Health economic perspective on a community-based intervention for older people at risk of care dependency - results of a prospective quasi-experimental study.

This prospective, quasi-experimental study aims to compare healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs of a multi-component care approach for older people in a community setting (intervention group (IG)) with usual care in a matched control group (CG) during a 21-month observation period. The reablement-oriented intervention included a geriatric assessment, a case and network management and digital supporting tools. Regression models were applied to determine intervention effects regarding hospitalization, total hospital length of stay (LOS), number of physician consultations, and healthcare costs using claims data. 872 subjects were included in the IG and 1,768 in the CG. The analyses showed that the intervention did not affect hospitalization (OR = 1.153; 95% CI: 0.971-1.369, p = .105). However, participating in the IG lead to a small but significant increase of physician contacts by a factor of 1.078 (Exp(ß) = 1.078; 95% CI: 1.011-1.149; p = .022). A non-significant mean difference in costs of €1,183 (95% CI: €-261.6 to €2,627.6, p = .108) per participant was identified. Further research is needed to generate robust evidence on the optimal design of care approaches for older people and the health economic implications of such interventions to improve care and resource allocation decision-making. Trial registration: The study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00027866).

Cardiovascular risk factors, exercise capacity and health literacy in patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Germany: Baseline characteristics of the Lifestyle Intervention in Chronic Ischaemic Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes study.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle interventions are a cornerstone in the treatment of chronic ischaemic heart disease (CIHD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed at identifying differences in clinical characteristics between categories of the common lifestyle intervention targets BMI, exercise capacity (peak V̇O2) and health literacy (HL). METHODS: Cross-sectional baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the LeIKD trial (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03835923) are presented in total, grouped by BMI, %-predicted peak V̇O2 and HL (HLS-EU-Q16), and compared to other clinical trials with similar populations. RESULTS: Among 499 patients (68.3±7.7 years; 16.2% female; HbA1c, 6.9±0.9%), baseline characteristics were similar to other trials and revealed insufficient treatment of several risk factors (LDL-C 92±34 mg/dl; BMI, 30.1±4.8 kg/m2; 69.6% with peak V̇O2<90% predicted). Patients with lower peak V̇O2 showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) CIHD and T2DM disease severity (HbA1c, CIHD symptoms, coronary artery bypass graft). Obese patients had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension and higher triglyceride levels, whereas in patients with low HL both quality of life components (physical, mental) were significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CIHD and T2DM, peak V̇O2, BMI and HL are important indicators of disease severity, risk factor burden and quality of life, which reinforces the relevance of lifestyle interventions.

Effectiveness of a multi-component community-based care approach for older people at risk of care dependency - results of a prospective quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Due to demographic changes, the elderly population in western countries is constantly growing. As the risk of functional decline and multimorbidity increases with age, health care systems need to face the challenge of high demand for health care services and related costs. Therefore, innovative health care approaches and geriatric screenings are needed to provide individualised care. This study aims to expand the state of research by investigating the effectiveness of a multi-component care approach for the elderly in a German community setting. METHODS: A prospective, quasi-experimental study was initiated by statutory health insurance (SHI) companies. The innovative care approach includes a geriatric assessment, a case and network management as well as digital supporting tools and was implemented at the Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (Albertinen Haus, Hamburg-Eimsbuettel). Participants of the intervention were compared to matched controls recruited in comparable urban areas. The primary outcome measure was the progression in long-term care grade during the period of observation (21 months), which was analysed on the basis of SHI claims data. Secondary endpoints were morbidity, mortality and self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured by SF-36. RESULTS: Overall, 2,670 patients (intervention group (IG) n=873; control group (CG) n=1,797) were analysed. Logistic regression analysis showed no statistically significant difference in progression of long-term care grade between IG and CG (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.054; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.856-1.296; p-value=0.616). Differentiated analyses indicated an initial effect, which might be attributable to the geriatric assessment. However, an adapted regression model resulted in a reversed but even non-significant effect (OR=0.945; 95% CI 0.757-1.177; p-value=0.619). While secondary analyses of long-term care grade, mortality and HRQoL did not show intervention effects, a statistically significant relative change of 0.865 (95% CI 0.780, 0.960; p-value=0.006) in morbidity indicated a potential benefit for the IG. CONCLUSIONS: The analyses did not reveal a significant effect of the community-based intervention on the primary outcome and thus we are not able to recommend a transfer into SHI standard care. Tendencies in secondary analyses need to be proved in further research. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register, retrospective registration on February 01, 2022 ( DRKS00027866 ).