TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2020//
TI  - Traumatic brain injury in the elderly: can we reduce readmissions? A community hospital experience
JO  - American surgeon
A1  - Wasfie, Tarik
A1  - Maxwell, Jordan
A1  - Parsons, Andrea
A1  - Hille, Jennifer
A1  - Yapchai, Raquel
A1  - Hella, Jennifer
A1  - Cwalina, N.
A1  - Barber, Kimberly R.
A1  - Shapiro, Brian
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and long-term morbidity in trauma patients, with a growing incidence among the elderly. Injury-related disability has many costs, and rehospitalization is a significant part of that. The current study was carried out in an elderly population with TBI to identify risk factors and measures associated with rehospitalization.     METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 299 patients with a primary diagnosis of TBI admitted between 2016 and 2018. Variables selected for analysis encompassed the following: patient age, sex, comorbidities, diagnosis, length of stay, use of anticoagulants, 6-month readmission rate, and diagnosis for readmission. Chi-square analysis was used to identify potential risk factors, and multiple regression analysis was conducted to model the relationship.     RESULTS: 209 patients met inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 69 years (SD ± 18.6 years), with (51.5%) males and (48.5%) females. 188 (62.9%) patients were on anticoagulant therapy. 120 patients were discharged to home (40.1%). 79 patients (26.4%) were readmitted within 6 months of discharge, the majority of whom (48 patients, 60.8%) presented with a subdural hematoma (SDH). 38 readmitted patients (49%) came from home, and 57 patients (80%) were on anticoagulant therapy.     CONCLUSION: In elderly patients with TBI, discharge to a home setting correlates with a higher risk of readmission within 6 months, a majority with a diagnosis of recurrent SDH. Anticoagulant therapy and frequent past readmissions also correlated with a higher risk of subsequent readmission.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0003-1348
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0003134820933560
ID  - ref1
ER  -