A cross-sectional study of non-attendance among patients at a US hemophilia treatment center 2010-2014.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Among patients with chronic disease, non-attendance at scheduled healthcare visits is associated with poor outcomes. The impact of non-attendance among patients with bleeding disorders is unknown. METHODS: Scheduling and medical record data over a 5-year period for all individuals with at least one scheduled appointment during 2010-2014 at a US Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) were analysed. Non-attendance rates were calculated as the number of non-attended visits divided by the number of years as a patient during the time period. Consistent non-attenders were patients who did not attend more than one scheduled appointment per person-year on average. Logistic regression determined characteristics associated with consistent non-attendance and Poisson regression estimated adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) describing associations between non-attendance and emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. RESULTS: There were 8028 appointments scheduled for 950 individuals; 12% were not attended. Consistent non-attenders (n = 62; 7% of the HTC patient population) accounted for over one-third of non-attended appointments and over one-quarter of hospitalizations. Characteristics associated with consistent non-attendance included public health insurance and black race. Higher non-attendance rates were associated with more ED visits (aIRR 1.78; 95% CI 1.37-2.30) and hospitalizations (aIRR 2.73; 95% CI 2.18-3.42). Consistent non-attenders had more ED visits (aIRR 2.49; 95% CI 1.56-3.96) and hospitalizations (aIRR 4.73; 95% CI 2.96-7.57) compared with patients who never missed appointments. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent non-attendance identified a small but at-risk population. Interventions to improve disease management that target them may have an impact on health outcomes and healthcare utilization.