scholarly journals Causal Inference and COVID-19 Nursing Home Patients: Identifying Factors That Reduced Mortality Risk

Author(s):  
Robert Goldberg ◽  
Amina Ahmed ◽  
Joseph Swiader ◽  
Zack Wintrob ◽  
Maggie Yilmaz

Less than 1% of the US population lives in long-term care facilities, yet this subset of the population accounts for 22% of total COVID-19 related deaths.1Because of a lack of experimental evidence to treat COVID-19, analysis of real-world data to identify causal relationships between treatments/policies to mortality and morbidity among high-risk individuals is critical. We applied causal inference (CI) analysis to longitudinal patient-level health data of 4,091 long-term care high-risk patients with COVID-19 to determine if any actions or therapies delivered from January to August of 2020 reduced COVID-19 patient mortality rates during this period.Causal inference findings determined that certain supportive care interventions caused reduced mortality rates for nursing home residents regardless of severity of disease (as measured by oxygen saturation level, presence of pneumonia and organ failure), comorbidities or social determinants of health such as race, age,and weight.2While we do not address the biological mechanisms associated with specific medical interventions and their impact on mortality, this analysis suggests methods to validate and optimize treatment protocols using domain knowledge and causal inference analysis of real-world data across patient populations and care settings.

Diabetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 878-P
Author(s):  
KATHERINE TWEDEN ◽  
SAMANWOY GHOSH-DASTIDAR ◽  
ANDREW D. DEHENNIS ◽  
FRANCINE KAUFMAN

Long-term care for older adults is highly affect by the COVID-19 outbreak. The objective of this rapid review is to understand what we can learn from previous crises or disasters worldwide to optimize the care for older adults in long term care facilities during the outbreak of COVID-19. We searched five electronic databases to identify potentially relevant articles. In total, 23 articles were included in this study. Based on the articles, it appeared that nursing homes benefit from preparing for the situation as best as they can. For instance, by having proper protocols and clear division of tasks and collaboration within the organization. In addition, it is helpful for nursing homes to collaborate closely with other healthcare organizations, general practitioners, informal caregivers and local authorities. It is recommended that nursing homes pay attention to capacity and employability of staff and that they support or relieve staff where possible. With regard to care for the older adults, it is important that staff tries to find a new daily routine in the care for residents as soon as possible. Some practical tips were found on how to communicate with people who have dementia. Furthermore, behavior of people with dementia may change during a crisis. We found tips for staff how to respond and act upon behavior change. After the COVID-19 outbreak, aftercare for staff, residents, and informal caregivers is essential to timely detect psychosocial problems. The consideration between, on the one hand, acute safety and risk reduction (e.g. by closing residential care facilities and isolating residents), and on the other hand, the psychosocial consequences for residents and staff, were discussed in case of other disasters. Furthermore, the search of how to provide good (palliative) care and to maintain quality of life for older adults who suffer from COVID-19 is also of concern to nursing home organizations. In the included articles, the perspective of older adults, informal caregivers and staff is often lacking. Especially the experiences of older adults, informal caregivers, and nursing home staff with the care for older adults in the current situation, are important in formulating lessons about how to act before, during and after the coronacrisis. This may further enhance person-centered care, even in times of crisis. Therefore, we recommend to study these experiences in future research.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas G. Castle

Long-term care institutions have emerged as dominant sites of death for the elderly. However, studies of this trend have primarily examined nursing homes. The purpose of this research is to determine demographic, functional, disease, and facility predictors and/or correlates of death for the elderly residing in board and care facilities. Twelve factors are found to be significant: proportion of residents older than sixty-five years of age, proportion of residents who are chair- or bed-fast, proportion of residents with HIV, bed size, ownership, chain membership, affiliation with a nursing home, number of health services provided other than by the facility, the number of social services provided other than by the facility, the number of social services provided by the facility, and visits by Ombudsmen. These are discussed and comparisons with similar studies in nursing homes are made.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (S1) ◽  
pp. 11-12
Author(s):  
Paula Corabian ◽  
Charles Yan ◽  
Susan Armijo-Olivo ◽  
Bing Guo

IntroductionThe objectives of this study were to systematically review published research on the relationship between nursing staff coverage, care hours, and quality of care (QoC) in long-term care (LTC) facilities; and to conduct a real world evidence (RWE) analysis using Alberta real world data (RWD) to inform policy makers on whether any amendments could be made to current regulations.MethodsA systematic review (SR) of research evidence published between January 2000 and May 2018 on the relationship between nursing staff coverage, care hours, and QoC in LTC facilities was conducted. Panel data regressions using available RWD from Alberta, Canada, were performed to assess associations between nursing care hours and LTC outcomes. Outcomes of interest included quality indicators related to resident outcomes, hospital admissions, emergency room visits and family satisfaction. Nursing care hours considered in SR and RWE analysis included those provided by registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).ResultsThe SR found inconsistent and poor quality evidence relevant to the questions of interest, indicating a great uncertainty about the association between nursing staff time and type of coverage and QoC. Although some positive indications were suggested, major weaknesses of reviewed studies limited interpretation of SR results. RWE analysis found that impact of care hours on LTC outcomes was heterogeneous, dependent on outcome measurements. There was evidence that total staff, RN, and LPN hours had positive effects on some resident outcomes and magnitude of effect differed for different nursing staff.ConclusionsNo definitive conclusion could be drawn on whether changing nursing staff time or nursing staff coverage models would affect residents’ outcomes based on the research evidence gathered in the SR. RWE analysis helped to fill a gap in the available published literature and allowed policy makers to better understand the impact of revising current regulations based on actual outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Albano ◽  
S Nagumo ◽  
M Vanderheyden ◽  
J Bartunek ◽  
C Collet ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hypothetical concept of disproportionate secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) has been recently introduced to facilitate patient's selection for mitral valve intervention. However, real world data validating this concept are unavailable. Purpose To investigate long-term effects of minimally invasive mitral valve annuloplasty (MVA) in patients with disproportionate (dSMR) versus proportionate SMR. Methods The study population consisted of 44 consecutive patients (age 67±9,5 years; 64% males) on guidelines-directed therapy with advanced heart failure (HF), reduced LV ejection fraction (EF) (32±9,7%) and SMR undergoing isolated mini-invasive MVA. Patients with organic mitral regurgitation or concomitant myocardial revascularization were excluded. To assess SMR disproportionality, the PISA-derived effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) and regurgitant volume (RV) were compared to the estimated EROA and RV by using Gorlin formula and pooled real world data. Results According to EROA, a total of 20 (46%) and 24 (54%) patients, respectively, had dSMR and proportionate SMR (pSMR). According to RV, a total of 17 (39%) had dSMR and 27 (61%) had pSMR. Patients with dSMR showed significantly lower prevalence of male gender and higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus than patients with pSMR (p<0,001). Moreover, we observed smaller LV end-diastolic volume, larger EROA and RV (both p<0,01) and higher LV EF (p=0,02) in the dSMR versus the pSMR group. Other baseline characteristics were similar. During median follow up of 4.39 y (IQR 2,2–9,96y), a total of 25 (56%) patients died from any cause while 21 (47%) individuals were readmitted for worsening HF. Patients with dSMR versus pSMR according to both EROA and RV showed significantly lower rate of HF readmissions (both p<0.05) (Figure 1, 2). In Cox regression analysis combining clinical and imaging parameters, dSMR was the only independent predictor of HF readmissions (HR 0.20, 95% CI 0.07–0.60, p=0.004). In contrast, mortality was similar between dSMR and pSMR (NS) with age as the only independent predictor (HR 1,10; 95% CI 1,03–1,18, p=0,003). Conclusions Minimally invasive MVA is associated with significant reduction of HF readmissions in patients with dSMR versus pSMR while the mortality is similar. This suggests the importance of other parameters, i.e. age and degree of LV remodeling, to guide clinical management in SMR. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document