90-Day Hospital Readmissions of Patients in a Geriatric Acute Care Ward in Singapore

The objective of the study is to examine the 90-day readmission rate and identify the predictors for 90-day readmissions at a geriatric ward in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. A secondary analysis of case–control data was performed. Data of patients discharged from a geriatric ward between January 2015 and January 2016 were retrieved from an existing data set. Out of 564 index admissions involving older adults, the 90-day geriatric readmission rate was 10.1%. Activities of daily living dependency (odds ratio [OR]: 0.988, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.978, 0.999]) and living with the spouse (OR: 2.988, 95% CI: [1.388, 6.432]) were identified as significant predictors of 90-day geriatric readmissions. The study suggests that rehabilitation to restore the geriatric patient’s ability to perform daily activities and adequate caregiver training for the spouse are essential in reducing geriatric readmissions. Also, postdischarge follow-up with both the patient and caregiver can greatly reduce the risk of readmission in geriatric patients.

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Abstract WMP95: A Transition of Care Program to Reduce Stroke Related Hospital Readmissions

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.wmp95 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Heather Khan ◽

Hebah M Hefzy

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Readmission Rate ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Community Hospital ◽

Hospital Readmissions ◽

Care Program ◽

Transition Of Care ◽

Stroke Risk Factors ◽

Risk Patients

Introduction: Readmission to the hospital after discharge following a stroke or TIA remains a nation-wide problem. While the CMS national benchmark was approximately 12% in 2015, our hospital Medicare stroke readmission rate rose from approximately 12% at the end of 2014 to 28.6% in February 2015. Our goal was a reduction in stroke readmission rates to below the national benchmark of 12% by December 2015. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that implementing a transition of care program at our 200 bed community hospital would reduce hospital stroke-related readmissions. Methods: In March 2015, a random sample of forty stroke/TIA patients that were discharged home between December of 2014 and February of 2015 were interviewed. The patients were asked about barriers to discharge, what could have improved the discharge experience, and what problems they encountered that could have resulted in a readmission. Based on their answers, risk factors were identified using an inverse Pareto graph and a transition of care program was implemented which included the following work flow: 1) daily rounding to query patients regarding insight into stroke risk factors, environmental concerns, and social impacts to discharge in the stroke unit by the stroke coordinator (a registered nurse); 2) a discharge telephone call within two business days to high risk patients identified during rounds focusing on review of the discharge summary, re-education regarding stroke risk factors, and ensuring that follow-up appointments were in place; 3) an outpatient follow-up appointment with a board certified vascular neurologist within two weeks of discharge. Results: Our transition of care program resulted in an improvement of 82.5%, with a Medicare stroke re-admission rate of 5% in December 2015. As of May 2016, our year-to-date hospital stroke readmission rate is 8.1%, while the current CMS national average is 12.7%. Conclusions: A transition of care program is implementable in a community hospital setting, and results in reduced stroke-related hospital readmissions. Its success emphasizes the importance of identifying high risk patients and assessing individual drivers of readmission risk.

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Rates and predictors of general practitioner (GP) follow-up postdischarge from a tertiary hospital cardiology unit: a retrospective cohort study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031627 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. e031627 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Luke Y I Huang ◽

Samuel J Fogarty ◽

Arnold C T Ng ◽

William Y S Wang

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

General Practitioner ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Hospital Readmissions ◽

Discharge Summary ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Single Centre ◽

Hospital Factors

ObjectivePrevious studies in cardiac patients noted that early patient follow-up with general practitioners (GPs) after hospital discharge was associated with reduced rates of hospital readmissions. We aimed to identify patient, clinical and hospital factors that may influence GP follow-up of patients discharged from a tertiary cardiology unit.DesignSingle centre retrospective cohort study.SettingAustralian metropolitan tertiary hospital cardiology unit.Participants1079 patients discharged from the hospital cardiology unit within 3 months from May to July 2016.Outcome measuresGP follow-up rates (assessed by telephone communication with patients’ nominated GP practices), demographic, clinical and hospital factors predicting GP follow-up.ResultsWe obtained GP follow-up data on 983 out of 1079 (91.1%) discharges in the study period. Overall, 7, 14 and 30-day GP follow rates were 50.3%, 66.5% and 79.1%, respectively. A number of patient, clinical and hospital factors were associated with early GP follow-up, including pacemaker and defibrillator implantation, older age and having never smoked. Documented recommendation for follow-up in discharge summary was the strongest predictor for 7-day follow-up (p<0.001).ConclusionAfter discharge from a cardiology admission, half of the patients followed up with their GP within 7 days and most patients followed up within 30 days. Patient and hospital factors were associated with GP follow-up rates. Identification of these factors may facilitate prospective interventions to improve early GP follow-up rates.

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Patient Safety in a Box: Implementation and Evaluation of the Emergency Box in Geriatric and Parkinson Patients

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10235618 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (23) ◽

pp. 5618

Author(s):

Lea Krey ◽

Pia Lange ◽

Anh Thu Tran ◽

Stephan Greten ◽

Günter U. Höglinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

Drug Safety ◽

Geriatric Patients ◽

Medical Information ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Industrial Society ◽

Interventional Study ◽

Medical Emergencies ◽

Neurological Ward

In an industrial society, the proportion of geriatric people increases with rising age. These people are likely to use polypharmacy and experience medical emergencies. However, their emergency care can be complicated by unclear comorbidities and medication. The aim of this prospective interventional study was to assess the demand for a drug safety tool in clinical practice and to analyze whether the emergency box can improve acute care in a geriatric cohort. Therefore, emergency room (ER) doctors in a German tertiary hospital recorded the number of geriatric patients lacking medical information and its impact on diagnostics/treatment. Furthermore, the emergency box was distributed to patients on the neurological ward and their current drug safety concepts were assessed. After 6 months, we evaluated in a follow-up whether the tool was helpful in emergency cases. Our study revealed that 27.4% (n = 28) of the patients came to the ER without their medical information, which caused a relevant delay or possible severe complications in 11.8% (n = 12). The emergency box was perceived as easily manageable and 87.9% (n = 109) of the participants wanted to keep it after the study. Subjectively, participants benefitted in emergencies. In conclusion, the emergency box is a cheap tool that is easy to use. It can save valuable time in emergencies and increases the safety of geriatric patients.

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Predictive analytics for 30-day hospital readmissions

Mathematical Foundations of Computing ◽

10.3934/mfc.2021035 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

pp. 0

Author(s):

Lu Xiong ◽

Tingting Sun ◽

Randall Green

Keyword(s):

Hospital Readmission ◽

Readmission Rate ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Predictive Analytics ◽

Hospital Readmissions ◽

Day Hospital ◽

Process Data ◽

Data Set ◽

Hospital Readmission Rate ◽

The Cost

<p style='text-indent:20px;'>The 30-day hospital readmission rate is the percentage of patients who are readmitted within 30 days after the last hospital discharge. Hospitals with high readmission rates would have to pay penalties to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Predicting the readmissions can help the hospital better allocate its resources to reduce the readmission rate. In this research, we use a data set from a hospital in North Carolina during the years from 2011 to 2016, including 71724 hospital admissions. We aim to provide a predictive model that can be helpful for related entities including hospitals, health insurance actuaries, and Medicare to reduce the cost and improve the clinical outcome of the healthcare system. We used R to process data and applied clustering, generalized linear model (GLM) and LASSO regressions to predict the 30-day readmissions. It turns out that the patient's age is the most important factor impacting hospital readmission. This research can help hospitals and CMS reduce costly readmissions.</p>

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The impact of increasing interbody fusion levels at the fractional curve on lordosis, curve correction, and complications in adult patients with scoliosis

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2020.6.spine20256 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Dominic Amara ◽

Praveen V. Mummaneni ◽

Shane Burch ◽

Vedat Deviren ◽

Christopher P. Ames ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Postoperative Complications ◽

Revision Surgery ◽

Lumbar Lordosis ◽

Interbody Fusion ◽

Pelvic Incidence ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Curve Correction ◽

Surgery Rates

OBJECTIVERadiculopathy from the fractional curve, usually from L3 to S1, can create severe disability. However, treatment methods of the curve vary. The authors evaluated the effect of adding more levels of interbody fusion during treatment of the fractional curve.METHODSA single-institution retrospective review of adult patients treated for scoliosis between 2006 and 2016 was performed. Inclusion criteria were as follows: fractional curves from L3 to S1 > 10°, ipsilateral radicular symptoms concordant on the fractional curve concavity side, patients who underwent at least 1 interbody fusion at the level of the fractional curve, and a minimum 1-year follow-up. Primary outcomes included changes in fractional curve correction, lumbar lordosis change, pelvic incidence − lumbar lordosis mismatch change, scoliosis major curve correction, and rates of revision surgery and postoperative complications. Secondary analysis compared the same outcomes among patients undergoing posterior, anterior, and lateral approaches for their interbody fusion.RESULTSA total of 78 patients were included. There were no significant differences in age, sex, BMI, prior surgery, fractional curve degree, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, pelvic incidence − lumbar lordosis mismatch, sagittal vertical axis, coronal balance, scoliotic curve magnitude, proportion of patients undergoing an osteotomy, or average number of levels fused among the groups. The mean follow-up was 35.8 months (range 12–150 months). Patients undergoing more levels of interbody fusion had more fractional curve correction (7.4° vs 12.3° vs 12.1° for 1, 2, and 3 levels; p = 0.009); greater increase in lumbar lordosis (−1.8° vs 6.2° vs 13.7°, p = 0.003); and more scoliosis major curve correction (13.0° vs 13.7° vs 24.4°, p = 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences among the groups with regard to postoperative complications (overall rate 47.4%, p = 0.85) or need for revision surgery (overall rate 30.7%, p = 0.25). In the secondary analysis, patients undergoing anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) had a greater increase in lumbar lordosis (9.1° vs −0.87° for ALIF vs transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion [TLIF], p = 0.028), but also higher revision surgery rates unrelated to adjacent-segment pathology (25% vs 4.3%, p = 0.046). Higher ALIF revision surgery rates were driven by rod fracture in the majority (55%) of cases.CONCLUSIONSMore levels of interbody fusion resulted in increased lordosis, scoliosis curve correction, and fractional curve correction. However, additional levels of interbody fusion up to 3 levels did not result in more postoperative complications or morbidity. ALIF resulted in a greater lumbar lordosis increase than TLIF, but ALIF had higher revision surgery rates.

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288. Follow-Up Blood Cultures in Gram-Negative Bacteremia: How Do They Impact Outcomes

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.331 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S144-S144

Author(s):

Azza Elamin ◽

Faisal Khan ◽

Ali Abunayla ◽

Rajasekhar Jagarlamudi ◽

aditee Dash

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Antibiotic Treatment ◽

Readmission Rate ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background As opposed to Staphylococcus. aureus bacteremia, there are no guidelines to recommend repeating blood cultures in Gram-negative bacilli bacteremia (GNB). Several studies have questioned the utility of follow-up blood cultures (FUBCs) in GNB, but the impact of this practice on clinical outcomes is not fully understood. Our aim was to study the practice of obtaining FUBCs in GNB at our institution and to assess it’s impact on clinical outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of adult patients, ≥ 18 years of age admitted with GNB between January 2017 and December 2018. We aimed to compare clinical outcomes in those with and without FUBCs. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, presumed source of bacteremia and need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Presence of fever, hypotension /shock and white blood cell (WBC) count on the day of FUBC was recorded. The primary objective was to compare 30-day mortality between the two groups. Secondary objectives were to compare differences in 30-day readmission rate, hospital length of stay (LOS) and duration of antibiotic treatment. Mean and standard deviation were used for continuous variables, frequency and proportion were used for categorical variables. P-value < 0.05 was defined as statistically significant. Results 482 patients were included, and of these, 321 (67%) had FUBCs. 96% of FUBCs were negative and 2.8% had persistent bacteremia. There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality between those with and without FUBCs (2.9% and 2.7% respectively), or in 30-day readmission rate (21.4% and 23.4% respectively). In patients with FUBCs compared to those without FUBCs, hospital LOS was longer (7 days vs 5 days, P < 0.001), and mean duration of antibiotic treatment was longer (14 days vs 11 days, P < 0.001). A higher number of patients with FUBCs needed ICU care compared to those without FUBCs (41.4% and 25.5% respectively, P < 0.001) Microbiology of index blood culture in those with and without FUBCs Outcomes in those with and without FUBCs FUBCs characteristics Conclusion Obtaining FUBCs in GNB had no impact on 30-day mortality or 30-day readmission rate. It was associated with longer LOS and antibiotic duration. Our findings suggest that FUBCs in GNB are low yield and may not be recommended in all patients. Prospective studies are needed to further examine the utility of this practice in GNB. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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SuperWASP variable stars: classifying light curves using citizen science

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ◽

10.1093/mnras/stab140 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 502 (1) ◽

pp. 1299-1311

Author(s):

Heidi B Thiemann ◽

Andrew J Norton ◽

Hugh J Dickinson ◽

Adam McMaster ◽

Ulrich C Kolb

Keyword(s):

Variable Stars ◽

Eclipsing Binaries ◽

Light Curves ◽

Data Set ◽

Resultant Data ◽

Sky Survey ◽

Short Period ◽

Contact Binaries ◽

Analysis Of Results

ABSTRACT We present the first analysis of results from the SuperWASP variable stars Zooniverse project, which is aiming to classify 1.6 million phase-folded light curves of candidate stellar variables observed by the SuperWASP all sky survey with periods detected in the SuperWASP periodicity catalogue. The resultant data set currently contains >1 million classifications corresponding to >500 000 object–period combinations, provided by citizen–scientist volunteers. Volunteer-classified light curves have ∼89 per cent accuracy for detached and semidetached eclipsing binaries, but only ∼9 per cent accuracy for rotationally modulated variables, based on known objects. We demonstrate that this Zooniverse project will be valuable for both population studies of individual variable types and the identification of stellar variables for follow-up. We present preliminary findings on various unique and extreme variables in this analysis, including long-period contact binaries and binaries near the short-period cut-off, and we identify 301 previously unknown binaries and pulsators. We are now in the process of developing a web portal to enable other researchers to access the outputs of the SuperWASP variable stars project.

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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INFLAMMATORY DIETARY PATTERN AND INCIDENCE OF PERIODONTITIS

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114520005231 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-36

Author(s):

Ahmed A. Alhassani ◽

Frank B. Hu ◽

Bernard A. Rosner ◽

Fred K. Tabung ◽

Walter C. Willett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Periodontal Disease ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Hazard Ratio ◽

Reduced Rank Regression ◽

Rank Regression ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Cox Proportional Hazard Models ◽

Study Population

ABSTRACT The long-term inflammatory impact of diet could potentially elevate the risk of periodontal disease through modification of systemic inflammation. The aim of the present study was to prospectively investigate the associations between a food based, reduced rank regression (RRR) derived, empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) and incidence of periodontitis. The study population was composed of 34,940 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, who were free of periodontal disease and major illnesses at baseline (1986). Participants provided medical and dental history through mailed questionnaires every 2 years, and dietary data through validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires every 4 years. We used Cox proportional hazard models to examine the associations between EDIP scores and validated self-reported incidence of periodontal disease over a 24-year follow-up period. No overall association between EDIP and the risk of periodontitis was observed; the hazard ratio comparing the highest EDIP quintile (most proinflammatory diet) to the lowest quintile was 0.99 (95% confidence interval: 0.89 -1.10, p-value for trend = 0.97). A secondary analysis showed that among obese non-smokers (i.e. never and former smokers at baseline), the hazard ratio for periodontitis comparing the highest EDIP quintile to the lowest was 1.39 (95% confidence interval: 0.98 -1.96, p-value for trend = 0.03). In conclusion, no overall association was detected between EDIP and incidence of self-reported periodontitis in the study population. From the subgroups evaluated EDIP was significantly associated with increased risk of periodontitis only among nonsmokers who were obese. Hence, this association must be interpreted with caution.

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Development and Validation of a Cognitive Reserve Index in HIV

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617721000461 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Navaldeep Kaur ◽

Lesley K. Fellows ◽

Marie-Josée Brouillette ◽

Nancy Mayo

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Reserve ◽

Study Entry ◽

Video Gaming ◽

Everyday Functioning ◽

Data Set ◽

Multiple Indicators ◽

And Performance ◽

Competitive Games ◽

Development And Validation

Abstract Objectives: In the neuroHIV literature, cognitive reserve has most often been operationalized using education, occupation, and IQ. The effects of other cognitively stimulating activities that might be more amenable to interventions have been little studied. The purpose of this study was to develop an index of cognitive reserve in people with HIV, combining multiple indicators of cognitively stimulating lifetime experiences into a single value. Methods: The data set was obtained from a Canadian longitudinal study (N = 856). Potential indicators of cognitive reserve captured at the study entry included education, occupation, engagement in six cognitively stimulating activities, number of languages spoken, and social resources. Cognitive performance was measured using a computerized test battery. A cognitive reserve index was formulated using logistic regression weights. For the evidence on concurrent and predictive validity of the index, the measures of cognition and self-reported everyday functioning were each regressed on the index scores at study entry and at the last follow-up [mean duration: 25.9 months (SD 7.2)], respectively. Corresponding regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. Results: Professional sports [odds ratio (OR): 2.9; 95% CI 0.59–14.7], visual and performance arts (any level of engagement), professional/amateur music, complex video gaming and competitive games, and travel outside North America were associated with higher cognitive functioning. The effects of cognitive reserve on the outcomes at the last follow-up visit were closely similar to those at study entry. Conclusion: This work contributes evidence toward the relative benefit of engaging in specific cognitively stimulating life experiences in HIV.

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Using Ultrasound and Inflammation to Improve Prediction of Ischemic Stroke: A Secondary Analysis of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Cerebrovascular Diseases Extra ◽

10.1159/000514373 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 37-43

Author(s):

Hediyeh Baradaran ◽

Alen Delic ◽

Ka-Ho Wong ◽

Nazanin Sheibani ◽

Matthew Alexander ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Goodness Of Fit ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Predictor Variables ◽

Baseline Model ◽

Fit Statistics ◽

Ischemic Stroke Risk

Introduction: Current ischemic stroke risk prediction is primarily based on clinical factors, rather than imaging or laboratory markers. We examined the relationship between baseline ultrasound and inflammation measurements and subsequent primary ischemic stroke risk. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), the primary outcome is the incident ischemic stroke during follow-up. The predictor variables are 9 carotid ultrasound-derived measurements and 6 serum inflammation measurements from the baseline study visit. We fit Cox regression models to the outcome of ischemic stroke. The baseline model included patient age, hypertension, diabetes, total cholesterol, smoking, and systolic blood pressure. Goodness-of-fit statistics were assessed to compare the baseline model to a model with ultrasound and inflammation predictor variables that remained significant when added to the baseline model. Results: We included 5,918 participants. The primary outcome of ischemic stroke was seen in 105 patients with a mean follow-up time of 7.7 years. In the Cox models, we found that carotid distensibility (CD), carotid stenosis (CS), and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) were associated with incident stroke. Adding tertiles of CD, IL-6, and categories of CS to a baseline model that included traditional clinical vascular risk factors resulted in a better model fit than traditional risk factors alone as indicated by goodness-of-fit statistics. Conclusions: In a multiethnic cohort of patients without cerebrovascular disease at baseline, we found that CD, CS, and IL-6 helped predict the occurrence of primary ischemic stroke. Future research could evaluate if these basic ultrasound and serum measurements have implications for primary prevention efforts or clinical trial inclusion criteria.

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