mean trajectory of subjective quality of life and admission into a nursing home. We computed univariate and multivariate models taking into account potential confounders (age, gender, education, income, comorbidities, dementia, disability and depression). Results: Nursing home placement was significantly associated with a drop in quality of life between the last visit before and after institutionalization. Nevertheless, we found no difference in quality of life trajectory after this initial drop. Conclusion: Older adults exhibit an acute drop in quality of life after nursing home admission, probably reflecting the associated psychological distress. Even though their quality of life does not go back to pre-admission levels, the residents do not show a steeper decline when compared to the “natural” evolution of quality of life in older adults living in the community, which suggests a relative adaptation to their new living conditions.

scholarly journals 0844 Links of Napping With Subsequent All-Cause Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits in Older Adults

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A321-A322
Author(s):  
M Tzuang ◽  
J T Owusu ◽  
J Huang ◽  
O C Sheehan ◽  
G W Rebok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Health Services ◽  
National Health ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Health Services Use ◽  
Medicare Claims ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Services Use

Abstract Introduction Few studies have examined whether napping is associated with objective measures of health services use. We investigated links of napping characteristics with all-cause hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits in Medicare claims from a nationally representative sample of older adults. Methods Participants were 869 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years from Round 3 (2013) and Round 4 (2014) of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) who had continuous fee-for-service coverage 1 year before and after the NHATS interview. Participants reported past-month napping frequency (re-categorized as non-nappers, infrequent nappers, frequent nappers), napping type (intentional, unintentional), and nap duration. Outcomes were from linked Medicare claims measured after napping assessment: all-cause ED visits and hospitalizations (yes vs. no), and number of hospitalizations and ED visits. Results Overall, 45.4% of participants were nappers, and 55.2% of the nappers reported taking unintentional naps. After adjustment for demographics, depressive/anxiety symptoms, medical comorbidities and BMI, compared with non-nappers, infrequent and frequent nappers had a higher odds of hospitalization (odds ratio (OR)=1.65 and 1.73, respectively, both p<0.05), as did unintentional nappers (OR=1.85, p<0.05). We found no significant adjusted associations of napping frequency with ED visits. However, compared with non-nappers, unintentional nappers had a higher odds of visiting the ED (OR=1.94, p<0.01). Additionally, compared to nappers taking short naps (≤30 minutes), those with naps >60 minutes had a greater number of ED visits (Incidence Rate Ratio=1.99, p<0.05). Conclusion Among older adults, napping—and particularly unintentional napping—may be a modifiable risk factor for health services use. More studies that consider multiple napping characteristics (e.g., duration, frequency), and using objective measures (e.g., actigraphy), are needed to advance understanding of how napping might influence health services use. Support National Institute on Aging: R01AG050507 & R01AG050507-02S (PI: Spira); F31-AG058389; U01AG032947 (PI: Kasper) for the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health Data Use Agreement (PI: Roth, Co-I: Sheehan) with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services titled, “Potentially modifiable factors influencing outcomes in NHATS.”

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