Abstract
Objectives: This study examined the frequency and predictors of hospitalization and emergency room (ER) use among residents with Alzheimer's disease at admission and after 1 year in a long-term care facility. Method: This secondary analysis used data collected with the Chinese version of the Residential Assessment Instrument Minimum Data Set 2.0 during the Hong Kong Longitudinal Study on Long-Term Care Facility Residents. Results: A sample of 169 residents with Alzheimer's disease who were newly admitted between 2005 and 2010 was included in the analysis. Mixed-effects modeling was adopted to assess the associations between risk factors and the frequency of hospitalization and ER use. At admission, 27 (15.98%) respondents had been hospitalized and 19 (11.24%) required ER services during the previous 90 days. At admission, polypharmacy (β = .081, p < .01) and use of psychotropic drugs (β = .506, p < .05) were significantly associated with frequency of hospitalization. At 1-year follow-up, cognitive impairment (β = .088, p < .05) and polypharmacy (β = .058, p < .001) had significant positive associations with frequency of hospitalization, as well as use of ER services (β = .084, p < .01; β = .077, p < .001, respectively). Use of psychotropic drugs had a negative association with frequency of ER use at both time points. Conclusion: Practitioners should periodically observe cognitive ability, polypharmacy, and use of psychotropic drugs among long-term care residents with Alzheimer's disease.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 959-965 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Aging and Mental Health |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- Emergency room
- Hong Kong
- Hospitalization
- Long-term care facilities
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Phychiatric Mental Health
- Gerontology
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Psychiatry and Mental health