Death in Long-term Care: A Brief Report Examining Factors Associated with Death within 31 Days of Assessment

Introduction The ability to estimate prognosis using administrative data has already been established. Research indicates that residents newly admitted to long-term care are at a higher risk of mortality. Studies have also examined mortality within 90 days or a year. Focusing on 31 days from assessm...

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Main Authors: Peter Brink, Mary Lou Kelley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2015-01-01
Series:Palliative Care
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4137/PCRT.S20347
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author Peter Brink
Mary Lou Kelley
author_facet Peter Brink
Mary Lou Kelley
author_sort Peter Brink
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The ability to estimate prognosis using administrative data has already been established. Research indicates that residents newly admitted to long-term care are at a higher risk of mortality. Studies have also examined mortality within 90 days or a year. Focusing on 31 days from assessment was important because it appears to be clinically useful for care planning in end-of-life; whereby, greater utility may come from identifying residents who are at risk of death within a shorter time frame so that advance care planning can occur. Purpose To examine risk of mortality within 31 days of assessment among long-term care residents using administrative health data. Methods Administrative data were used to examine risk of mortality with in 31 days of assessment among all long-term care residents in Ontario over a 12-month period. Data were provided by the Canadian Institute for Health Information using the Continuing Care Reporting System (CCRS), Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), and the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS). Results A number of diagnoses and health conditions predict death within 31 days. Diagnoses that hold an increased risk of mortality include pulmonary disease, diagnosis of cancer, and heart disease. Health conditions that lead to an increased likelihood of death include weight loss, dehydration, and shortness of breath. The presence of a fall within the last 30 days was also related to a higher risk of mortality. Discussion Long-term care residents who lose weight, have persistent problems with hydration, and suffer from shortness of breath are at particular risk of death. The presence of advanced directives also predicts death within 31 days of assessment.
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spelling doaj.art-495eb5a9eee844f2b4e4a863d872e6de2022-12-21T23:58:33ZengSAGE PublishingPalliative Care1178-22422015-01-01910.4137/PCRT.S20347Death in Long-term Care: A Brief Report Examining Factors Associated with Death within 31 Days of AssessmentPeter Brink0Mary Lou Kelley1Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.Department of Social Work, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.Introduction The ability to estimate prognosis using administrative data has already been established. Research indicates that residents newly admitted to long-term care are at a higher risk of mortality. Studies have also examined mortality within 90 days or a year. Focusing on 31 days from assessment was important because it appears to be clinically useful for care planning in end-of-life; whereby, greater utility may come from identifying residents who are at risk of death within a shorter time frame so that advance care planning can occur. Purpose To examine risk of mortality within 31 days of assessment among long-term care residents using administrative health data. Methods Administrative data were used to examine risk of mortality with in 31 days of assessment among all long-term care residents in Ontario over a 12-month period. Data were provided by the Canadian Institute for Health Information using the Continuing Care Reporting System (CCRS), Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), and the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS). Results A number of diagnoses and health conditions predict death within 31 days. Diagnoses that hold an increased risk of mortality include pulmonary disease, diagnosis of cancer, and heart disease. Health conditions that lead to an increased likelihood of death include weight loss, dehydration, and shortness of breath. The presence of a fall within the last 30 days was also related to a higher risk of mortality. Discussion Long-term care residents who lose weight, have persistent problems with hydration, and suffer from shortness of breath are at particular risk of death. The presence of advanced directives also predicts death within 31 days of assessment.https://doi.org/10.4137/PCRT.S20347
spellingShingle Peter Brink
Mary Lou Kelley
Death in Long-term Care: A Brief Report Examining Factors Associated with Death within 31 Days of Assessment
Palliative Care
title Death in Long-term Care: A Brief Report Examining Factors Associated with Death within 31 Days of Assessment
title_full Death in Long-term Care: A Brief Report Examining Factors Associated with Death within 31 Days of Assessment
title_fullStr Death in Long-term Care: A Brief Report Examining Factors Associated with Death within 31 Days of Assessment
title_full_unstemmed Death in Long-term Care: A Brief Report Examining Factors Associated with Death within 31 Days of Assessment
title_short Death in Long-term Care: A Brief Report Examining Factors Associated with Death within 31 Days of Assessment
title_sort death in long term care a brief report examining factors associated with death within 31 days of assessment
url https://doi.org/10.4137/PCRT.S20347
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