Application of Survival Analysis to Data from Discharge Abstract of Medical Record Department: Focused on Readniission / 대한의료정보학회지

Abundant data on patients have been accumulated in hospital since the introduction of the computerized system. Now data mining is required for the survival and growth of hospital. Cases of 19,558 patients were analyzed to investigate factors influencing readmission and repeated admissions, and to estimate probability of readmission with considering covariate effects. Techniques of Kaplan-Meier method, Cox proportional hazards model, and WLW method were applied to the analysis. The conclusions are as follows. The severity of disease, congenital defect and chronicity of disease are influencing readmission or repeated admissions of a patient. Patient s characteristics, such as gender, distance from residence and type of discharge are also related to them. The probability of readmission can be estimated for a patient with variety of conditions for certain period of time. It is suggestive that survival analysis is a good methodology for data mining works on computerized data in hospital. If death certificate data are connected with patients' data, we will be able to get a good data source to medical studies.

Factors Associated with Physical Functioning among Community-Dwelling Older Adults / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to identify major factors associated with physical functioning among the Korean elderly. METHODS: Data come from a survey of a nationally representative sample of 2,058 older people aged 60 years or older living in the community. A hierarchical functioning scale was constructed, using upper and lower body mobility, IADLs, and ADLs. Socioeconomic characteristics, chronic conditions, measures of health status, health service use, and social support were analyzed to explore their influence on functioning. Polytomous logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify major contributing factors to different levels of functioning. RESULTS: Persons of older age, female, with chronic diseases (heart disease, stroke, fracture/dislocation) were consistently more likely to show a higher degree of functional limitation. There were variations, however, among other factors; e.g., those with arthritis were more likely to be only mildly impaired, but not moderately or severely impaired. CONCLUSIONS: Older Korean adults living in the community with impaired functioning constitute persons with diverse characteristics. Policy and program activities need to address specific needs of older people in different functioning states.