Unrealistic Postsurgical Expectation of Independence Predicts Complex Hospital Discharge.

BACKGROUND: Careful discharge planning for older surgical patients can reduce length of stay, readmission, and cost. We hypothesized that patients who overestimate their self-care ability before surgery are more likely to have complex postoperative discharge planning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Vulnerable Elders Surgical Pathways and Outcomes Assessment is a brief preoperative assessment that can identify older (age ≥70) patients with multidimensional geriatric risk, defined by all three of the following: (1) physical or cognitive impairment, (2) living alone, and (3) lack of handicap-accessible home. The Vulnerable Elders Surgical Pathways and Outcomes Assessment also asks a novel postoperative self-care ability question, whether patient can independently provide self-care for several hours after discharge. Classifying patients into four groups based on multidimensional geriatric risk (full versus none or partial) and the self-care ability question (yes or no), we hypothesized those with unrealistic postsurgical expectation of independence (UPSI) (both fully at risk and "yes" to self-care ability question) would be at the increased risk for complex discharge planning. Complex discharge planning was defined as prolonged stay because of nonmedical reasons or multiple changes in discharge plans. RESULTS: In 382 hospitalizations of ≥2 d, 366 had a nonmissing answer to the self-care question; of those 5% had UPSI and 6.3% needed complex discharge planning. The UPSI group was independently associated with greater risk of complex discharge planning compared with the normal group (odds ratio = 4.3 [95% confidence interval, 1.1-16.1]). CONCLUSIONS: Complex discharges were rare, but predictable by preoperative geriatric screening. Patients with UPSI should be targeted for postoperative care planning in advance of surgery.

Analytic morphomics corresponds to functional status in older patients.

BACKGROUND: Older patients account for nearly half of the United States surgical volume, and age alone is insufficient to predict surgical fitness. Various metrics exist for risk stratification, but little work has been done to describe the association between measures. We aimed to determine whether analytic morphomics, a novel objective risk assessment tool, correlates with functional measures currently recommended in the preoperative evaluation of older patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 184 elective general surgery patients aged >70 y with both a preoperative computed tomography scan and Vulnerable Elderly Surgical Pathways and outcomes Assessment within 90 d of surgery. We used analytic morphomics to calculate trunk muscle size (or total psoas area [TPA]) and univariate logistic regression to assess the relationship between TPA and domains of geriatric function mobility, basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs), and cognitive ability. RESULTS: Greater TPA was inversely correlated with impaired mobility (odds ratio [OR] = 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25-0.85, P = 0.013). Greater TPA was associated with decreased odds of deficit in any basic ADLs (OR = 0.36 per standard deviation unit increase in TPA, 95% CI 0.15-0.87, P <0.03) and any instrumental ADLs (OR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.34-0.81; P <0.005). Finally, patients with larger TPA were less likely to have cognitive difficulty assessed by Mini-Cog scale (OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.35-0.86, P <0.01). Controlling for age did not change results. CONCLUSIONS: Older surgical candidates with greater trunk muscle size, or greater TPA, are less likely to have physical impairment, cognitive difficulty, or decreased ability to perform daily self-care. Further research linking these assessments to clinical outcomes is needed.

Medicare's Hospital Readmission Reduction Program reduced fall-related health care use: An unexpected benefit?

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether Medicare's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) was associated with a reduction in severe fall-related injuries (FRIs). DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: Secondary data from Medicare were used. STUDY DESIGN: Using an event study design, among older (≥65) Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, we assessed changes in 30- and 90-day FRI readmissions before and after HRRP's announcement (April 2010) and implementation (October 2012) for conditions targeted by the HRRP (acute myocardial infarction [AMI], congestive heart failure [CHF], and pneumonia) versus "non-targeted" (gastrointestinal) conditions. We tested for modification by hospitals with "high-risk" before HRRP and accounted for potential upcoding. We also explored changes in 30-day FRI readmissions involving emergency department (ED) or outpatient care, care processes (length of stay, discharge destination, and primary care visit), and patient selection (age and comorbidities). DATA COLLECTION: Not applicable. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We identified 1.5 million (522,596 pre-HRRP, 514,844 announcement, and 474,029 implementation period) index discharges. After its announcement, HRRP was associated with 12%-20% reductions in 30- and 90-day FRI readmissions for patients with CHF (-0.42 percentage points [ppt], p = 0.02; -1.53 ppt, p < 0.001) and AMI (-0.35, p = 0.047; -0.97, p = 0.001). Two years after implementation, HRRP was associated with reductions in 90-day FRI readmission for AMI (-1.27 ppt, p = 0.01) and CHF (-0.98 ppt, p = 0.02) patients. Results were similar for hospitals at higher versus lower baseline risk of FRI readmission. After HRRP's announcement, decreases were observed in home health (AMI: -2.43 ppt, p < 0.001; CHF: -8.83 ppt, p < 0.001; pneumonia: -1.97 ppt, p < 0.001) and skilled nursing facility referrals (AMI: -5.95 ppt, p < 0.001; CHF: -3.19 ppt, p < 0.001; pneumonia: -10.27 ppt, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HRRP was associated with reductions in FRIs, primarily for HF and pneumonia patients. These decreases may reflect improvements in transitional care including changes in post-acute referral patterns that benefit patients at risk for falls.

Validation of a Rule-Based ICD-10-CM Algorithm to Detect Fall Injuries in Medicare Data.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis-code-based algorithms to identify fall injuries in Medicare data are useful for ascertaining outcomes in interventional and observational studies. However, these algorithms have not been validated against a fully external reference standard, in ICD-10-CM, or in Medicare Advantage (MA) data. METHODS: We linked self-reported fall injuries leading to medical attention (FIMA) from the Strategies to Reduce Injuries and Develop Confidence in Elders (STRIDE) trial (reference standard) to Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) and MA data from 2015-19. We measured the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) based on sensitivity and specificity of a diagnosis-code-based algorithm against the reference standard for presence or absence of ≥1 FIMA within a specified window of dates, varying the window size to obtain points on the curve. We stratified results by source (FFS vs MA), trial arm (intervention vs control), and STRIDE's 10 participating health care systems. RESULTS: Both reference standard data and Medicare data were available for 4 941 (of 5 451) participants. The reference standard and algorithm identified 2 054 and 2 067 FIMA, respectively. The algorithm had 45% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI]: 43%-47%) and 99% specificity (95% CI: 99%-99%) to identify reference standard FIMA within the same calendar month. The AUC was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.78-0.81) and was similar by FFS or MA data source and by trial arm but showed variation among STRIDE health care systems (AUC range by health care system, 0.71 to 0.84). CONCLUSIONS: An ICD-10-CM algorithm to identify fall injuries demonstrated acceptable performance against an external reference standard, in both MA and FFS data.

Geriatric Education on Telehealth (GET) Access: A medical student volunteer program to increase access to geriatric telehealth services at the onset of COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic placed an unprecedented demand on health systems to rapidly shift ambulatory in-person care to virtual care. Geriatric patients face more challenges with video visit access compared to younger patients due to discomfort with technology and less access to devices and internet. Medical students at the University of Michigan created an initiative to improve access to and comfort with video visits for geriatric patients. The program's goals were to (a) explore options for the delivery of personalized training to older adults, (b) create materials for volunteers to successfully navigate conversations with patients and caregivers, (c) provide patients one-to-one remote guidance while identifying and overcoming barriers-with practice sessions to increase comfort, (d) share with the larger health system, and (e) ensure program sustainability. Over a 10-week evaluation period, providers whose patients worked with our geriatric education on telehealth access volunteers had a video visit rate of 43% compared to 19.2% prior to participation in the program (adjusted odds ratio = 3.38, 95% confidence interval = 2.49, 4.59), ultimately providing a platform for geriatric patients to foster stronger connections with their providers, while increasing Michigan Medicine's overall proportion of video telehealth visits.

Assessment of Preoperative Functional Status Prior to Major Head and Neck Surgery: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate feasibility of a recently developed preoperative assessment tool, the Vulnerable Elders Surgical Pathways and Outcomes Analysis (VESPA), to characterize the baseline functional status of patients undergoing major head and neck surgery and to examine the relationship between preoperative functional status and postoperative outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with planned data collection. SETTING: Two tertiary care academic hospitals. METHODS: The VESPA was administered prospectively in the preoperative setting. Data on patient demographics, ablative and reconstructive procedures, and outcomes including total length of stay, discharge disposition, delay in discharge, or complex discharge planning (delay or change in disposition) were collected via retrospective chart review. VESPA scores were calculated and risk categories were used to estimate risk of adverse postoperative outcomes using multivariate logistic regression for categorical outcomes and linear regression for continuous variables. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients met study inclusion criteria. The mean (SD) age was 66.4 (11.9) years, and 58.4% of patients were male. Nearly one-fourth described preoperative difficulty in either a basic or instrumental activity of daily living, and 17% were classified as low functional status (ie, high risk) according to the VESPA. Low functional status did not independently predict length of stay but was associated with delayed discharge (odds ratio [OR], 5.0; 95% CI, 1.2-21.3; P = .030) and complex discharge planning (OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 1.34-24.2; P = .018). CONCLUSION: The VESPA can identify major head and neck surgical patients with low preoperative functional status who may be at risk for delayed or complex discharge planning. These patients may benefit from enhanced preoperative counseling and more comprehensive discharge preparation.

Is patient-perceived severity of a geriatric condition related to better quality of care?

BACKGROUND: Care for falls and urinary incontinence (UI) among older patients is inadequate. One possible explanation is that physicians provide less recommended care to patients who are not as concerned about their falls and UI. OBJECTIVE: To test whether patient-reported severity for 2 geriatric conditions, falls, and UI, is associated with quality of care. RESEARCH DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of elders with falls and/or fear of falling (n = 384) and UI (n = 163). SUBJECTS: Participants in the Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders-2 Study (2002-2003), which evaluated an intervention to improve the care for falls and UI among older (age, ≥ 75) ambulatory care patients with falls/fear of falling or UI. MEASURES: Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and the Incontinence Quality of Life surveys measured at baseline, quality of care measured by a 13-month medical record abstraction. RESULTS: There was a small difference in falls quality scores across the range of FES, with greater patient-perceived falls severity associated with better odds of passing falls quality indicators (OR: 1.11 [95% CI: 1.02-1.21] per 10-point increment in FES). Greater patient-perceived UI severity (Incontinence Quality of Life score) was not associated with better quality of UI care. CONCLUSIONS: Although older persons with greater patient-perceived falls severity receive modestly better quality of care, those with more distressing incontinence do not. For both conditions, however, even the most symptomatic patients received less than half of recommended care. Low patient-perceived severity of condition is not the basis of poor care for falls and UI.

Effect of a Multifactorial Fall Injury Prevention Intervention on Patient Well-Being: The STRIDE Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In the Strategies to Reduce Injuries and Develop Confidence in Elders (STRIDE) study, a multifactorial intervention was associated with a nonsignificant 8% reduction in time to first serious fall injury but a significant 10% reduction in time to first self-reported fall injury relative to enhanced usual care. The effect of the intervention on other outcomes important to patients has not yet been reported. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the intervention on patient well-being including concern about falling, anxiety, depression, physical function, and disability. DESIGN: Pragmatic cluster-randomized trial of 5,451 community-living persons at high risk for serious fall injuries. SETTING: A total of 86 primary care practices within 10 U.S. healthcare systems. PARTICIPANTS: A random subsample of 743 persons aged 75 and older. MEASUREMENTS: The well-being measures, assessed at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months, included a modified version of the Fall Efficacy Scale, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) anxiety and depression scales, and Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument. RESULTS: Participants in the intervention (n = 384) and control groups (n = 359) were comparable in age: mean (standard deviation) of 81.9 (4.7) versus 81.8 (5.0) years. Mean scores were similar between groups at 12 and 24 months for concern about falling, physical function, and disability, whereas the intervention group's mean scores on anxiety and depression were .7 points lower (i.e., better) at 12 months and .6 to .8 points lower at 24 months. For each of these outcomes, differences between the groups' adjusted least square mean changes from baseline to 12 and 24 months, respectively, were quantitatively small. The overall difference in means between groups over 2 years was statistically significant only for depression, favoring the intervention: -1.19 (99% confidence interval, -2.36 to -.02), with 3.5 points representing a minimally important difference. CONCLUSIONS: STRIDE's multifactorial intervention to reduce fall injuries was not associated with clinically meaningful improvements in patient well-being.

Prehospital and Posthospital Fall Injuries in Older US Adults.

Importance: To date, measurement and treatment of older adult fall injury has been siloed within specific care settings, such as a hospital or within a nursing home or community. Little is known about changes in fall risk across care settings. Understanding the occurrence of falls across settings has implications for measuring and incentivizing high-value care across care settings. Objective: To estimate the risk of older adult fall injury within and across discrete periods during a 12-month care episode anchored by an acute hospitalization. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study is a longitudinal analysis of 12-month periods that include an anchor hospital stay using national data from 2006 to 2014. Participants included older (aged ≥65 years) Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries from the Health and Retirement Study. Weekly fall injury rates were computed for 4 periods compared with the anchor hospitalization: at baseline (1-6 months before hospitalization), just before (<1 month before hospitalization), just after (<1 month after hospitalization), and at follow-up (1-6 months after hospitalization). Piecewise logistic regression models estimated weekly marginal risk of fall injury within each period, adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Fall injury risks for high-risk beneficiaries with a fall injury during the anchor hospitalization were also estimated. Data analysis was performed from November 2019 to April 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: Fall injuries. Results: In total, 10 106 anchor hospitalizations for 4101 beneficiaries (mean [SD] age, 77.1 [7.6] years; 5912 hospitalizations among women [58.5%]) were identified. The overall fall injury risk was 0.77%. In adjusted models, marginal increases in weekly fall injury risk just before hospitalization (0.27 percentage points [95% CI, 0.22 to 0.33 percentage points], or 30.0%; P < .001) were 4 times greater than decreases just after hospitalization (-0.18 percentage points [95% CI, -0.23 to -0.13 percentage points], or -9.2%; P < .001)]. A greater risk differential before and after hospitalization was observed for patients with an inpatient fall injury (1.89 percentage points [95% CI, 1.37 to 2.40], or 309.8%; P < .001; vs -0.39 percentage points [95% CI, -0.73 to -0.04], or -11.6%; P = .03). Conclusions and Relevance: An episode-based assessment of fall injury illustrates substantial variability in period-specific risks over an extended period including an anchor hospitalization. Risk transitions between periods include sizable increases just before hospitalization that do not fully subside after hospital discharge. Financial incentives to coordinate hospital and posthospital care for patients at risk for fall injury are needed. These could include bundled payments for fall injury episodes that incentivize coordination across settings.

Role of Post-Acute Care in Readmissions for Preexisting Healthcare-Associated Infections.

OBJECTIVES: Although preventable, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are commonly observed in post-acute care settings for at-risk older adults and are a leading cause of hospital readmissions. However, whether HAIs resulting in avoidable readmissions for preexisting HAIs (the same HAI as at the index admission) are more common for patients discharged to post-acute care as opposed to home is unknown. We examined the risk of preexisting HAI readmissions according to patient discharge disposition and comorbidity level. DESIGN: We used 2013-2014 national hospital discharge data to estimate the likelihood of readmissions for preexisting HAIs according to patients' discharge disposition and whether the likelihood varies according to patient comorbidity level, across four common types of HAIs (not including respiratory infections). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 702 304 hospital discharges for Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older. MEASUREMENTS: Our outcome was a 30-day preexisting, or "linked," HAI readmission (readmission involving the same HAI diagnosis as at the index admission). Patient discharge disposition was skilled nursing facility (SNF), home health care, and home care without home health care ("home"). RESULTS: Of 702 304 index admissions involving HAI treatment, 353 073 (50%) were discharged to a SNF, 179 490 (26%) to home health care, and 169 872 (24%) to home. Overall, 17 523 (2.5%) of preexisting HAIs resulted in linked HAI readmissions, which were more common for Clostridioides difficile infections (4.0%) and urinary tract infections (2.4%) than surgical site infections (1.1%; P < .001). Being discharged to a SNF compared to home or to home health care was associated with a 1.15 percentage point (95% confidence interval = -1.29 to -1.00), or 38%, lower risk of a linked HAI readmission. This risk difference was observed to increase with greater patient comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: SNF discharges were associated with fewer avoidable readmissions for preexisting HAIs compared with home discharges. Further research to identify modifiable mechanisms that improve posthospital infection care at home is needed. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:370-378, 2020.

Posthospital Fall Injuries and 30-Day Readmissions in Adults 65 Years and Older.

Importance: Falls are common among older adults, particularly those with previous falls and cognitive impairment and in the postdischarge period. Hospitals have financial incentives to reduce both inpatient falls and hospital readmissions, yet little is known about whether fall-related injuries (FRIs) are common diagnoses for 30-day hospital readmissions. Objective: To compare fall-related readmissions with other leading rehospitalization diagnoses, including for patients at greatest risk of readmission. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective cohort study of the Hospital Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Readmissions Database of nationally representative US hospital discharges among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older from January 1, 2013, to November 30, 2014. The prevalence and ranking of FRIs compared with other diagnostic factors for 30-day unplanned hospital-wide readmissions were determined, overall and for 2 acute geriatric cohorts, classified by fall injury or cognitive impairment diagnoses observed at the index admission. Analyses were also stratified by patient discharge disposition (home, home health care, skilled nursing facility). Analyses were conducted from February 1, 2018, to February 26, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: Unplanned hospital-wide readmission within 30 days of discharge. Results: From the database, 8 382 074 eligible index admissions were identified, including 746 397 (8.9%) in the FRI cohort and 1 367 759 (16.3%) in the cognitive impairment cohort. Among the entire 8 382 074-discharge cohort, mean (SD) age was 77.7 (7.8) years and 4 736 281 (56.5%) were female. Overall, 1 205 962 (14.4%) of index admissions resulted in readmission, with readmission rates of 12.9% for those with a previous fall and 16.0% for patients with cognitive impairment. Overall, FRIs ranked as the third-leading readmission diagnosis, accounting for 60 954 (5.1%) of all readmission diagnoses. Within the novel acute geriatric cohorts, FRIs were the second-leading diagnosis for readmission both for patients with an FRI at index admission (10.3% of all readmission diagnoses) and those with cognitive impairment (7.0% of all readmission diagnoses). For those with an FRI at index admission and discharged home or to home health care, FRIs were the leading readmission diagnosis. Conclusions and Relevance: This study found that posthospital FRIs were a leading readmission diagnosis, particularly for patients originally admitted with a FRI or cognitive impairment. Targeting at-risk hospitalized older adults, particularly those discharged to home or home health care, is an underexplored, cost-effective mechanism with potential to reduce readmissions and improve patient care.

Underreporting of Fall Injuries of Older Adults: Implications for Wellness Visit Fall Risk Screening.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the accuracy of and factors affecting the accuracy of self-reported fall-related injuries (SFRIs) with those of administratively obtained FRIs (AFRIs). DESIGN: Retrospective observational study SETTING: United States PARTICIPANTS: Fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older (N=47,215). MEASUREMENTS: We used 24-month self-report recall data from 2000-2012 Health and Retirement Study data to identify SFRIs and linked inpatient, outpatient, and ambulatory Medicare data to identify AFRIs. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed, with AFRIs defined using the University of California at Los Angeles/RAND algorithm as the criterion standard. Logistic regression models were used to identify sociodemographic and health predictors of sensitivity. RESULTS: Overall sensitivity and specificity were 28% and 92%. Sensitivity was greater for the oldest adults (38%), women (34%), those with more functional limitations (47%), and those with a prior fall (38%). In adjusted results, several participant factors (being female, being white, poor functional status, depression, prior falls) were modestly associated with better sensitivity and specificity. Injury severity (requiring hospital care) most substantively improved SFRI sensitivity (73%). CONCLUSION: An overwhelming 72% of individuals who received Medicare-reimbursed health care for FRIs failed to report a fall injury when asked. Future efforts to address underreporting in primary care of nonwhite and healthier older adults are critical to improve preventive efforts. Redesigned questions-for example, that address stigma of attributing injury to falling-may improve sensitivity.

Higher vulnerable elders survey scores predict death and functional decline in vulnerable older people.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) score predicts risk of death and functional decline in vulnerable older adults. DESIGN: Longitudinal evaluation with mean follow-up of 11 months (range 8-14 months). SETTING: Two managed care organizations in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred twenty community-dwelling older people identified as having moderate to high risk of death and functional decline based on a VES-13 score of 3 or higher. These older people were enrolled in the Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders observational study. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline: VES-13 score, sex, income, cognitive score, and number of medical diagnoses. OUTCOME MEASURES: functional decline and death. RESULTS: VES-13 scores strongly predicted death and functional decline (P<.001, area under the receiver operating curve=0.66). The estimated combined risk of death and decline rose with VES-13 score, increasing from 23% for older people with a VES-13 score of 3 to 60% for those with a score of 10. Other measures (sex, comorbidity) were not significant predictors of death or decline over this period after controlling for VES-13 score. CONCLUSION: The VES-13 score is useful as a screening tool to detect risk of health deterioration in already vulnerable older populations, and higher scores reflect greater risk over a short follow-up period.

Predictors of overall quality of care provided to vulnerable older people.

OBJECTIVES: Prior research shows that the quality of care provided to vulnerable older persons is suboptimal, but little is known about the factors associated with care quality for this group. In this study, the influences of clinical conditions, types of care processes, and sociodemographic characteristics on the quality of care received by vulnerable older people were evaluated. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Two senior managed care plans. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred sixty-two community-dwelling patients aged 65 and older identified as vulnerable by the Vulnerable Elder Survey (VES-13). OUTCOME VARIABLE: patients' observed-minus-expected overall quality score. PREDICTOR VARIABLES: types of care processes, types and number of clinical conditions, sex, age, VES-13 score (composite score of function and self-rated health), income, education, mental health status, and number of quality indicators triggered. RESULTS: Patients whose conditions required more history-taking, counseling, and medication-prescribing care processes and patients with diabetes mellitus received lower-than-expected quality of care. A greater number of comorbid conditions was associated with higher-than-expected quality of care. Age, sex, VES-13 score, and other sociodemographic variables were not associated with quality of care. CONCLUSION: Complexity, vulnerability, and age do not predispose older persons to receive poorer-quality care. In contrast, older patients whose care requires time-consuming processes such as history taking and counseling are at risk for worse quality of care and should be a target for intervention to improve care.

Older Adults Reporting More Diabetes Mellitus Care Have Greater 9-Year Survival.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether receiving more recommended diabetes mellitus (DM) care processes (tests and screenings) would translate into better 9-year survival for middle-aged and older adults. DESIGN: Longitudinal mortality analysis using the Health and Retirement Study Diabetes Mailout Survey. SETTING: Health and Retirement Study (HRS). PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 51 and older (n = 1,879; mean age 68.8 ± 8.7, 26.5% aged ≥75) with self-reported DM who completed the Diabetes Mailout Survey and the core 2002 HRS survey. MEASUREMENTS: A composite measure of five self-reported diabetes mellitus care process measures were dichotomized as greater (3-5 processes) versus fewer (0-2 processes) care processes provided. Cox proportional hazards models were used to test relationships between reported measures and mortality, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, function, comorbidities, geriatric conditions, and insulin use. RESULTS: Prevalence of self-reported care processes was 80.1% for glycosylated hemoglobin test, 75.9% for urine test, 67.5% for eye examination, 67.7% for aspirin counseling, and 48.2% for diabetes education. In 9 years, 32.1% respondents died. Greater care correlated with 24% lower risk of dying (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.76, 95% confidence interval = 0.64-0.91) at 9-year follow up. When respondents were age-stratified (≥75 vs <75) longer survival was statistically significant only in the older age group. CONCLUSION: Although it is not possible to account for differences in adherence to care that may also affect survival, this study demonstrates that monitoring of and counseling about types of DM care processes are associated with long-term survival benefit even in individuals aged 75 and older with DM.

Rates of Deintensification of Blood Pressure and Glycemic Medication Treatment Based on Levels of Control and Life Expectancy in Older Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

IMPORTANCE: Older patients with diabetes mellitus receiving medical treatment whose blood pressure (BP) or blood glucose level are potentially dangerously low are rarely deintensified. Given the established risks of low blood pressure and blood glucose, this is a major opportunity to decrease medication harm. OBJECTIVE: To examine the rate of BP- and blood glucose-lowering medicine deintensification among older patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus who potentially receive overtreatment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective cohort study conducted using data from the US Veterans Health Administration. Participants included 211 667 patients older than 70 years with diabetes mellitus who were receiving active treatment (defined as BP-lowering medications other than angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, or glucose-lowering medications other than metformin hydrochloride) from January 1 to December 31, 2012. Data analysis was performed December 10, 2013, to July 20, 2015. EXPOSURES: Participants were eligible for deintensification of treatment if they had low BP or a low hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level in their last measurement in 2012. We defined very low BP as less than 120/65 mm Hg, moderately low as systolic BP of 120 to 129 mm Hg or diastolic BP (DBP) less than 65 mm Hg, very low HbA1c as less than 6.0%, and moderately low HbA1c as 6.0% to 6.4%. All other values were not considered low. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Medication deintensification, defined as discontinuation or dosage decrease within 6 months after the index measurement. RESULTS: The actively treated BP cohort included 211,667 participants, more than half of whom had moderately or very low BP levels. Of 104,486 patients with BP levels that were not low, treatment in 15.1% was deintensified. Of 25,955 patients with moderately low BP levels, treatment in 16.0% was deintensified. Among 81,226 patients with very low BP levels, 18.8% underwent BP medication deintensification. Of patients with very low BP levels whose treatment was not deintensified, only 0.2% had a follow-up BP measurement that was elevated (BP ≥140/90 mm Hg). The actively treated HbA1c cohort included 179,991 participants. Of 143,305 patients with HbA1c levels that were not low, treatment in 17.5% was deintensified. Of 23,769 patients with moderately low HbA1c levels, treatment in 20.9% was deintensified. Among 12,917 patients with very low HbA1c levels, 27.0% underwent medication deintensification. Of patients with very low HbA1c levels whose treatment was not deintensified, fewer than 0.8% had a follow-up HbA1c measurement that was elevated (≥7.5%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among older patients whose treatment resulted in very low levels of HbA1c or BP, 27% or fewer underwent deintensification, representing a lost opportunity to reduce overtreatment. Low HbA1c or BP values or low life expectancy had little association with deintensification events. Practice guidelines and performance measures should place more focus on reducing overtreatment through deintensification.

A targeted infection prevention intervention in nursing home residents with indwelling devices: a randomized clinical trial.

IMPORTANCE: Indwelling devices (eg, urinary catheters and feeding tubes) are often used in nursing homes (NHs). Inadequate care of residents with these devices contributes to high rates of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and device-related infections in NHs. OBJECTIVE: To test whether a multimodal targeted infection program (TIP) reduces the prevalence of MDROs and incident device-related infections. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Randomized clinical trial at 12 community-based NHs from May 2010 to April 2013. Participants were high-risk NH residents with urinary catheters, feeding tubes, or both. INTERVENTIONS: Multimodal, including preemptive barrier precautions, active surveillance for MDROs and infections, and NH staff education. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the prevalence density rate of MDROs, defined as the total number of MDROs isolated per visit averaged over the duration of a resident's participation. Secondary outcomes included new MDRO acquisitions and new clinically defined device-associated infections. Data were analyzed using a mixed-effects multilevel Poisson regression model (primary outcome) and a Cox proportional hazards model (secondary outcome), adjusting for facility-level clustering and resident-level variables. RESULTS: In total, 418 NH residents with indwelling devices were enrolled, with 34,174 device-days and 6557 anatomic sites sampled. Intervention NHs had a decrease in the overall MDRO prevalence density (rate ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62-0.94). The rate of new methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus acquisitions was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (rate ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.96). Hazard ratios for the first and all (including recurrent) clinically defined catheter-associated urinary tract infections were 0.54 (95% CI, 0.30-0.97) and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.49-0.99), respectively, in the intervention group and the control group. There were no reductions in new vancomycin-resistant enterococci or resistant gram-negative bacilli acquisitions or in new feeding tube-associated pneumonias or skin and soft-tissue infections. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our multimodal TIP intervention reduced the overall MDRO prevalence density, new methicillin-resistant S aureus acquisitions, and clinically defined catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates in high-risk NH residents with indwelling devices. Further studies are needed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this approach as well as its effects on the reduction of MDRO transmission to other residents, on the environment, and on referring hospitals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01062841.

Rationalizing prescribing for older patients with multimorbidity: considering time to benefit.

Given the growing number of older adults with multimorbidity who are prescribed multiple medications, clinicians need to prioritize which medications are most likely to benefit and least likely to harm an individual patient. The concept of time to benefit (TTB) is increasingly discussed in addition to other measures of drug effectiveness in order to understand and contextualize the benefits and harms of a therapy to an individual patient. However, how to glean this information from available evidence is not well established. The lack of such information for clinicians highlights a critical need in the design and reporting of clinical trials to provide information most relevant to decision making for older adults with multimorbidity. We define TTB as the time until a statistically significant benefit is observed in trials of people taking a therapy compared to a control group not taking the therapy. Similarly, time to harm (TTH) is the time until a statistically significant adverse effect is seen in a trial for the treatment group compared to the control group. To determine both TTB and TTH, it is critical that we also clearly define the benefit or harm under consideration. Well-defined benefits or harms are clinically meaningful, measurable outcomes that are desired (or shunned) by patients. In this conceptual review, we illustrate concepts of TTB in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Using published results, we estimate probable TTB for statins with the future goal of using such information to improve prescribing decisions for individual patients. Knowing the relative TTBs and TTHs associated with a patient's medications could be immensely useful to a clinician in decision making for their older patients with multimorbidity. We describe the challenges in defining and determining TTB and TTH, and discuss possible ways of analyzing and reporting trial results that would add more information about this aspect of drug effectiveness to the clinician's evidence base.