Clinical Question: What is the incidence of loss of independence (LOI) for older adults after surgery, and is there an association between LOI and readmission or death?
Background: LOI is being increasingly recognized as an important measure of patient-centered care and a potential opportunity for intervention to prevent disablement. This study is the first to examine links between LOI and rates of readmission or death following surgery.
Study Design: Retrospective cohort.
Setting: 26 U.S. hospitals participating in a national quality improvement project.
Synopsis: The authors examined data from 5,077 patients age 65 or older undergoing an inpatient surgical procedure. They examined ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), mobility, and living situation before and after surgery, and they defined LOI as a change in one or more of these factors at the time of discharge.
They found that LOI increased with age, with 49.9% of patients ages 65–74, 67.3% of patients ages 75–84, and 83.9% of patients age 85 or older experiencing LOI. The study also showed an association between LOI and negative outcomes, including readmission (odds ratio, 1.7) and death after discharge (odds ratio, 6.7).
Although this study was retrospective, the findings indicate that LOI is strongly correlated with negative short-term outcomes, especially in older populations. LOI related to surgery is a measure that deserves closer attention and greater future study as a potential target for clinical initiatives and intervention.
Bottom Line: LOI (functional ability, mobility, and living situation) after surgery increases with age and is associated with negative short-term outcomes including readmission and death.
Citation: Berian JR, Mohanty S, Ko CY, Rosenthal RA, Robinson TN. Association of loss of independence with readmission and death after discharge in older patients after surgical procedures. JAMA Surg. 2016;151(9):e161689.
Short Take
Transition to New Electronic Health Records Systems Does Not Increase Adverse Outcomes
An observational study comparing 17 hospitals implementing new electronic health records systems with 399 control hospitals showed no difference in the rate of adverse safety events or readmissions following implementation.
Citation: Barnett ML, Mehrotra A, Jena AB. Adverse inpatient outcomes during the transition to a new electronic health record system: observational study. BMJ. 2016;354:i3835.
