The treatment of nursing home‐acquired pneumonia using a medically intensive Hospital in the Home service. Issue 11 (14th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Montalto, Michael; Chu, Man Yee; Ratnam, Irani; Spelman, Tim; Thursky, Karin
• Is Part Of: Medical journal of Australia. Volume 203:Issue 11(2015)
• Page Start: 441
• Page End: 442
• Publication Date: 2015-12-14
• Subjects: General medicine -- Gerontology -- Infectious diseases; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Médecine -- Périodiques; Medicine; Periodical; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610
• DOI: 10.5694/mja15.00672
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-729X

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To compare the outcomes for patients with nursing home‐acquired pneumonia (NHAP) treated completely in a Hospital in the Home (HITH) setting with those of patients treated in a traditional hospital ward. Design: Case–control study. Setting and participants: All patients admitted by the Royal Melbourne Hospital for treatment of NHAP from 1 July 2013 to 31 January 2014. Intervention: Admission to the Royal Melbourne Hospital HITH Unit within 48 hours of presentation. Main outcome measures: Length of stay, in‐hospital and 30‐day mortality, hospital readmissions (30‐day), complications and unplanned returns to hospital. Results: Sixty HITH patients and 54 hospital (control) patients were identified. Thirty‐two patients (53%) were admitted directly to HITH without any hospital or emergency stay, 25 (42%) were referred directly from the emergency department. HITH patients were more likely to be male, older and dehydrated, and less likely to have an advanced care directive or to have had non‐invasive ventilation. There were no significant differences in CURB‐65 or CORB scores between the two patient groups; similar proportions were given intravenous fluids or supplemental oxygen. There were no adjusted differences in median length of stay between HITH and control patients (−1.00 days; 95% CI, −2.72 to 0.72; P = 0.252) or in overall mortality at 30 days (HITH v control patients: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.97; 95% CI, 0.67–5.73). Inpatient mortality was lower for HITH patients (aOR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.05–0.75) but unadjusted postdischarge 30‐day mortality was higher (OR, 13.25; 95% CI 1.67–105.75). There were no differences between the two groups with regard to complications (falls and pressure wounds) and 30‐day readmission rates (aOR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.30–8.53). Conclusions: This study suggests that HITH may be an effective and safe alternative to hospital treatment for residents of aged care facilities presenting with NHAP.