Geographic Variations in Avoidable Hospitalizations in the Elderly
Author Information
Author(s): Magan Purificacion, Otero Angel, Alberquilla Angel, Ribera Jose Manuel
Primary Institution: Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
Hypothesis
The study aims to identify the rates of avoidable hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in elderly individuals living in different areas of the Community of Madrid.
Conclusion
There is significant variation in preventable hospitalizations among different districts, with men showing higher rates than women.
Supporting Evidence
- 16.5% of hospitalizations were for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.
- Men had higher hospitalization rates than women across all age groups.
- 93.1% of avoidable hospitalizations were due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease, heart failure, or pneumonia.
Takeaway
The study found that many older people in Madrid are being hospitalized for health issues that could have been treated without going to the hospital, and men are more likely to be hospitalized than women.
Methodology
Cross-sectional, ecologic study covering all 34 health districts of the Community of Madrid, analyzing hospital discharge data from 2001 to 2003.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to incomplete data and the exclusion of private hospital records.
Limitations
The study relied on secondary data from public hospitals, which may not capture all relevant variables and may not include private hospital data.
Participant Demographics
The study population consisted of individuals aged 65 years or older, with 60% being female and a mean age of 78.9 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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