Physical and Psychological Burden among Caregivers of Latinx Older Adults with Stroke and Multimorbidity.

Objective: To investigate the association between Latinx older adults' stroke, multimorbidity, and caregiver burden. Methods: For this retrospective cohort study, we used the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE) Wave-7 data set. The caregiver's physical burden was defined by using the Level of Burden Index. The caregiver's psychological burden was measured by using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4). Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of 3 or more chronic conditions. Results: The average age of the Latinx adults was 86 years, and the caregivers were 56 years. Latinx older adults and caregivers were more likely to be females (66% and 75%). Most caregivers were children (71%). Twelve percent of Latinx older adults presented with stroke, and 50% presented with multimorbidity. Caregiver physical burden was stratified into 3 levels: low (43%), medium (17%), and high (40%) burden. The cumulative logit model revealed that caregivers caring for those with stroke or multimorbidity had a high physical burden. Family caregivers and caregivers with a higher household income had a low physical burden. Caregivers with multimorbidity had a higher psychological burden. Caregivers who were interviewed in Spanish and those with higher household incomes had decreased psychological burden. Conclusion: This study revealed that caregivers had a higher physical burden among caregivers of Latinx adults with stroke or multimorbidity. Future studies must investigate the relationship between Latinx adults' stroke and caregiver psychological health, and build culturally tailored policies and community interventions to support caregivers susceptible to high stress and burden.

Pressure Injury on Poststroke Admission Assessment to Skilled Nursing Facilities: Risk Factors, Management, and Impact on Rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe pressure injury (PrI) prevalence, comorbidities, and rehabilitation utilization among older adults with stroke at skilled nursing facilities' (SNFs') admission assessment. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Older Medicare beneficiaries (>65 years old) with stroke admitted to SNFs. METHODS: We extracted data between 2013 and 2014 using the Master Beneficiary Summary, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review, and Minimum Data Set 3.0. PI data were assessed during admission assessment. RESULTS: Of the 65,330 older adults poststroke admitted to SNFs, 11% had at least 1 PrI present on admission assessment. Individuals who were non-Hispanic Black, with a longer hospital stay, from lower socioeconomic status, with higher proportions of comorbidities (eg, underweight, urinary and bowel incontinence, diabetes, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and infections), and higher functional impairments were likely to present with a PrI at SNF admission assessment. Compared with individuals with superficial PrI, individuals with deep PrI were more likely to be young-old (<75 years), non-Hispanic Black, from lower socioeconomic status, present with a shorter hospital stay, an intensive care unit stay, with higher functional impairments, skin integrity issues, system failure, and infections. Compared to those without PrI or superficial PrI, individuals with any-stage PrI or deep PrI were more likely to be cotreated by physical and occupational therapist and less likely to receive individual therapy. Those with PrI poststroke had low documented turning and repositioning rates than those without PrI. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Identifying modifiable risk factors to prevent PrIs poststroke in SNFs will facilitate targeted preventative interventions and improve wound care efficacy and rehabilitation utilization for optimized patient outcomes. Identifying residents with a higher risk of PrI during acute care discharge and providing early preventive care during post-acute care would possibly decrease costs and improve outcome quality.

Program Interruptions and Short-Stay Transfers Represent Potential Targets for Inpatient Rehabilitation Care-Improvement Efforts.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to present comprehensive descriptive summaries of program interruptions and short-stay transfers among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries receiving inpatient rehabilitation after stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with any of the 3 conditions of interest who were admitted to inpatient rehabilitation directly from an acute hospital between July 1, 2012, and November 15, 2013. RESULTS: In the final sample (stroke, n = 71 769; TBI, n = 7109; SCI, n = 659), program interruption rates were 0.9% (stroke), 0.8% (TBI), and 1.4% (SCI). Short-stay transfer rates were 22.3% (stroke), 21.8% (TBI), and 31.6% (SCI); 14.7% of short-stay transfers and 12.3% of interruptions resulting in a return to acute care were identified as potentially preventable among those with stroke; 10.2% of transfers and 11.7% of interruptions among those with TBI, and 3.8% of transfers and 11.1% of interruptions among those with SCI. CONCLUSIONS: Broad health care policies aimed at improving quality and reducing costs are currently being implemented. Reducing program interruptions and short-stay transfers during inpatient rehabilitative care represents a potential target for care-improvement efforts. Future research focused on identifying modifiable risk factors for potentially undesirable outcomes will allow for targeted preventative interventions.

Predictors of 30-Day Readmission Following Inpatient Rehabilitation for Patients at High Risk for Hospital Readmission.

BACKGROUND: The proposed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 30-day readmission risk standardization models for inpatient rehabilitation facilities establish readmission risk for patients at admission based on a limited set of core variables. Considering functional recovery during the rehabilitation stay may help clinicians further stratify patient groups at high risk for hospital readmission. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify variables in the full administrative medical record, particularly in regard to physical function, that could help clinicians further discriminate between patients who are and are not likely to be readmitted to an acute care hospital within 30 days of rehabilitation discharge. DESIGN: This study used an observational cohort with a 30-day follow-up of Medicare patients who were deconditioned and had medically complex diagnoses and who were receiving postacute inpatient rehabilitation in 2010 to 2011. METHODS: Patients in the highest risk quartile for readmission (N=25,908) were selected based on the CMS risk prediction model. Hierarchical generalized linear models were built to compare the relative effectiveness of motor functional status ratings in predicting 30-day readmission. Classification and regression tree analysis was used to create a hierarchical order among predictors based on variable importance in classifying patients based on readmission status. RESULTS: Approximately 34% of patients in the high-risk quartile were readmitted within 30 days. Functional outcomes and rehabilitation length of stay were the best predictors of 30-day rehospitalization. A 3-variable algorithm classified 4 clinical subgroups with readmission probabilities ranging from 28% to 75%. LIMITATIONS: Although planned readmissions were accounted for in the outcome, potentially preventable readmissions were not distinguished from unpreventable readmissions. CONCLUSION: For older patients who are deconditioned and have medically complex diagnoses admitted to postacute inpatient rehabilitation, information on functional status measures that are easily monitored by health care providers may improve plans for care transition and reduce the risk of hospital readmission.