Utilidad y seguridad de los ingresos directos a una unidad hospitalaria de agudos de un servicio de geriatría valorados por atención geriátrica en residencias / Utility and safety of direct admission to acute geriatric unit after Nursing Home Geriatric Team assessment

Introducción y objetivo Más de la mitad de los ancianos institucionalizados necesita de una derivación anual a urgencias generando, por su complejidad, un alto uso de recursos y mayor riesgo de eventos adversos. El objetivo del estudio es valorar si la hospitalización directa en una unidad de geriatría de agudos, tras evaluación conjunta del equipo médico de residencia y del geriatra consultor, puede ser una alternativa segura y de utilidad en comparación con la atención en urgencias. Métodos Estudio observacional retrospectivo de los pacientes ingresados en la unidad de geriatría de agudos procedentes de las residencias atendidas por nuestro equipo de atención geriátrica a residencia entre el 01/01/2021 y el 31/12/2021. Se excluyeron los pacientes ingresados de forma programada o con diagnóstico de infección por SARS-CoV-2. Se recogieron variables de la historia clínica (sociodemográficas, clínicas, funcionales, cognitivas). Como variables resultado se registraron mortalidad durante el ingreso, estancia hospitalaria y en urgencias, traslado a urgencias y delirium en las primeras 48h del ingreso, ubicación al alta. Resultados 206 pacientes no COVID ingresaron directamente desde la residencia, 101 derivados desde urgencias (N: 307). Al ingreso el 62,5% presentaba Índice Barthel<40 y el 65% Cruz Roja Mental≥2, con Índice de Charlson ≥3 en el 56,4% de los casos. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria entre los ingresos directos fue del 14,6%, en el grupo derivado de urgencias del 20,8%, p=0,14. La estancia hospitalaria total de los pacientes valorados por atención geriátrica a residencia fue 9,61±6,01 días, mientras en los derivados a urgencias 11,22±5,36 días, p=0,02. Presentaron delirium en las primeras 48h del ingreso, 27,7% de los ingresos directos y 36,6% desde urgencias (p=0,11) (AU)

Background and objective More than half of institutionalized older people need a emergency department visit annually, with high resources consumption and higher risk of adverse events, due to high complexity. Direct admission to Acute Geriatric Unit (AGU), after geriatric consultant and nursing home medical team assessment, could be a safety and effective alternative to emergency department (ED) admission. Methods Retrospective observational study of AGU patients admitted by Nursing Home Geriatric Team between January, 1st and December, 31st, 2021. Planned admissions and SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were excluded. Medical (sociodemographic, clinical, functional and cognitive) records and outcomes data (inpatient mortality, hospital and ED lenght of stay, transfer to ED and delirium within 48h after admission, hospital discharge location) were collected. Results Two hundred and six patients directly admitted, 101 through ED (N 307). 62.5% with Barthel index <40, 65% with dementia, 56.4% with Charlson index ≥3. Inpatient mortality was 14.6% in direct admission, 20.8% in ED referral group, p=0.14. Hospital lenght of stay was 9.61±6.01 days in direct admission, 11.22±5.36 days in ED group, p=0.02. 27.7% of patients with delirium in direct admission and 36.6% in ED group; only one patient was transferred to ED, within 48h after admission. Conclusions Direct admission is a safety and effective alternative to ED referral in institutionalized older people after geriatric assessment, due to no increased mortality, shorter length of stay and hospital cost reduction (AU)

[Utility and safety of direct admission to acute geriatric unit after Nursing Home Geriatric Team assessment]. / Utilidad y seguridad de los ingresos directos a una unidad hospitalaria de agudos de un servicio de geriatría valorados por atención geriátrica en residencias.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: More than half of institutionalized older people need a emergency department visit annually, with high resources consumption and higher risk of adverse events, due to high complexity. Direct admission to Acute Geriatric Unit (AGU), after geriatric consultant and nursing home medical team assessment, could be a safety and effective alternative to emergency department (ED) admission. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of AGU patients admitted by Nursing Home Geriatric Team between January, 1st and December, 31st, 2021. Planned admissions and SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were excluded. Medical (sociodemographic, clinical, functional and cognitive) records and outcomes data (inpatient mortality, hospital and ED lenght of stay, transfer to ED and delirium within 48h after admission, hospital discharge location) were collected. RESULTS: Two hundred and six patients directly admitted, 101 through ED (N 307). 62.5% with Barthel index <40, 65% with dementia, 56.4% with Charlson index ≥3. Inpatient mortality was 14.6% in direct admission, 20.8% in ED referral group, p=0.14. Hospital lenght of stay was 9.61±6.01 days in direct admission, 11.22±5.36 days in ED group, p=0.02. 27.7% of patients with delirium in direct admission and 36.6% in ED group; only one patient was transferred to ED, within 48h after admission. CONCLUSIONS: Direct admission is a safety and effective alternative to ED referral in institutionalized older people after geriatric assessment, due to no increased mortality, shorter length of stay and hospital cost reduction.