scholarly journals Limitation of life-sustaining treatment and patient involvement in decision-making: a retrospective study of a Danish COVID-19 patient cohort

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanne Irene Jensen ◽  
Sevim Ozden ◽  
Gitte Schultz Kristensen ◽  
Mihnaz Azizi ◽  
Siri Aas Smedemark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Patient Involvement ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Patient Cohort ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
Treatment Limitation ◽  
Life Sustaining Treatment

Abstract Background The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the risk of an extensive overload of the healthcare systems have elucidated the need to make decisions on the level of life-sustaining treatment for patients requiring hospitalisation. The purpose of the study was to investigate the proportion and characteristics of COVID-19 patients with limitation of life-sustaining treatment decisions and the degree of patient involvement in the decisions. Methods A retrospective observational descriptive study was conducted in three Danish regional hospitals, looking at all patients ≥ 18 years of age admitted in 2020 with COVID-19 as the primary diagnosis. Lists of hospitalised patients admitted due to COVID-19 were extracted. The data registration included age, gender, comorbidities, including mental state, body mass index, frailty, recent hospital admissions, COVID-19 life-sustaining treatment, ICU admission, decisions on limitations of life-sustaining treatment before and during current hospitalisation, hospital length of stay, and hospital mortality. Results A total of 476 patients were included. For 7% (33/476), a decision about limitation of life-sustaining treatment had been made prior to hospital admission. At the time of admission, one or more limitations of life-sustaining treatment were registered for 16% (75/476) of patients. During the admission, limitation decisions were made for an additional 11 patients, totaling 18% (86/476). For 40% (34/86), the decisions were either made by or discussed with the patient. The decisions not made by patients were made by physicians. For 36% (31/86), no information was disclosed about patient involvement. Conclusions Life-sustaining treatment limitation decisions were made for 18% of a COVID-19 patient cohort. Hereof, more than a third of the decisions had been made before hospital admission. Many records lacked information on patient involvement in the decisions.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Hospital Admissions for Low Back Pain: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harrison J Lord ◽  
Danielle Coombs ◽  
Christopher Maher ◽  
Gustavo C Machado
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Low Back

Low back pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability in most countries and creates a huge burden for healthcare systems globally. Around the globe, 4.4% of all emergency department attendances are attributed to low back pain, and subsequent admissions to hospital seem to be common. These hospitalisations can result in unnecessary medical care, functional decline and high costs. There are no systematic reviews summarising the global prevalence of hospital admission for low back pain, identifying the sources of admissions or estimating hospital length of stay. This information would be valuable for health and medical researchers, front-line clinicians, and health planners aiming to improve and increase the value of their health services. The objectives of this study are to estimate the prevalence of hospital admission for low back pain from different healthcare facilities across the globe, including the emergency department, as well as investigate hospital length of stay and explore sources of heterogeneity when categorising studies according to low back pain definitions, sources of admission, study period, study setting and country’s region and income level.

scholarly journals A survey on hospitalised communityacquired pneumonia in Italy

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P.L. Migliorati ◽  
E. Boccoli ◽  
L.S. Bracci ◽  
P. Sestini ◽  
A.S. Melani
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Pneumonia Severity Index ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Community Acquired Pneumonia ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Substantial Part ◽  
Hospitalised Patients

Background and aim. Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) remains a major cause of disease and death. We evaluated the levels of care, the outcome and the characteristics of hospitalised patients with CAP in a primary hospital in Italy. We also investigated the value of both the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) and the modified Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP) for recognising both the outcome and the unnecessary admissions and stay of hospitalised patients with CAP. Methods. A retrospective review of all the charts of adult patients with CAP at Manerbio, Brescia, Italy between January 2001 and December 2002 was performed. Results. We evaluated 148 patients; their mean age (±SD) was 70 (±17) years; 34% were female. Most patients (87%) had at least a concomitant co-morbid disease. The overall survival rate at 30 days was 88%. All but one death occurred in the high-risk group of patients according to the PSI. On the contrary, the death rate of patients with inappropriate hospital admission according to the AEP was high. Patients with high PSI score had a significantly longer hospital length of stay than the low-risk group. However, a substantial part of the hospital stay did not show any justification into the charts. Conclusions. The PSI, but not the AEP, upon hospital admission, was useful for evaluating the outcome of patients with CAP. The PSI score and the modified AEP can be useful for assessing the appropriateness of hospitalisation for patients with CAP. There is the need for a practical and validated tool to support physicians in their decision making regarding the early and safe discharge of hospitalised patients with CAP.

scholarly journals An Analysis of Hospital Costs for Childhood Cancer Care

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owen Tan ◽  
Deborah J. Schofield ◽  
Rupendra Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Hospital Costs ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
First Year ◽  
Individual Patient Level ◽  
Payer Perspective

Background: This study used a linked dataset consisting of all childhood cancers recorded over the course of 10 years in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, to evaluate the hospital and emergency department costs (from a payer perspective) and resources used by patients with childhood cancer. We also analyzed determinants responsible for high-frequency hospital admissions, hospital length of stay (LoS), and hospital costs. Methods: We analyzed linked data at the individual patient level for a retrospective cohort of 2,966 patients with cancer aged <18 years with a diagnosis date between 2001 and 2012 from the NSW Central Cancer Registry, Australia. We reported costs and use of hospitalization and emergency department presentation 1 year before the date of diagnosis, 1 year after diagnosis, and 2 to 5 years after diagnosis. We also examined the association between cancer types and hospital admission and hospital costs from the payer perspective. Patient characteristics associated with the frequency of hospital admissions, hospital LoS, and hospital costs were also determined using a generalized linear model. Results: Most hospital admission costs occurred in the first year after diagnosis, accounting for >70% of hospital costs within 5 years after diagnosis. The estimated median annual cost of hospitalization in the first year after diagnosis was A$88,964 (interquartile range [IQR], A$34,399–A$163,968) for patients diagnosed at age 0 to 14 years and A$23,384 (IQR, A$5,585–A$91,565) for those diagnosed at age 15 to 17 years. Higher frequency of hospital admissions, hospital LoS, and hospital costs were significantly associated with younger age at cancer diagnosis, cancer metastases, and living in remote/disadvantaged socioeconomic areas. Conclusions: Our study represents one of the first in Australia to include detailed hospitalization cost information for all childhood cancer cases. This study highlights the high hospital use by pediatric patients and the importance of early diagnosis. Our findings also demonstrate the health inequities experienced by patients from remote areas and the lowest socioeconomic areas.

scholarly journals Ethnicity and outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 infection in East London: an observational cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e042140
Author(s):  
Vanessa J Apea ◽  
Yize I Wan ◽  
Rageshri Dhairyawan ◽  
Zudin A Puthucheary ◽  
Rupert M Pearse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Premature Death ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Organ Support ◽  
Invasive Ventilation ◽  
Black Patients ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
Observational Cohort ◽  
The Impact ◽  
To Receive

ObjectiveTo describe outcomes within different ethnic groups of a cohort of hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. To quantify and describe the impact of a number of prognostic factors, including frailty and inflammatory markers.SettingFive acute National Health Service Hospitals in east London.DesignProspectively defined observational study using registry data.Participants1737 patients aged 16 years or over admitted to hospital with confirmed COVID-19 infection between 1 January and 13 May 2020.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was 30-day mortality from time of first hospital admission with COVID-19 diagnosis during or prior to admission. Secondary outcomes were 90-day mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ICU and hospital length of stay and type and duration of organ support. Multivariable survival analyses were adjusted for potential confounders.Results1737 were included in our analysis of whom 511 had died by day 30 (29%). 538 (31%) were from Asian, 340 (20%) black and 707 (40%) white backgrounds. Compared with white patients, those from minority ethnic backgrounds were younger, with differing comorbidity profiles and less frailty. Asian and black patients were more likely to be admitted to ICU and to receive invasive ventilation (OR 1.54, (95% CI 1.06 to 2.23); p=0.023 and OR 1.80 (95% CI 1.20 to 2.71); p=0.005, respectively). After adjustment for age and sex, patients from Asian (HR 1.49 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.86); p<0.001) and black (HR 1.30 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.65); p=0.036) backgrounds were more likely to die. These findings persisted across a range of risk factor-adjusted analyses accounting for major comorbidities, obesity, smoking, frailty and ABO blood group.ConclusionsPatients from Asian and black backgrounds had higher mortality from COVID-19 infection despite controlling for all previously identified confounders and frailty. Higher rates of invasive ventilation indicate greater acute disease severity. Our analyses suggest that patients of Asian and black backgrounds suffered disproportionate rates of premature death from COVID-19.

scholarly journals Challenges of using asthma admission rates as a measure of primary care quality in children: An international comparison

2021 ◽  
pp. 135581962110127
Author(s):  
Irina Lut ◽  
Kate Lewis ◽  
Linda Wijlaars ◽  
Ruth Gilbert ◽  
Tiffany Fitzpatrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Underlying Disease ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Attendance Rates ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
Primary Care Quality ◽  
Hospital Administrative

Objectives To demonstrate the challenges of interpreting cross-country comparisons of paediatric asthma hospital admission rates as an indicator of primary care quality. Methods We used hospital administrative data from >10 million children aged 6–15 years, resident in Austria, England, Finland, Iceland, Ontario (Canada), Sweden or Victoria (Australia) between 2008 and 2015. Asthma hospital admission and emergency department (ED) attendance rates were compared between countries using Poisson regression models, adjusted for age and sex. Results Hospital admission rates for asthma per 1000 child-years varied eight-fold across jurisdictions. Admission rates were 3.5 times higher when admissions with asthma recorded as any diagnosis were considered, compared with admissions with asthma as the primary diagnosis. Iceland had the lowest asthma admission rates; however, when ED attendance rates were considered, Sweden had the lowest rate of asthma hospital contacts. Conclusions The large variations in childhood hospital admission rates for asthma based on the whole child population reflect differing definitions, admission thresholds and underlying disease prevalence rather than primary care quality. Asthma hospital admissions among children diagnosed with asthma is a more meaningful indicator for inter-country comparisons of primary care quality.

scholarly journals Hospital length of stay for COVID-19 patients: Data-driven methods for forward planning

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bindu Vekaria ◽  
Christopher Overton ◽  
Arkadiusz Wiśniowski ◽  
Shazaad Ahmad ◽  
Andrea Aparicio-Castro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Failure Time ◽  
National Level ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Survival Model ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Similar Data ◽  
Model Complex

Abstract Background Predicting hospital length of stay (LoS) for patients with COVID-19 infection is essential to ensure that adequate bed capacity can be provided without unnecessarily restricting care for patients with other conditions. Here, we demonstrate the utility of three complementary methods for predicting LoS using UK national- and hospital-level data. Method On a national scale, relevant patients were identified from the COVID-19 Hospitalisation in England Surveillance System (CHESS) reports. An Accelerated Failure Time (AFT) survival model and a truncation corrected method (TC), both with underlying Weibull distributions, were fitted to the data to estimate LoS from hospital admission date to an outcome (death or discharge) and from hospital admission date to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission date. In a second approach we fit a multi-state (MS) survival model to data directly from the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). We develop a planning tool that uses LoS estimates from these models to predict bed occupancy. Results All methods produced similar overall estimates of LoS for overall hospital stay, given a patient is not admitted to ICU (8.4, 9.1 and 8.0 days for AFT, TC and MS, respectively). Estimates differ more significantly between the local and national level when considering ICU. National estimates for ICU LoS from AFT and TC were 12.4 and 13.4 days, whereas in local data the MS method produced estimates of 18.9 days. Conclusions Given the complexity and partiality of different data sources and the rapidly evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is most appropriate to use multiple analysis methods on multiple datasets. The AFT method accounts for censored cases, but does not allow for simultaneous consideration of different outcomes. The TC method does not include censored cases, instead correcting for truncation in the data, but does consider these different outcomes. The MS method can model complex pathways to different outcomes whilst accounting for censoring, but cannot handle non-random case missingness. Overall, we conclude that data-driven modelling approaches of LoS using these methods is useful in epidemic planning and management, and should be considered for widespread adoption throughout healthcare systems internationally where similar data resources exist.

scholarly journals What Is the Impact of Ambulatory Vital Sign Monitoring on Deterioration Detection and Related Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalised Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Morgado Areia ◽  
Christopher Biggs ◽  
Mauro Santos ◽  
Neal Thurley ◽  
Stephen Gerry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Standard Care ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Ambulatory Monitoring ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Monitoring Systems ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Timely recognition of the deteriorating inpatient remains challenging. Ambulatory monitoring systems (AMS) may augment current monitoring practices. However, there are many challenges to implementation in the hospital environment, and evidence describing the clinical impact of AMS on deterioration detection and patient outcome remains unclear. Objective: To assess the impact of vital signs monitoring on detection of deterioration and related clinical outcomes in hospitalised patients using ambulatory monitoring systems, in comparison with standard care.Methods: A systematic search was conducted in August 2020 using MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CENTRAL and Health Technology Assessment databases, as well as grey literature. Studies comparing the use of AMS against standard care for deterioration detection and related clinical outcomes in hospitalised patients were included. Deterioration related outcomes (primary) included unplanned intensive care admissions, rapid response team or cardiac arrest activation, total and major complications rate. Other clinical outcomes (secondary) included in-hospital mortality and hospital length of stay. Exploratory outcomes included alerting system parameters and clinical trial registry information. Results: Of 8706 citations, 10 studies with different designs met the inclusion criteria, of which 7 were included in the meta-analyses. Overall study quality was moderate. The meta-analysis indicated that the AMS, when compared with standard care, was associated with a reduction in intensive care transfers (risk ratio, RR, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.66 to 1.15), rapid response or cardiac arrest team activation (RR, 0.84; 95% CI 0.69 to 1.01), total (RR, 0.77; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.32) and major (RR, 0.55; 95% CI 0.24 to 1.30) complications prevalence. There was also association with reduced mortality (RR, 0.48; 95% CI 0.18 to 1.29) and hospital length of stay (mean difference, MD, -0.09; 95% CI -0.43 to 0.44). However, none were statistically significant.Conclusion: This systematic review indicates that implementation of AMS may have a positive impact on early deterioration detection and associated clinical outcomes, but differing design/quality of available studies and diversity of outcomes measures limits a definite conclusion. Our narrative findings suggested that alarms should be adjusted to minimise false alerts and promote rapid clinical action in response to deterioration.PROSPERO Registration number: CRD42020188633

Length of stay for inpatient incompetent to stand trial patients: importance of clinical and demographic variables

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 734-742
Author(s):  
Charles Broderick ◽  
Allen Azizian ◽  
Katherine Warburton
Keyword(s):  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
State Psychiatric ◽  
State Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Violent Acts ◽  
Incompetent To Stand Trial

ObjectiveWe investigated clinical and demographic variables to better understand their relationship to hospital length of stay for patients involuntarily committed to California state psychiatric hospitals under the state’s incompetent to stand trial (IST) statutes. Additionally, we determined the most important variables in the model that influenced patient length of stay.MethodsWe retrospectively studied all patients admitted as IST to California state psychiatric hospitals during the period January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2018 (N = 20 041). Primary diagnosis, total number of violent acts while hospitalized, age at admission, treating hospital, level of functioning at admission, ethnicity, sex, and having had a previous state hospital admission were evaluated using a parametric survival model.ResultsThe analysis showed that the most important variables related to length of stay were (1) diagnosis, (2) number of violent acts while hospitalized, and (3) age of admission. Specifically, longer length of stay was associated with (1) having a diagnosis of schizophrenia or neurocognitive disorder, (2) one or more violent acts, and (3) older age at admission. The other variables studied were also statistically significant, but not as influential in the model.ConclusionsWe found significant relations between length of stay and the variables studied, with the most important variables being (1) diagnosis, (2) number of physically violent acts, and (3) age at admission. These findings emphasize the need for treatments to target cognitive issues in the seriously mentally ill as well as treatment of violence and early identification of violence risk factors.

Survival trends in palliative care patients with cancer: A Mayo Clinic 5-year review

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9592-9592
Author(s):  
A. H. Kamal ◽  
K. M. Swetz ◽  
H. Liu ◽  
S. R. Ruegg ◽  
E. C. Carey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Median Time ◽  
Mayo Clinic ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Cox Model ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Palliative Care Consultation

9592 Background: Palliative care (PC) is an essential part of the continuum of care for cancer (CA) patients (pts). Little is known about the aggregate characteristics and survival of pts receiving inpatient palliative care consultation (PCC). Methods: We reviewed data prospectively collected on patients seen by the Palliative Care Inpatient Consult Service at Mayo Clinic - Rochester from 2003–2008. Demographics, consult characteristics, and survival were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and a Cox model of survival were produced. Results: 1794 total patients were seen over the five year period. Cancer is the most common primary diagnosis (47%). Growth in annual PCC has risen dramatically (113 in 2003 vs. 414 in 2007) despite stable total hospital admissions. Patient are predominantly men (52% vs. 48%, p=0.02); median age is 76. General medicine, medical cardiology, and medical intensive care unit services refer most often. Most frequent issues addressed are goals of care, dismissal planning, and pain control (29%, 19%, 17%). PCC in actively dying pts have increased with 27% of all non-operating room, non-trauma in-hospital deaths being seen. Although CA pts have the highest median survival after PCC vs. other diagnoses (17 days, p = 0.018), we observed a five-year trend of decreasing survival from admission to death and PCC to death. Median time from admission to death in CA pts is 36 days in 2003 and 19 days in 2008 (p<0.01). Median time from PCC to death is 33 versus 11.5 days (p<0.01). Despite this, median hospital length of stay and time from PCC to discharge have remained fixed at 8 and 2.5 days, respectively. A Cox model of survival to discharge and <6 months survival (hospice eligibility) shows hospital length of stay, time from consult to discharge, and dismissal location from hospital are all prognostic factors. Conclusions: Survival window for PC intervention for CA pts is lessening. With the trend of shorter survival after PCC, PC professionals have little over two days to implement a comprehensive, ongoing care plan. This highlights the importance of earlier outpatient palliative care involvement with advanced cancer patients and families. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Risk-adjustment models for breast, lung, and colorectal cancer cost, utilization, and outcomes in a commercially insured population.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18340-e18340
Author(s):  
Bhuvana Sagar ◽  
Yu Shen Lin ◽  
Liana Desharnais Castel
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Her2 Positive ◽  
Cost Drivers ◽  
Cancer Breast ◽  
Clinical Biomarkers ◽  
Cost Utilization

e18340 Background: Advances in oncology have led to rising costs which are unsustainable, necessitating value-based arrangements that maximize quality and overall outcomes. Our objective was to identify clinical and patient factors that predict higher costs and utilization among breast, lung, and colorectal cancer in a commercial population. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal analysis of claims in a sample of 9,748 commercially insured patients with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer, to measure costs and utilization based on presence of metastases, proxies for clinical biomarkers, patient demographics, and treatments. Results: Episode Risk Group (ERG) risk score, metastasis, and facility provider affiliation were cost drivers for all three types of cancer (breast, lung, and colorectal). Hypertension and younger age were cost drivers for breast cancer. In addition, HER2 positive status (β = 68,946, SE = 2,104, p < .0001) was significant in breast cancer, and VEGF in both lung (β = 56,975, SE = 10,138, p < .0001) and colorectal (β = 24,400, SE = 5,671, p < .0001) cancers. Metastasis also was associated with greater hospital admissions and hospital length of stay in all three cancers. Chemotherapy and supportive drug therapies accounted for the highest proportions of total medical costs among beneficiaries observed. Conclusions: Value-based reimbursement models in oncology should appropriately risk adjust by accounting for key cost drivers. Although claims-based methodologies may be further augmented with clinical data, we recommend adjusting for the factors we identified in models to predict costs and outcomes in breast, lung, and colorectal cancers.

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