Studying outcomes and hospital utilization in the elderly. The advantages of a merged data base for Medicare and Veterans Affairs hospitals.

That veterans aged 65 years and older are eligible to receive care either in the Veteran Affairs (VA) health care system or in the private sector under Medicare confounds the analysis of veterans' health services utilization and outcomes in two ways. First, changes in eligibility or financial barriers to access with regard to either system influence veterans' decisions about where to seek needed care. Second, analyses of VA care for elderly veterans that rely solely on VA data sources underestimate both overall utilization and treatment complications. Similarly, failure to consider the contribution of health care delivery in the VA system may confound analyses of health care utilization by the Medicare-eligible population. To study the magnitude of such confounding influences, we linked the Medicare and VA health care administrative databases for residents of New England and New York. Results indicated that, for ten surgical procedures commonly performed in the elderly, as well as for hospitalizations resulting from acute myocardial infarction and hip fracture, VA patients receive from 17.6% to 37.4% of hospital care outside the VA system. Private hospitalizations account for 5.5% to 19.5% of the care received by veterans within 6 months after an initial episode of care in a VA hospital. It was also found that initial hospitalizations for study conditions in the VA accounted for 3.6% of all such hospitalizations among elderly Medicare-eligible men. Although overall hospital utilization appears to be underestimated in VA data sources, it was found that ascertaining mortality from sources available within the VA produced excellent results when compared with deaths recorded in the Medicare enrollment files. A national, merged VA-Medicare data base is feasible and would enhance the validity of analyses of health care delivery both for elderly veterans and for the Medicare population.     

Outcomes and secondary prevention strategies for male hip fractures

OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical outcomes and determine whether osteoporosis assessment and secondary prevention strategies were performed for male veterans hospitalized for hip fractures. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review for male veterans hospitalized for hip fracture from January 1993 through July 1999. SETTING: The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Madison, WI. RESULTS: Medical charts were available for 46 of 53 male patients admitted for hip fracture during the study period. Three subjects were excluded because hip fracture was associated with high-impact trauma. Mean age of the 43 study patients was 72 years (range 43-91 y), and mean length of hospitalization was 16 days (median 11 d, range 3-108 d). Thirty-two (82%) of 39 veterans whose disposition was documented were discharged to a nursing home. Eleven (26%) of 43 men died within 12 months after fracture. Twelve (28%) had fractured previously. Four (10%) subsequently had another fracture. Three of 9 patients with documented ambulation status were ambulatory at 1 year. Three patients received a bone mass measurement within a prespecified time interval of 6 months subsequent to fracture. No patient's records included a diagnosis of osteoporosis either before or within 6 months after fracture. One-third of the patients had documentation of calcium or multivitamin supplementation at discharge. One patient was receiving calcitonin at the time of fracture and continued to receive it afterward. No other patient was prescribed antiresorptive therapy by the time of hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Male veterans with hip fractures received inadequate evaluation and treatment for osteoporosis, although a substantial portion had documentation of recurrent fractures. Education of clinicians and creation of algorithms for management of established osteoporosis may improve outcomes for these individuals.     

A randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of a discharge planning intervention in hospitalized elders with hip fracture due to falling

Aim. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a discharge plan in hospitalized elderly patients with hip fracture due to falling. Background. Hip fractures are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among older people. Hip fracture patients require ongoing medical and long‐term care services. Discharge plan services can play a very important role for these patients, since the services improved their outcome conditions. Methods. Hip fracture patients aged 65 years and older (n = 126), hospitalized due to falling and discharged from a medical centre in northern Taiwan, were randomly assigned to either a comparison group (the routine care) or experimental group (the discharge planning intervention). The outcomes used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention were: length of hospitalized stay, rate of readmission, repeat falls and survival, and activities of daily living. Results. The discharge planning intervention decreased length of stay, rate of readmission and rate of survival and improved activities of daily living for intervention group compared with those of control group. Mean total SF‐36 scores of patients in the experimental group were higher than for the control group and both groups had improved quality of life. Conclusion. The discharge planning benefited older people with hip fractures. Relevance to clinical practice. A discharge planning intervention by a nurse can improve physical outcomes and quality of life in hip fracture patients.     

Gender disparities in Veterans Health Administration care: importance of accounting for veteran status

BACKGROUND: In an effort to assess and reduce gender-related quality gaps, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has promoted gender-based research. Historically, such appraisals have often relied on secondary databases, with little attention to methodological implications of the fact that VHA provides care to some nonveteran patients. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether conclusions about gender differences in utilization and cost of VHA care change after accounting for veteran status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SUBJECTS: All users of VHA in 2002 (N = 4,429,414). MEASURES: Veteran status, outpatient/inpatient utilization and cost, from centralized 2002 administrative files. RESULTS: Nonveterans accounted for 50.7% of women (the majority employees) but only 3.0% of men. Among all users, outpatient and inpatient utilization and cost were far lower in women than in men, but in the veteran subgroup these differences decreased substantially or, in the case of use and cost of outpatient care, reversed. Utilization and cost were very low among women employees; women spouses of fully disabled veterans had utilization and costs similar to those of women veterans. CONCLUSIONS: By gender, nonveterans represent a higher proportion of women than of men in VHA, and some large nonveteran groups have low utilization and costs; therefore, conclusions about gender disparities change substantially when veteran status is taken into account. Researchers seeking to characterize gender disparities in VHA care should address this methodological issue, to minimize risk of underestimating health care needs of women veterans and other women eligible for primary care services.     

Evaluation and treatment of osetoporotic distal radius fracture in the elderly patient

Distal radius fractures are an increasingly prevalent upper extremity injury, especially among elderly patients. While treatment guidelines for the acute bony injury have been well documented, treatment of the underlying metabolic bone disease has been less commonly discussed in the orthopedic literature. Distal radius fractures in the elderly patient should be considered a sentinel event for injuries associated with greater morbidity and mortality, such as hip fracture. Management of fracture-related factors, such as osteoporosis and increased fall risk following a distal radius fracture, may prevent the mortality and morbidity of future injuries. This review highlights both the fracture-specific and medical goals of treatment in the elderly patient with a distal radius fracture.     

Clinical pathway after hip fracture

Purpose: Hip fracture occurs frequently, resulting in considerable morbidity, mortality and utilization of healthcare resources. Technical advances in fracture fixation and surgical treatment have improved outcomes following hip fracture in the elderly. However, further improvement in outcomes of hip fracture patients may be possible with utilization of a clinical pathway designed to enhance outcomes in a standardized, cost-effective manner. This paper presents a clinical pathway for the treatment of hip fractures in the elderly with the above aims.

Method: The clinical pathway presented is based on personal experience and literature pertaining to the treatment of the elderly hip fracture patient. It outlines a suggested algorithmic approach to the patient that begins with the initial evaluation, progresses on through pre-operative and operative management, and ends with post-operative rehabilitation and treatment.

Results: The clinical pathway for the hip fracture patient in this paper is a working treatment algorithm that has been successful in personal experience.

Conclusion: This treatment algorithm has been utilized successfully in personal experience. Further input from healthcare professionals may prove to enhance outcomes in a cost-effective, standardized manner.     

老年髋部骨折后对侧髋部的再骨折

背景:老年髋部骨折后发生对侧髋部再骨折数目在逐年增加。目的:阐述老年髋部骨折后对侧髋部再骨折的临床特征,提高对再次对侧髋部骨折的认识。方法:于2001-01/2011-07对老年单侧髋部骨折患者567例和老年再发对侧髋部骨折患者30例,分析再发对侧骨折病例的发生率、骨折类型、年龄、性别、骨密度、骨质疏松、再骨折时间间隔和合并症。结果与结论:单侧髋部骨折与再发对侧髋部骨折患者年龄、性别比例和骨密度值接近。老年髋部骨折患者中,对侧髋部再骨折发生率为5.0%。转子间骨折再发对侧髋部骨折率高于股骨颈骨折再发对侧髋部骨折率(P=0.018)。再发对侧骨折组骨质疏松发生率高于单侧骨折组(P=0.032)。初次骨折后发生对侧骨折的间隔时间平均2.4年,其中1年发生的最多,占40.1%。提示老年髋部骨折患者对侧髋部再骨折发生率较高,对于伴有骨质疏松和合并症的转子间骨折患者在术后1年内应加强预防,防止对侧髋部骨折的再次发生。     

老年髋部骨折后对侧髋部的再骨折

背景：老年髋部骨折后发生对侧髋部再骨折数目在逐年增加。目的：阐述老年髋部骨折后对侧髋部再骨折的临床特征,提高对再次对侧髋部骨折的认识。方法：于2001-01/2011-07对老年单侧髋部骨折患者567例和老年再发对侧髋部骨折患者30例,分析再发对侧骨折病例的发生率、骨折类型、年龄、性别、骨密度、骨质疏松、再骨折时间间隔和合并症。结果与结论：单侧髋部骨折与再发对侧髋部骨折患者年龄、性别比例和骨密度值接近。老年髋部骨折患者中,对侧髋部再骨折发生率为5.0%。转子间骨折再发对侧髋部骨折率高于股骨颈骨折再发对侧髋部骨折率（P=0.018）。再发对侧骨折组骨质疏松发生率高于单侧骨折组（P=0.032）。初次骨折后发生对侧骨折的间隔时间平均2.4年,其中1年发生的最多,占40.1%。提示老年髋部骨折患者对侧髋部再骨折发生率较高,对于伴有骨质疏松和合并症的转子间骨折患者在术后1年内应加强预防,防止对侧髋部骨折的再次发生。     

Clinical pathway after hip fracture

Purpose: Hip fracture occurs frequently, resulting in considerable morbidity, mortality and utilization of healthcare resources. Technical advances in fracture fixation and surgical treatment have improved outcomes following hip fracture in the elderly. However, further improvement in outcomes of hip fracture patients may be possible with utilization of a clinical pathway designed to enhance outcomes in a standardized, cost-effective manner. This paper presents a clinical pathway for the treatment of hip fractures in the elderly with the above aims.

Method: The clinical pathway presented is based on personal experience and literature pertaining to the treatment of the elderly hip fracture patient. It outlines a suggested algorithmic approach to the patient that begins with the initial evaluation, progresses on through pre-operative and operative management, and ends with post-operative rehabilitation and treatment.

Results: The clinical pathway for the hip fracture patient in this paper is a working treatment algorithm that has been successful in personal experience.

Conclusion: This treatment algorithm has been utilized successfully in personal experience. Further input from healthcare professionals may prove to enhance outcomes in a cost-effective, standardized manner.     

Disability and treatment patterns of multiple sclerosis patients in United States: a comparison of veterans and nonveterans

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated healthcare system in the world and provides care to approximately 20,000 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Here, we report that these MS patients are disproportionately more likely to be older, male, unemployed, and disabled with lower levels of education and financial resources when compared to veterans not receiving care within the VHA or to nonveteran MS patients. When comparing the VHA MS patients to a cohort of nonveteran MS patients matched for age, sex, and disability, we found that veterans receiving care within the VHA were equally likely to have received care from a neurologist and more likely to have received care from rehabilitation specialists and primary care physicians than nonveterans. Similarly, veterans in the VHA were more likely to receive therapy with certain symptomatic medications but were less likely to be treated with disease-modifying agents for MS (DMAMS) than nonveterans. When treated with DMAMS, they are more likely to be treated with Avonex and significantly less likely to receive treatment with Copaxone or Novantrone.     

Osteoporosis in men: prevalence and investigation

In the past, osteoporosis was thought to affect only women; however, in the last decade it has become apparent that osteoporosis is common in men, particularly elderly men. Osteoporosis affects as many as 2 million men in the United States. Osteoporosis most commonly affects the hip and the lumbar vertebrae, but other bones, such as the radius, tibia, and ribs, may also fracture. The main feature of the etiology of the disease is that low bone mineral density results in increased susceptibility to bone fracture. The World Health Organization has defined osteoporosis as a bone mineral density T-score value >2.5 SDs below the mean observed in young adult women. Although the validity of this score for evaluating men has been questioned and it is not clear whether a male or female reference database should be used, it is nonetheless often used in this way. The disease affects men differently than women in a number of respects. It manifests itself later in life in men than in women, probably because men initially have greater bone mass. Mortality and morbidity associated with hip fractures are high in all elderly individuals, but they are substantially higher in men than in women. Unlike in women, there is an underlying cause for the osteoporosis in almost half of affected men. Thus, for elderly men, a complete history and physical examination may reveal some remediable conditions; treating these may stop further progression of the disease and prevent further morbidity or mortality. Corticosteroid therapy for arthritis or asthma is a common cause of osteoporosis in elderly men. Hypogonadism is a recognized cause of osteoporosis in men treated for carcinoma of the prostate with androgen withdrawal therapy; treatments to modify the effects of these agents on bone are available. Consumption of large amounts of alcohol will eventually result in osteoporosis in some elderly men. Moreover, alcohol can predispose confused elderly patients to falls and to fracture bones that are already osteoporotic. Hyperthyroidism is associated with a reduction in bone mineral density and an increased likelihood of bony fracture. A careful search for undiagnosed hyperthyroidism in elderly osteoporotic men may prove worthwhile. Vitamin D deficiency is common among older men and could contribute to an increase in fractures. Routine analyses of blood and biochemistry should be carried out in any older male patient with newly diagnosed osteoporosis. Dual x-ray energy absorptiometry should be performed on every new patient with newly diagnosed osteoporosis.     

Preventing osteoporotic fractures in older people

While fractures at the spine, wrist and hip are regarded as classical osteoporotic fractures, all fragility fractures in the elderly should be considered as osteoporotic once pathological fracture (e.g. metastatic disease) has been excluded. The assessment of fracture risk should take account of specific risk factors in addition to bone mineral density (BMD). The WHO has produced FRAX, a well validated tool that estimates the probability of a major osteoporotic fracture in the next 10 years. The algorithm is specifically designed for primary care. After age and prior fragility fracture, BMD is the next major determinant of fracture risk. Rather than scanning all individuals with a risk factor, measurements should be targeted to those whose probability of fracture lies close to the intervention threshold where knowledge of BMD will influence management. Individuals with a low trauma vertebral fracture or low BMD for age should be investigated for underlying causes of osteoporosis. Secondary causes account for up to 40% of cases of osteoporosis in women and 60% in men. The goal of osteoporosis management is to reduce the future risk of fracture. Lifestyle modification includes measures to reduce falls risk and bone loss such as exercise, adequate dietary calcium and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. All patients with an osteoporotic fracture and those at high risk should be assessed for falls risk. Combined therapy, with calcium and vitamin D, has been shown to reduce hip fracture risk in the frail elderly and should be considered in all older patients who are housebound or in residential care. Alendronate and risedronate are available as once-weekly preparations with evidence for significant reductions in vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. Denosumab is approved for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at increased risk of fractures. Strontium ranelate has been shown to reduce fracture risk significantly in postmenopausal women.     

The prognostic value of quality of life parameters in patients recovering from osteoporotic fractures of the proximal femur

Background. Improving the quality of life is the aim of treatment in elderly patients with hip fracture. Different outcomes are often achieved using similar therapy methods. On the basis of own observations we tested the hypothesis that different parameters of quality of life (QOL) before hip fracture can be important prognostic factors. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between selected QOL parameters and mortality after osteoporotic hip fracture at 2- and 12-month follow-up. Material and methods. We examined 55 patients ranging in age from 48 to 92 years (mean age 77 years) with hip fracture resulting from falls, who were treated in our surgery department. All patients answered a questionnaire constructed especially for this research. The patients were examined three times: first during hospitalization after surgery, the second time within 8 weeks, and the last time at follow-up one year after surgery. Results. 63% of those patients who died within 2 months lived alone, in comparison to 37% of patients living together with their families. 63% of the patients who needed continuous care died within the 8-week observation period. During this same time no patients who had been independent before hip fracture died. The one-year mortality rate among patients who did not leave their home before and after the fracture was 100%. A lack of social activity was associated with 82% mortality within 12 months. Conclusions. Quality of life parameters are important predictive factors for mortality in patients after hip fracture. High subjective quality of life assessment predicts better chances of recovery.     

Morbidity and mortality among patients with hip fractures surgically repaired within and after 48 hours

OBJECTIVE: The objectives were (1) to compare the morbidity and mortality of patients with hip fractures surgically repaired within and after 48 hours of the occurrence of fracture and (2) to establish whether timing of repair alone had a major role in determining how the patients fared after the surgical repair or whether comorbidities also affected outcomes. SAMPLE: The study involved the medical records of 49 patients (aged 51 to 99 years) admitted to Coney Island Hospital between January 2003 and January 2004 with a primary diagnosis of hip fracture who underwent surgical repair. DESIGN: Analysis of data was done by retrospective chart review of patients admitted with the diagnosis of hip fracture to an acute care hospital setting. Follow-up continued until the patients were transferred to a rehabilitation facility for physical or occupational therapy after surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES: The preoperative health status of each patient was assessed by cardiopulmonary risk index score, based on comorbid conditions, and postoperative outcome was determined by complications (such as bed sores, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism) or death. RESULTS: Patients who underwent early surgical repair (within 48 hours) had fewer postoperative complications (14.7%, as compared with 33.3% in the group undergoing surgery >48 hours after fracture). CPRI scores in the early and delayed surgery groups were also compared with regard to postoperative mortality and morbidity. It appeared that there was a higher statistical correlation between CPRI scores and complications among patients in the early surgery group (P=0.39) and an insignificant correlation among patients in the delayed surgery group (P=0.07). CONCLUSION: Surgical repair of hip fractures within the first 48 hours was associated with better health outcomes in a nationally representative sample, as observed in an acute care facility, irrespective of comorbid conditions.     

全髋关节置换治疗高龄不稳定性股骨转子间骨折:同一机构53例随访

背景:股骨转子间骨折高龄患者选用内固定治疗成功率不高。目的:观察全髋关节置换治疗高龄不稳定性股骨转子间骨折的效果。方法:纳入69例年龄大于70岁的不稳定性股骨转子间骨折患者,选用全髋关节置换作为主要治疗手段。记录置换后并发症、死亡周期、髋关节功能Harris评分及恢复正常功能的时间周期。结果与结论:16例患者失访,剩余53例。7例以上患者死于置换后1年内。置换后第1个月的Harris评分为66±7,第3个月为72±6,第1年为74±5,第3年为76±6,其中27例5年后的Harris评分为76±8。患者恢复下地行走能力的平均时间为28d。所有患者未出现假体松动和植入感染现象。提示全髋关节置换可作为治疗高龄不稳定性股骨转子间骨折患者的一种有效选择,患者在极低的器械故障风险下能更快地恢复,避免了内固定治疗失败的风险问题,使患者能够在治疗后保持良好的运动功能。     

A comparison of survival rates for hip fracture patients with or without subsequent osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Little is known about the effect of a subsequent osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture on the survival rate of patients with a previous hip fracture. In this study, we aimed to compare the survival rates of hip fracture patients with and without subsequent osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and determine the risk factors associated with subsequent fracture. During 2000-2008, 933 initial hip fracture patients were reviewed and divided into two groups: subsequent fracture group (160 patients) and single hip fracture group (i.e., no subsequent fracture; 773 patients). All information pertaining to their most recent fracture event(s), including mortality causes/rates, were recorded. Differences in mortality rates and hazard ratios (HRs) between the two groups were also analyzed. The 1-year and 1-to-5-year mortality rates were 1.3% and 1.9%, respectively, in the subsequent fracture group, and 4.7% and 1.4%, respectively, in the single hip fracture group, with no significant differences observed. Interestingly, the HR for mortality was significantly higher in the single hip fracture group than in the subsequent fracture group (p < 0.05). The significant risk factors for subsequent fractures were identified as knee osteoarthritis, neurological disease, and an initial hip fracture with intertrochanteric involvement. Our findings indicate that the occurrence of a vertebral compression fracture after an initial hip fracture does not greatly impact patient survival. Conversely, patients presenting with a single hip fracture have a significantly higher mortality-HR, indicating that single hip fracture patients without subsequent fracture should be provided with the same standard of care as patients with subsequent fractures.     

Health care coverage and access to care: the status of Minnesota's veterans

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to examine veterans' reliance on health care services provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) within Minnesota and estimate the potential effect on uninsurance rates if all eligible veterans relied on VHA coverage. Secondary objectives were to compare veterans and nonveterans' by geographic location, demographic characteristics, health status, and health insurance coverage and to compare insured and uninsured veterans especially with regard to access to care. RESEARCH DESIGN: Data are from the 2001 Minnesota Health Access Survey of a stratified random sample of more than 27,000 respondents, of whom 3,500 were self-identified veterans. Although all veterans were eligible to obtain health care services from the VHA in 2001, veterans not reporting VHA coverage and having no other source of insurance coverage were considered uninsured. Differences in weighted population characteristics are reported. Logistic regression analysis is used to identify factors associated with veterans' reliance on VHA coverage. RESULTS: Veterans represented 13.4% of the state's adult population and 9.3% of the state's uninsured nonelderly adult population in 2001. Uninsured veterans were more likely to be single, unemployed, living in rural areas, and reporting constrained access to services than insured veterans. Veterans with a non-VHA source of insurance were less reliant on VHA services. CONCLUSIONS: The state's uninsurance rate would significantly decrease if VHA capacity constraints were alleviated and veterans relied on the VHA safety net. If veterans' insurance status matters in states with low uninsurance rates, VHA coverage has broader implications for states with higher veteran concentrations and higher uninsurance rates.     

大于等于80岁的老年髋部骨折患者术后1年内死亡的独立危险因素

目的探讨高龄（≥80岁）老年髋部骨折患者术后1年内死亡的危险因素。方法以2016~2019年204例经手术治疗的高龄髋部骨折患者作为研究对象,记录年龄、性别、术前合并疾病、骨折类型、麻醉方式、美国麻醉医师协会（ASA）评分、术前血红蛋白水平、术前白蛋白水平、术前血钙水平、住院时间等临床资料,以术后1年内死亡为观察结局。采用多因素logistic回归模型分析高龄老年髋部骨折患者术后1年内死亡的独立危险因素。结果术后1年内,共有82例患者术后死亡,死亡率为40.2%。性别、BMI、骨折类型、麻醉方式、术前血红蛋白水平、术前血钙水平及住院时间不影响80岁患者髋关节术后死亡率,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;年龄、术前合并疾病数量、ASA评分以及术前白蛋白水平是高龄老年髋部骨折患者术后1年内死亡的独立危险因素（P < 0.05）。结论年龄、术前合并疾病数量、ASA评分、术前白蛋白水平是高龄老年髋部骨折患者术后1年内死亡的独立危险因素。      

Factors influencing missed nursing care for older people following fragility hip fracture

BackgroundOlder people suffering fragility hip fractures are among the most fragile and vulnerable hospital patients. They often have complex care needs due to pre-existing and chronic conditions which may exacerbate as a consequence of surgery and hospitalisation. When deviations from best practice occur, care can be missed.AimTo identify factors that influence missed care for the older person with a hip fracture; inform recommendations for change and highlight the need for further research to achieve best practice nursing care for older people following a fragility hip fracture.MethodsA scoping review was conducted using databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline and Scopus, using a combination of keywords.FindingsTwenty-two relevant papers published between 2010-2018 were identified illustrating areas where nursing care was missed for either patients with hip fractures, older patients or both.DiscussionThis paper has reviewed literature related to nursing care for older people following a hip fracture to determine what nursing care may be missed; why it is missed and to identify strategies to improve outcomes through reducing the impact of missed nursing care for this population. Existing missed care literature usually focusses upon structural and organisational issues to the detriment of other factors.ConclusionMissed nursing care for the hospitalised older person with a hip fracture can be organised under three broad themes: organisational factors, nurse and patient characteristics.