Age-Based Differences in Care Setting Transitions over the Last Year of Life
Author Information
Author(s): Donna M. Wilson, Jessica A. Hewitt, Roger Thomas, Deepthi Mohankumar, Katharina Kovacs Burns
Primary Institution: University of Alberta
Hypothesis
Compare care setting transitions across older (65+ years) and younger individuals.
Conclusion
Younger and older persons differ somewhat in the number and type of end-of-life care setting transitions.
Supporting Evidence
- Older persons had fewer ER and ambulatory visits.
- Younger persons had a higher number of procedures performed.
- Older persons had longer inpatient stays on average.
Takeaway
Older people and younger people move between care settings differently in their last year of life, with younger people moving more often.
Methodology
Secondary analyses of provincial hospital and ambulatory database data.
Potential Biases
Potential ageism in healthcare access and treatment.
Limitations
The study may not account for all variables affecting care transitions, and it is limited to a specific province in Canada.
Participant Demographics
73% of participants were aged 65 or older, with a slight male preponderance.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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