Jeff Poss

Examining three frailty conceptualizations in their ability to predict negative outcomes for home-care clients

439–44. 14. Sharma JC, Ananda K, Ross I, Hill R, Vassallo M. N-terminal proBrain natriuretic peptide levels predict short-term poststroke survival. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2006; 15: 121–7. 15. Etgen T, Baum H, Sander K, Sander D. Cardiac troponins and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in acute ischemic stroke do not relate to clinical prognosis. Stroke 2005; 36: 270–5. 16. Quinn TJ, Dawson J, Walters MR, Lees KR. Reliability of the Modified Rankin Scale. A systematic review. Stroke. Published online ahead of print 13 August 2009. 17. Anand IS, Fisher LD, Chiang YT et al. Changes in brain natriuretic peptide and norepinephrine over time and mortality and morbidity in the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT). Circulation 2003; 107: 1278–83. 18. Cowie MR, Mendez GF. BNP and congestive cardiac failure. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2002; 44: 293–321. 19. Jensen JK, Atar D, Kristensen SR, Mickley H, Januzzi JL Jr. Usefulness of natriuretic peptide testing for long-term risk assessment following acute ischemic stroke. Am J Cardiol 2009; 104: 287–91. 20. Nogami M, Shiga J, Takatsu A, Endo N, Ishiyama I. Immunohistochemistry of atrial natriuretic peptide in brain infarction. Histochem J 2001; 33: 87–90. 21. Sviri GE, Shik V, Raz B, Soustiel JF. Role of brain natriuretic peptide in cerebral vasospasm. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2003; 145: 851–60. 22. Doust JA, Pietrzak E, Dobson A, Glasziou P. How well does B-type natriuretic peptide predict death and cardiac events in patients with heart failure: systematic review. BMJ 2005; 330: 625.

The Method for Assigning Priority Levels (MAPLe): A new decision-support system for allocating home care resources

BackgroundHome care plays a vital role in many health care systems, but there is evidence that appropriate targeting strategies must be used to allocate limited home care resources effectively. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a methodology for prioritizing access to community and facility-based services for home care clients.MethodsCanadian and international data based on the Resident Assessment Instrument – Home Care (RAI-HC) were analyzed to identify predictors for nursing home placement, caregiver distress and for being rated as requiring alternative placement to improve outlook.ResultsThe Method for Assigning Priority Levels (MAPLe) algorithm was a strong predictor of all three outcomes in the derivation sample. The algorithm was validated with additional data from five other countries, three other provinces, and an Ontario sample obtained after the use of the RAI-HC was mandated.ConclusionThe MAPLe algorithm provides a psychometrically sound decision-support tool that may be used to inform choices related to allocation of home care resources and prioritization of clients needing community or facility-based services.

Risk Factors for Hip Fracture in Older Home Care Clients

BACKGROUND Little information is available on hip fracture risks among community-dwelling persons receiving home care. Our aim was to identify risk factors for hip fracture from health information routinely collected for older home care clients. METHODS This was a cohort study involving secondary analysis of data on 40,279 long-stay (>60 days) home care clients aged 65 and older in Ontario, Canada; occurrence of hip fracture as well as potential risk factor information were measured using the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI)/Minimum Data Set-Home Care assessment instrument. RESULTS In all, 1,003 clients (2.5%) had hip fracture on follow-up assessment. Older (85+ vs 65-74, relative risk [95% confidence interval]: 0.52 [0.43-0.64]) clients are at increased risk; males are at reduced risk [0.60 (0.51-0.70)]. Other risk factors include osteoporosis (1.19 [1.03-1.36]), falls (1.31 [1.15-1.49]), unsteady gait (1.18 [1.03-1.36]), use of ambulation aide (1.39 [1.21-1.59]), tobacco use (1.42, [1.13-1.80]), severe malnutrition (2.61 [1.67-4.08]), and cognitive impairment (1.30 [1.12-1.51]). Arthritis (0.86 [0.76-0.98]) and morbid obesity (0.34 [0.16-0.72]) were associated with reduced risk. Males and females demonstrated different risk profiles. CONCLUSIONS Important risk factors for hip fracture can be identified from routinely collected data; these could be used to identify at-risk clients for further investigation and prevention strategies.

Osteoporosis management among residents living in long-term care

SummaryFractures in long-term care (LTC) residents have substantial economic and human costs. Osteoporosis management in residents with fractures or osteoporosis is low, and certain subgroups are less likely to receive therapy, e.g., those with >5 comorbidities, dementia, and wheelchair use. Many LTC residents who are at risk of fracture are not receiving optimal osteoporosis management.IntroductionThe objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and predictors of osteoporosis management among LTC residents with osteoporosis or fractures.MethodsIn a retrospective study, LTC residents of 17 facilities in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada were investigated. The participants were 65+ years old with osteoporosis, history of hip fracture, or recent fracture. Comprehensive assessments were conducted by trained nurse assessors between June 2005 and June 2006 using a standardized instrument, known as the Resident Assessment Instrument 2.0.ResultsAmong residents (n = 525) with osteoporosis or fractures, 177 (34%) had had a recent fall. Bisphosphonate use was reported in 199 (38%) residents, calcitonin use in six (1%), and raloxifene use in six (1%). Calcium and vitamin D supplementation were reported in 140 (27%) residents. Fifty-four (10.3%) residents were on a bisphosphonate but were not taking vitamin D or multivitamin. Variables negatively associated with osteoporosis therapy [OR (95% CI)]: six or more comorbidities [0.46 (0.28–0.77), p = 0.028], wheelchair use [0.62 (0.40–0.95), p = 0.003], cognitive impairment [0.71 (0.55–0.92), p = 0.009], depression [0.54 (0.34–0.87), p = 0.01], swallowing difficulties [0.99 (0.988–0.999), p = 0.034] or Manitoba residence [0.47 (0.28–0.78), p = 0.004]. Prescription of 10+ medications was positively associated with therapy [3.34 (2.32–4.84), p < 0.001].ConclusionOsteoporosis management is not optimal among residents at risk of future fracture. Identifying at-risk subgroups of residents that are not receiving therapy may facilitate closing the osteoporosis care gap.

A profile of residents in Prairie nursing homes

Les maisons de soins infirmiers sont devenues des environnements offrant des soins complexes, dont les habitants ont des besoins importants et la plupart souffrent de la démence liée a l’âge. S’appuyant sur les recherches de Hirdes et al. (2011), nous décrivons un profil des résidents dans un échantillon représentatif de 30 maisons de soins infirmiers en milieu urbain dans les provinces des Prairies, en utilisant des données de L’Instrument d’évaluation des résidents/le recueil de données minimum (Resident Assistant Instrument – Minimum Data Set 2.0) de 5 196 évaluations résidents accomplies entre le 1ier octobre et le 31ieme décembre 3011. Les résidents avaient principalement plus de 85 ans, étaient des femmes, et souffraient d’une démence liée à l’âge. Nous avons comparé le soutien et les services connexes des établissements et les caractéristiques des résidents par province, par les modèles du propriétaire-gérant, et par le nombre d’unités dans une installation. Nous avons également constaté que les établissements publics ont tendance à s’occuper des résidents ayant des caractéristiques plus exigeants: notamment, la déficience cognitive, un comportement aggressif, et l’incontinence. Aucune tendance claire n’a été observée reliant le nombre d’unités dans un établissement aux caractéristiques des résidents.

Development of the interRAI Pressure Ulcer Risk Scale (PURS) for use in long-term care and home care settings.

BackgroundIn long-term care (LTC) homes in the province of Ontario, implementation of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment and The Braden Scale for predicting pressure ulcer risk were occurring simultaneously. The purpose of this study was, using available data sources, to develop a bedside MDS-based scale to identify individuals under care at various levels of risk for developing pressure ulcers in order to facilitate targeting risk factors for prevention.MethodsData for developing the interRAI Pressure Ulcer Risk Scale (interRAI PURS) were available from 2 Ontario sources: three LTC homes with 257 residents assessed during the same time frame with the MDS and Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk, and eighty-nine Ontario LTC homes with 12,896 residents with baseline/reassessment MDS data (median time 91 days), between 2005-2007. All assessments were done by trained clinical staff, and baseline assessments were restricted to those with no recorded pressure ulcer. MDS baseline/reassessment samples used in further testing included 13,062 patients of Ontario Complex Continuing Care Hospitals (CCC) and 73,183 Ontario long-stay home care (HC) clients.ResultsA data-informed Braden Scale cross-walk scale using MDS items was devised from the 3-facility dataset, and tested in the larger longitudinal LTC homes data for its association with a future new pressure ulcer, giving a c-statistic of 0.676. Informed by this, LTC homes data along with evidence from the clinical literature was used to create an alternate-form 7-item additive scale, the interRAI PURS, with good distributional characteristics and c-statistic of 0.708. Testing of the scale in CCC and HC longitudinal data showed strong association with development of a new pressure ulcer.ConclusionsinterRAI PURS differentiates risk of developing pressure ulcers among facility-based residents and home care recipients. As an output from an MDS assessment, it eliminates duplicated effort required for separate pressure ulcer risk scoring. Moreover, it can be done manually at the bedside during critical early days in an admission when the full MDS has yet to be completed. It can be calculated with established MDS instruments as well as with the newer interRAI suite instruments designed to follow persons across various care settings (interRAI Long-Term Care Facilities, interRAI Home Care, interRAI Palliative Care).

Adverse events among Ontario home care clients associated with emergency room visit or hospitalization: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundHome care (HC) is a critical component of the ongoing restructuring of healthcare in Canada. It impacts three dimensions of healthcare delivery: primary healthcare, chronic disease management, and aging at home strategies. The purpose of our study is to investigate a significant safety dimension of HC, the occurrence of adverse events and their related outcomes. The study reports on the incidence of HC adverse events, the magnitude of the events, the types of events that occur, and the consequences experienced by HC clients in the province of Ontario.MethodsA retrospective cohort design was used, utilizing comprehensive secondary databases available for Ontario HC clients from the years 2008 and 2009. The data were derived from the Canadian Home Care Reporting System, the Hospital Discharge Abstract Database, the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System, the Ontario Mental Health Reporting System, and the Continuing Care Reporting System. Descriptive analysis was used to identify the type and frequency of the adverse events recorded and the consequences of the events. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between the events and their consequences.ResultsThe study found that the incident rate for adverse events for the HC clients included in the cohort was 13%. The most frequent adverse events identified in the databases were injurious falls, injuries from other than a fall, and medication-related incidents. With respect to outcomes, we determined that an injurious fall was associated with a significant increase in the odds of a client requiring long-term-care facility admission and of client death. We further determined that three types of events, delirium, sepsis, and medication-related incidents were associated directly with an increase in the odds of client death.ConclusionsOur study concludes that 13% of clients in homecare experience an adverse event annually. We also determined that an injurious fall was the most frequent of the adverse events and was associated with increased admission to long-term care or death. We recommend the use of tools that are presently available in Canada, such as the Resident Assessment Instrument and its Clinical Assessment Protocols, for assessing and mitigating the risk of an adverse event occurring.

Early Prevention of Pressure Ulcers Among Elderly Patients Admitted Through Emergency Departments: A Cost-effectiveness Analysis

STUDY OBJECTIVE Every year, approximately 6.2 million hospital admissions through emergency departments (ED) involve elderly patients who are at risk of developing pressure ulcers. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of pressure-redistribution foam mattresses on ED stretchers and beds for early prevention of pressure ulcers in elderly admitted ED patients. METHODS Using a Markov model, we evaluated the incremental effectiveness (quality-adjusted life-days) and incremental cost (hospital and home care costs) between early prevention and current practice (with standard hospital mattresses) from a health care payer perspective during a 1-year time horizon. RESULTS The projected incidence of ED-acquired pressure ulcers was 1.90% with current practice and 1.48% with early prevention, corresponding to a number needed to treat of 238 patients. The average upgrading cost from standard to pressure-redistribution mattresses was

Facility versus unit level reporting of quality indicators in nursing homes when performance monitoring is the goal

0.30 per patient. Compared with current practice, early prevention was more effective, with 0.0015 quality-adjusted life-days gained, and less costly, with a mean cost saving of

Recent Visual Decline—A Health Hazard with Consequences for Social Life: A Study of Home Care Clients in 12 Countries

32 per patient. If decisionmakers are willing to pay