Search

Objective To investigate the impact of dementia on aged care service use at end-of-life. Methods Our retrospective data linkage study in New South Wales, Australia, used survey data from participants in the 45 and Up Study who died between July 2011–June 2014 linked to routinely collected administrative data for 2006–2014. We investigated movement between aged care "states" (No Services, Home Care including Home Support and Low-and High-Level Home Care and Residential Care) in the last five years of life. The dementia cohort comprised decedents with a dementia diagnosis recorded in hospital records, death certificates or who had claims for dementia-specific medicines prior to death (n  = 2,230). The comparison cohort were decedents with no dementia diagnosis, matched 1:1 on age-at-death, sex, income and location. Results Compared to those without dementia, people with dementia were more likely to: use home care (67 versus 60%, P  < 0.001), enter residential care (72 versus 30%, P  < 0.001) and stay longer in residential care (median 17.9 versus 12.7 months, P  < 0.001). Five years before death, more people with dementia were within residential care (6 versus 4%; RR = 1.61, 95%CI = 1.23–2.10) and these rates diverged at the end-of-life (69 versus 28%, RR = 2.48, 95%CI = 2.30–2.66). Use of home-based care was higher among people with dementia five years from death (20 versus 17%; RR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.02–1.30) but lower at end-of-life (13 versus 24%, RR = 0.55, 95%CI = 0.49–0.63). Conclusion Dementia-specific aged care trajectories were dominated by residential care. Home care use declined towards end-of-life for people with dementia and may not be meeting their needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: General practitioner (GP) follow-up after a hospital admission is an important indicator of integrated care. We examined the characteristics of patients who saw a GP within 2 weeks of hospital discharge in the Central and Eastern Sydney (CES) region, Australia, and the relationship between GP follow-up and subsequent hospitalisation. Methods: This data linkage study used a cohort of 10 240 people from the 45 and Up Study who resided in CES and experienced an overnight hospitalisation in the 5 years following recruitment (2007–14). Characteristics of participants who saw a GP within 2 weeks of discharge were compared with those who did not using generalised linear models. Time to subsequent hospitalisation was compared for the two groups using Cox proportional hazards regression models stratified by prior frequency of GP use. Results: Within 2 weeks of discharge, 64.3% participants saw a GP. Seeing a GP within 2 weeks of discharge was associated with lower rates of rehospitalisation for infrequent GP users (i.e. <8 visits in year before the index hospitalisation; hazard ratio (HR) 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70–0.97) but not frequent GP users (i.e. ≥8 plus visits; HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.90–1.17). Conclusion: The effect of seeing a GP on subsequent hospitalisation was protective but differed depending on patient care needs. What is known about the topic?: There is general consensus among healthcare providers that primary care is a significant source of ongoing health care provision. What does this paper add?: This study explored the relationship between GP follow-up after an uncomplicated hospitalisation and its effect on rehospitalisation. What are the implications for practitioners?: Discharge planning and the transfer of care from hospital to GP through discharge arrangements have substantial benefits for both patients and the health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Technology and web‐based approaches potentially provide scalable population‐based interventions to reduce modifiable risk factors for dementia such as physical inactivity, suboptimal nutrition and low cognitive activity. Our aim was to reduce cognitive decline with ageing using an online package of interventions delivered intensively for 12 months followed by monthly boosters for 24 months. The trial was completed in November 2021. Method: Invitations were sent to people aged 55‐77 years from the 45 and Up study, a population‐based cohort study of one in ten people aged 45 years and older in New South Wales, Australia (n = 267,000). Participants were required to be eligible for at least two of four modules. The modules addressed physical inactivity and health risks associated with inactivity (Physical Activity), adherence to a Mediterranean‐type diet and health risks associated with poor nutrition (Nutrition), cognitive activity (Brain Training) and mental well‐being (Peace of Mind). All participants received modules based on their risks, with randomized allocation to active personalised coaching modules (intervention) or static information‐based modules (control). The primary outcome was change in an online combined multi‐domain cognitive score measured using COGSTATE and Cambridge Brain Sciences tests. Secondary outcomes included ANU‐ADRI risk score, specific cognitive domain scores and diagnoses of dementia. Result: From 96,418 invitations, 14,064 (14%) consented; 12,281 (13%) were eligible. Of these, 6,236 (6%) completed all 10 baseline assessments and were enrolled in the trial. Nearly 70% or 4,365 participants provided follow‐up data. At final 36‐months' follow‐up, 3,482 (55.8%) completed the primary outcome and 2594 (41.6%) had returned informant‐rated Amsterdam‐Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale questionnaires. Conclusion: Online strategies to prevent cognitive decline in 55‐77 year olds are feasible and appear acceptable for more than half of participants. Analysis of group*time effects will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]