Trend and predictors of unplanned hospitalization of older patients during the first year after admission into a home medical service

ABSTRACT

The primary aim was to determine the trend and predictors of unplanned hospitalization of home medical patients. Records of 1,069 patients were obtained from the medical records. Out of 1,069, we analyzed 512 patients who had utilized services across all four quarters in the first year of admission. There was a significant decline in unplanned hospitalization between the first two quarters. The potential risk factors were the male gender, IRR (95% CI), 1.29 (0.99–1.67); chronic pulmonary disease, 1.53 (1.08–2.16); dementia, 1.29 (1.00–1.66); ischemic heart disease, 1.33 (1.02–1.74); and history of fractures, 1.49 (1.13–1.96).

KEYWORDS:

• Aging
• elderly
• home care
• long-term care
• predictors of unplanned hospitalization
• unplanned hospitalization

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the management of CODE 4 Medical Service, Ren Ci Community Hospital, research assistant Angela Cheong, and Rocío Fernández Méndez for their support of this study.

Funding

This study was funded by the Agency for Integrated Care, Singapore.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Agency for Integrated Care, Singapore.