Higher levels of supportive care needs are linked to higher health service use and cost, poor quality of life, and high distress in patients with cirrhosis in Queensland, Australia

Background:. Australians with cirrhosis have significant practical and psychosocial needs. This longitudinal study examined the association between supportive care needs and health service use and costs, and patient outcomes from June 2017 to December 2018. Methods:. The Supportive Needs Assessment...

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Main Authors: Patricia C. Valery, Katherine A. Stuart, Christina M. Bernardes, Gunter Hartel, Cathy Martin, Louisa Gordon, Elizabeth E. Powell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Health/LWW 2023-03-01
Series:Hepatology Communications
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/HC9.0000000000000066
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author Patricia C. Valery
Katherine A. Stuart
Christina M. Bernardes
Gunter Hartel
Cathy Martin
Louisa Gordon
Elizabeth E. Powell
author_facet Patricia C. Valery
Katherine A. Stuart
Christina M. Bernardes
Gunter Hartel
Cathy Martin
Louisa Gordon
Elizabeth E. Powell
author_sort Patricia C. Valery
collection DOAJ
description Background:. Australians with cirrhosis have significant practical and psychosocial needs. This longitudinal study examined the association between supportive care needs and health service use and costs, and patient outcomes from June 2017 to December 2018. Methods:. The Supportive Needs Assessment tool for Cirrhosis (SNAC), quality of life (Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire and Short Form 36), and distress (distress thermometer) were self-reported through an interview at recruitment (n=433). Clinical data were obtained from medical records and through linkage, and health service use and costs through linkage. Patients were grouped as by needs status. Rates of hospital admissions (per person days at risk) and costs were assessed by needs status [incidence rate ratios (IRR), Poisson regression]. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the differences in SNAC scores by quality of life and distress. Multivariable models included Child-Pugh class, age, sex, recruitment hospital, living arrangements, place of residence, comorbidity burden, and primary liver disease etiology. Results:. In adjusted analyses, compared with patients with low/no needs, patients with unmet needs had more cirrhosis-related admissions (adjusted IRR=2.11, 95% CI=1.48–3.13; p<0.001), admissions through the emergency department (IRR=2.99, 95% CI=1.80–4.97, p<0.001), and emergency presentations (IRR=3.57, 95% CI=1.41–9.02; p<0.001). Total hospitalization costs for cirrhosis admissions were higher for those with unmet needs ($431,242 per person days at risk) compared with those with met needs ($87,363 per person days at risk, adjusted cost ratio=3.52, 95%CI=3.49–3.54; p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, increasing overall mean SNAC scores (higher needs) were correlated with poorer quality of life and higher level of distress (p<0.001 for all comparisons). Conclusions:. Patients with cirrhosis and high unmet psychosocial needs and practical and physical needs have poor quality of life, high distress, and very high service use and costs, highlighting the importance of urgently addressing unmet needs.
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spelling doaj.art-64ba5f6e362b43c7809331ddc80de2ac2023-03-02T06:30:58ZengWolters Kluwer Health/LWWHepatology Communications2471-254X2023-03-0173e0066e006610.1097/HC9.0000000000000066HC90000000000000066Higher levels of supportive care needs are linked to higher health service use and cost, poor quality of life, and high distress in patients with cirrhosis in Queensland, AustraliaPatricia C. Valery0Katherine A. Stuart1Christina M. Bernardes2Gunter Hartel3Cathy Martin4Louisa Gordon5Elizabeth E. Powell6 1 Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia 2 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 1 Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia 1 Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia 3 Social Work Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 1 Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia 2 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaBackground:. Australians with cirrhosis have significant practical and psychosocial needs. This longitudinal study examined the association between supportive care needs and health service use and costs, and patient outcomes from June 2017 to December 2018. Methods:. The Supportive Needs Assessment tool for Cirrhosis (SNAC), quality of life (Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire and Short Form 36), and distress (distress thermometer) were self-reported through an interview at recruitment (n=433). Clinical data were obtained from medical records and through linkage, and health service use and costs through linkage. Patients were grouped as by needs status. Rates of hospital admissions (per person days at risk) and costs were assessed by needs status [incidence rate ratios (IRR), Poisson regression]. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the differences in SNAC scores by quality of life and distress. Multivariable models included Child-Pugh class, age, sex, recruitment hospital, living arrangements, place of residence, comorbidity burden, and primary liver disease etiology. Results:. In adjusted analyses, compared with patients with low/no needs, patients with unmet needs had more cirrhosis-related admissions (adjusted IRR=2.11, 95% CI=1.48–3.13; p<0.001), admissions through the emergency department (IRR=2.99, 95% CI=1.80–4.97, p<0.001), and emergency presentations (IRR=3.57, 95% CI=1.41–9.02; p<0.001). Total hospitalization costs for cirrhosis admissions were higher for those with unmet needs ($431,242 per person days at risk) compared with those with met needs ($87,363 per person days at risk, adjusted cost ratio=3.52, 95%CI=3.49–3.54; p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, increasing overall mean SNAC scores (higher needs) were correlated with poorer quality of life and higher level of distress (p<0.001 for all comparisons). Conclusions:. Patients with cirrhosis and high unmet psychosocial needs and practical and physical needs have poor quality of life, high distress, and very high service use and costs, highlighting the importance of urgently addressing unmet needs.http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/HC9.0000000000000066
spellingShingle Patricia C. Valery
Katherine A. Stuart
Christina M. Bernardes
Gunter Hartel
Cathy Martin
Louisa Gordon
Elizabeth E. Powell
Higher levels of supportive care needs are linked to higher health service use and cost, poor quality of life, and high distress in patients with cirrhosis in Queensland, Australia
Hepatology Communications
title Higher levels of supportive care needs are linked to higher health service use and cost, poor quality of life, and high distress in patients with cirrhosis in Queensland, Australia
title_full Higher levels of supportive care needs are linked to higher health service use and cost, poor quality of life, and high distress in patients with cirrhosis in Queensland, Australia
title_fullStr Higher levels of supportive care needs are linked to higher health service use and cost, poor quality of life, and high distress in patients with cirrhosis in Queensland, Australia
title_full_unstemmed Higher levels of supportive care needs are linked to higher health service use and cost, poor quality of life, and high distress in patients with cirrhosis in Queensland, Australia
title_short Higher levels of supportive care needs are linked to higher health service use and cost, poor quality of life, and high distress in patients with cirrhosis in Queensland, Australia
title_sort higher levels of supportive care needs are linked to higher health service use and cost poor quality of life and high distress in patients with cirrhosis in queensland australia
url http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/HC9.0000000000000066
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