Gaceta Sanitaria (Apr 2012)
Derivación de pacientes geriátricos subagudos a un hospital de atención intermedia como alternativa a la permanencia en un hospital general Intermediate hospital care for subacute elderly patients as an alternative to prolonged acute hospitalization
Abstract
Objetivos: Evaluar la derivación rápida de pacientes ancianos con enfermedades crónicas reagudizadas desde un hospital general a un hospital de atención intermedia. Métodos: Estudio de cohortes. Se valora el cumplimiento de estándares de calidad premarcados y la adecuación de la selección. Resultados: Se derivaron 68 pacientes (edad media 82,6 años, 48,5% hombres) desde urgencias (69,1%) o desde servicios médicos (estancia media [desviación estándar, DE] global en agudos = 2,6 [2,9] días, en urgencias = 1,5 [1,6] días). La estancia media postaguda fue de 11,4 (4,2) días. Al alta, 56 pacientes (82,4%) regresaron al domicilio habitual (domicilio o residencia geriátrica), siete fueron derivados a larga estancia, dos a urgencias y tres murieron. Los estándares de calidad se cumplieron. En un análisis multivariado, ser hombre y el riesgo de desnutrición se asociaban a un riesgo incrementado de no regresar al domicilio habitual (p Objectives: We evaluated the rapid discharge of older patients with reactivated chronic diseases from an acute general hospital to an intermediate care hospital. Methods: A cohort study was carried out. Compliance with predefined quality standards and patient selection were evaluated. Results: Sixty-eight patients (mean age 82.6 years, 48.5% men) were discharged from the emergency department (69.1%) or medical wards (mean [SD] global length of stay 2.6 [2.9] days in acute wards and 1.5 [1.6] days in the emergency department). Mean post-acute length of stay (SD) was 11.4 (4.2) days. Fifty-six patients (82.4%) were discharged to their previous living situation (home or nursing home), two back to the emergency department, seven to long-term care, and three died. All quality standards were met. In a multivariate analysis, male gender and a higher risk of malnutrition were associated with an increased risk of not returning to the previous living situation (p <0.05). Conclusions: Intermediate care for selected patients with reactivated chronic diseases might represent an alternative to prolonged acute hospitalization.
