Nursing home admission after myocardial infarction in the elderly: A nationwide cohort study

Need for home care or nursing home admission after myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock and/or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

AIMS

Myocardial infarction (MI) with cardiogenic shock (CS) and/or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are conditions with potential loss of autonomy. In patients with MI, the association between CS and OHCA and need for home care or nursing home admission was examined.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Danish nationwide registries identified patients with MI (2008-19), who prior to the event lived at home without home care and discharged alive. One-year cumulative incidences and hazard ratios (HRs) were reported for home care need or nursing home admission, a composite proxy for disability in activities of daily living (ADL), along with all-cause mortality. The study population consisted of 67 109 patients with MI (by groups: -OHCA/-CS: 63 644; -OHCA/+CS: 1776; +OHCA/-CS: 968; and +OHCA/+CS: 721). The 1-year cumulative incidences of home care/nursing home were 7.1% for patients who survived to discharge with -OHCA/-CS, 20.9% for -OHCA/+CS, 5.4% for +OHCA/-CS, and 8.2% for those with +OHCA/+CS. The composite outcome was driven by home care. With the -OHCA/-CS as reference, the adjusted HRs for home care/nursing home were 2.86 (95% CI: 2.57-3.19) for patients with -OHCA/+CS; 1.31 (95% CI: 1.00-1.73) for + OHCA/-CS; and 2.18 (95% CI: 1.68-2.82) for those with +OHCA/+CS. The 1-year cumulative mortality were 5.1% for patients with -OHCA/-CS, 9.8% for -OHCA/+CS, 3.0% for +OHCA/-CS, and 3.4% for those with +OHCA/+CS.

CONCLUSION

In patients discharged alive after a MI, CS, and to a lesser degree OHCA were associated with impaired ADL with a two-fold higher 1-year incidence of home care or nursing home admission compared with MI patients without CS or OHCA.

Nursing Home Admission Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Danish Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Loss of autonomy associated with nursing home admission (NHA) is a concern for patients. Yet the incidence of NHA after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and factors associated with NHA following TAVR compared with the general population.

METHODS

Through Danish registries, patients alive at discharge after TAVR were identified from January 2014 to October 2021. Patients were matched 1:5 on sex, age, and calendar year to the general population. The 3-year cumulative incidence and 95% CI of NHA were estimated using the Aalen-Johansen estimator, accounting for the competing risk for death. Through multivariate cause-specific Cox regression models, factors associated with NHA were examined.

RESULTS

In total, 5,312 TAVR patients were matched to 26,560 control subjects with a median age of 81 years and 56.1% males. Comorbidity burden was higher for TAVR patients. The 3-year cumulative incidence of NHA was 6.3% (95% CI: 5.5%-7.1%) for TAVR patients compared with 5.8% (95% CI: 5.4%-6.1%) for the general population. For TAVR patients >85 years of age, the cumulative incidence of NHA was 11.6% (95% CI: 9.5%-13.8%), and the risk for death was 23.3% (95% CI: 20.4%-26.2%). Factors associated with NHA were increasing age, frailty, living alone, and atrial fibrillation.

CONCLUSIONS

TAVR was not associated with an increased incidence of NHA compared with the general population. Despite the increased incidence of NHA for TAVR patients >85 years of age, approximately 2 in 3 patients were still alive and not admitted to nursing homes 3 years after TAVR.

Patient Adherence to Therapy After Myocardial Infarction: A Scoping Review

Background

Patients with myocardial infarction have low adherence to secondary prevention. Patients with acute coronary syndromes usually decide not to take cardiac drugs for 7 days after discharge for various reasons and adherence rates are usually very low. The aim of this scoping review was to identify factors influencing treatment adherence after myocardial infarction and the role of interventions to improve treatment adherence.

Methods

Two electronic databases (PubMed and Web of Science) were systematically searched for relevant published reviews of interventions for adherence after myocardial infarction. Inclusion criteria were study design: randomized control trial, systematic reviews; published in English; sample age ≥18 years. The methodological framework proposed by Arksey & O'Malley was used to guide the review process of the study.

Results

Thirteen articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Four of the thirteen studies assessed factors influencing patient adherence to therapy after myocardial infarction, the remaining studies examined various interventions increasing adherence to treatment after myocardial infarction.

Conclusion

There is a need to improve adherence of patients to treatment after myocardial infarction. Studies show that the use of modern technologies and communication with the patients by phone improve adherence to treatment.

Use of health and aged care services in Australia following hospital admission for myocardial infarction, stroke or heart failure

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and heart failure (HF) are the leading cause of death amongst the older population worldwide. The aim of this study is to investigate trajectories of use of health and aged care services after hospital admission for MI, stroke or HF among community-dwelling people not previously receiving aged care services.

METHODS

The study population comprised people aged 65+ years from the 45 and Up Study with linked records for hospital stays, aged care services and deaths for the period 2006-14. Among those with an index hospital admission for MI, stroke or HF, we developed Sankey plots to describe and visualize sequences and trajectories of service use (none, re-hospitalization, community care, residential care, death) in the 12 months following discharge. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), for commencing community care and entering residential care (and the other outcomes) within 3, 6 and 12 months, compared to a matched group without MI, stroke or HF.

RESULTS

Two thousand six hundred thirty-nine, two thousand five hundred and two thousand eight hundred seventy-three people had an index hospitalization for MI, stroke and HF, respectively. Within 3 months of hospital discharge, 16, 32 and 29%, respectively, commenced community care (multivariable-adjusted HRs: 1.26 (95%CI:1.18-1.35), 1.53 (95%CI:1.44-1.64) and 1.39 (95%CI:1.32-1.48)); and 7, 18 and 14%, respectively, entered residential care (HRs: 1.25 (95%CI:1.12-1.41), 2.65 (95%CI:2.42-2.91) and 1.50 (95%CI:1.37-1.65)). Likewise, 26, 15 and 28%, respectively, were rehospitalized within 3 months following discharge (multivariable-adjusted HRs: 4.78 (95%CI:4.31-5.32), 3.26 (95%CI:2.91-3.65) and 4.94 (95%CI:4.47-5.46)).

CONCLUSIONS

Older people hospitalized for major CVD may be vulnerable to transition-related risks and have poor health trajectories, thus emphasizing the value of preventing such events and care strategies targeted towards this at-risk group.

Burden of cardiovascular diseases in older adults using aged care services

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in older adults using community and residential care services.

METHODS

The study population comprised people aged 45+ from the 45 and Up Study (2006-09, n = 266,942) in Australia linked with records for hospital stays, aged care service and deaths for the period 2006-14. Follow-up time for each person was allocated to three categories of service use: no aged care, community care and residential care, with censoring at date of death. We calculated the prevalence at baseline and entry to aged care, and incidence rates for major CVD and six cardiovascular diagnoses, seven cardiovascular interventions (collectively CV interventions), cardiovascular-related intensive care unit stays and cardiovascular death.

RESULTS

The prevalence of major CVD at entry into community care and residential care was 41% and 58% respectively. Incidence per 1,000 person-years of all major CVD hospitalisations and CV interventions, respectively, was 182.8 (95% CI: 180.0-185.8) and 37.0 (95% CI: 35.6-38.4) for people using community care, and 280.7 (95% CI: 272.2-289.4) and 11.7 (95% CI: 9.8-13.9) for people using residential care. Similar trends were observed for each of the CVD diagnoses and interventions. Crude incidence rates for cardiovascular deaths per 1,000 person-years were 1.4 (95% CI: 1.3-1.5) in no aged care, 13.3 (95% CI: 12.6-14.1) in community care, and 149.7 (95% CI: 144.4-155.2) in residential care.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate the significant burden of CVD in people using both community-based and residential aged care services and highlights the importance of optimising cardiovascular care for older adults.

Risk Model for Decline in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Adults Hospitalized With Acute Myocardial Infarction: The SILVER-AMI Study

Background Functional decline (ie, a decrement in ability to perform everyday activities necessary to live independently) is common after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and associated with poor long-term outcomes; yet, we do not have a tool to identify older AMI survivors at risk for this important patient-centered outcome. Methods and Results We used data from the prospective SILVER-AMI (Comprehensive Evaluation of Risk Factors in Older Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction) study of 3041 patients with AMI, aged ≥75 years, recruited from 94 US hospitals. Participants were assessed during hospitalization and at 6 months to collect data on demographics, geriatric impairments, psychosocial factors, and activities of daily living. Clinical variables were abstracted from the medical record. Functional decline was defined as a decrement in ability to independently perform essential activities of daily living (ie, bathing, dressing, transferring, and ambulation) from baseline to 6 months postdischarge. The mean age of the sample was 82±5 years; 57% were men, 90% were White, and 13% reported activity of daily living decline at 6 months postdischarge. The model identified older age, longer hospital stay, mobility impairment during hospitalization, preadmission physical activity, and depression as risk factors for decline. Revascularization during AMI hospitalization and ability to walk a quarter mile before AMI were associated with decreased risk. Model discrimination (c=0.78) and calibration were good. Conclusions We identified a parsimonious model that predicts risk of activity of daily living decline among older patients with AMI. This tool may aid in identifying older patients with AMI who may benefit from restorative therapies to optimize function after AMI.

Living settings and cognitive impairment are stronger predictors of nursing home admission after hip fracture surgery than physical comorbidities A nationwide Danish cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Sustaining a hip fracture is a life changing event for many elderlies. While doctors and researchers tend to be preoccupied with mortality and complication rates, patients are more concerned by other aspects e.g. loss of independence and ability to remain in their own home. This study aimed to i) determine age-stratified one-year event rates of admission to nursing home after discharge, and ii) identify risk factors associated with nursing home admission.

METHODS

Community dwelling patients aged 60-100 years undergoing their first hip fracture surgery in 2005 - 2015 were identified in nationwide administrative registries. Outcome was admission to nursing home within one year of discharge. To assess risk factors, we performed age-stratified cumulative incidence curves and multivariate cause specific cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, social factors, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

A total of 53,157 patients were included. One-year risk increased with advancing age from 3.2% of patients aged 60 to 69, up to 22.4% in the eldest group aged 90-100 years. Living alone and dementia were strong risk factors HR 9.22 [95% CI 5.60-15.18, p = <0.0001] and HR 6.73 [95% CI 4.80- 9.44, p = 0.0001] respectively for patients aged 60 to 69 years, the effect decreased with higher age down to HR 2.75 [95% CI 2.12- 3.57, p = <0.0001] and HR 2.15 [95% CI 1.88- 2.46, p = <0.0001] for patients ≥ 90 years. Other important risk factors were pre-injury home care, Parkinson's disease and depression. Surprisingly, physical comorbidities i.e. kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and cancer did not increase the risk of nursing home admission.

CONCLUSION

Future initiatives aimed to reduce loss of independence and nursing home admission, among patients with first time hip fracture, should devote attention to living settings and cognitive impairment rather than physical comorbidity.

Mortality following first-time hospitalization with acute myocardial infarction in Norway, 2001-2014: Time trends, underlying causes and place of death

BACKGROUND

Trends on cause-specific mortality following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are poorly described and no studies have analyzed where do AMI patients die. We analyzed trends in 28-day and one-year mortality following an incident AMI with focus on changes over time in the underlying cause and place of death.

METHODS

We identified in the 'Cardiovascular Disease in Norway' Project all patients 25+ years, hospitalized with an incident AMI in Norway, 2001-2014. Information on date, underlying cause and place of death was obtained from the Cause of Death Registry.

RESULTS

Of 144,473 patients included in the study, 11.4% died within first 28 days. The adjusted 28-day mortality declined by 5.2% per year (p_trend < 0.001). Of 118,881 patients surviving first 28 days, 10.1% died within one year. The adjusted one-year CVD mortality declined by 6.2% per year (p_trend < 0.001) while non-CVD mortality increased by 1.4% per year (p_trend < 0.001), mainly influenced by increased risk of dying from neoplasms. We observed a shift over time in the underlying cause of death toward more non-CVD deaths, and in the place of death toward more deaths occurring in nursing homes.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a decline in 28-day mortality following an incident AMI hospitalization. One-year CVD mortality declined while one-year risk of dying from non-CVD conditions increased. The resulting shift toward more non-CVD deaths and deaths occurring outside a hospital need to be considered when formulating priorities in treating and preventing adverse events among AMI survivors.