Hospital Admissions from Nursing Homes: Rates and Reasons
Author Information
Author(s): Kjell Krüger, Kristian Jansen, Anders Grimsmo, Geir Egil Eide, Jonn Terje Geitung
Primary Institution: Løvåsen Teaching Nursing Home
Hypothesis
What are the rates and reasons for hospital admissions from nursing homes in Norway?
Conclusion
Hospital admissions from nursing homes in Bergen accounted for 6.1% of total medical ward admissions, with infections and fractures being the most common reasons.
Supporting Evidence
- 1,311 hospital admissions were recorded during the study period.
- Infections accounted for 25.0% of admissions, with pneumonias being the most common.
- Fractures were the cause of 10.2% of admissions, with hip fractures being the most frequent type.
- The admission rate increased with the proportion of short-term beds in nursing homes.
- Physician coverage in nursing homes was positively correlated with admission rates.
Takeaway
This study looked at why people in nursing homes go to the hospital and found that many go because of infections or broken bones.
Methodology
The study recorded all hospital admissions from 32 nursing homes in Bergen over 12 months, analyzing data from ambulance and hospital records.
Potential Biases
The study relied on anonymous data and could not track readmissions, which may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study did not account for the degree of general debilitation or dementia among patients, which may affect the necessity of admissions.
Participant Demographics
73.2% of patients were at least 80 years old.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0016
Statistical Significance
p=0.0016
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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