Reposted by Rosie Baruah
Rosie Baruah
@rosieicm.bsky.social
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🏴 Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine | Qualitative Researcher | Neuro ICU l PoCUS | ICM lead Autistic Drs International | Assoc EditorJournal of the Intensive Care Society | Hon. Librarian @rcpedin.bsky.social
![Screenshot of page 1 of cited paper:
'Do ward changes affect outcomes differently in people living with dementia?
E Elliott et al.
Abstract
Background: Ward changes during hospital admissions are associated with poorer outcomes, but their impact on people living with dementia is unknown.
Objective: To examine whether individuals with dementia are more adversely affected by ward changes.
Setting: Four hospitals within a UK NHS Trust. Subjects: Individuals aged ≥65 years.
Methods: This service evaluation included data from 01/2023–02/2024. Generalised estimating equations were used to fit linear and logistic regression models. Associations between ward changes, dementia status and their interaction on three outcomes—length of stay (LOS), inpatient mortality and discharged to a care home—were examined. Fully adjusted models
accounted for demographic, socioeconomic factors and hospital site.
Results: 27,140 admissions, 19,392 unique individuals (2760 with dementia) were included. Mean age at first admission 79.0 (SD 8.1). In the fully adjusted LOS model, both ward changes (β = 5.2, P < .001) and the interaction with dementia (β = 1.7, P < .001) were associated with longer LOS.
[truncated because of word count limit]
Conclusions: Our results suggest that ward changes disproportionately affect LOS, but not mortality or discharge destination, in people living with dementia. Minimising ward transfers may improve outcomes for all older adults but is particularly important in dementia care to reduce the risk of extended LOS and potential associated inpatient harm.
Key Points
• In hospitalized older adults, each ward change increased length of stay by 5 days and a further 1.7 days for those with dementia.
• There was no interaction between ward changes and dementia on mortality and new care home admission.
• Minimising ward changes should be prioritised in older adults and particularly in people living with dementia](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:q24olizdo2jyy2adtk3kkjg5/bafkreibphunhbjez3ja7tfcpyrsb7uobzmxkt2c3fqyolmgxy22b6rgwgu)