The influence of the combination of visiting frequency of family caregivers and pre-admission frailty status on dependency after discharge among hospitalized older patients: a clinically-based prospective study

• Published in: European geriatric medicine 2020-06, Vol.11 (3), p.483-490
• Main Authors: Koyama, Shingo, Komatsu, Takuma, Ishiyama, Daisuke, Fujimoto, Junko, Suzuki, Mizue, Kimura, Yosuke, Otobe, Yuhei, Yamada, Minoru, Yamatoku, Masato
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Geriatrics/Gerontology; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Research Paper
• ISSN: 1878-7649; 1878-7657; 1878-7657
• DOI: 10.1007/s41999-020-00322-1

Key summary points Aim This study aims to determine whether the combination of visiting frequency of the family caregiver and frailty status has an additive effect on the incidence of dependency among hospitalized older patients. Findings The results of this study show that low visiting frequency and frailty affected the dependency after discharge among hospitalized older patients. Moreover, the coexistence of the low visiting frequency and frailty increased the incidence of dependency. Message These findings may be useful to determine the need for discharge support. Purpose This study aims to determine whether the combination of visiting frequency of the family caregiver and frailty status has an additive effect on the incidence of dependency among hospitalized older patients. Methods We analyzed the prospective cohort data of hospitalized older patients (65 years and older) with internal medical problems. The main outcome showed patients’ dependency from admission to a month after discharge. We investigated the visiting frequency of family caregivers and the frailty status and categorized respondents into 4 groups: group 1, visiting frequency 3–7 times a week and non-frailty; group 2, visiting frequency 0–2 times a week and non-frailty; group 3, visiting frequency 3–7 times a week and frailty; or group 4, visiting frequency 0–2 times a week and frailty. We used the Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and confidence intervals (95% CI) of relationships between the combination of visiting frequency and frailty status, and dependency. Results A total of 182 participants who completed the follow-up were analyzed. During the follow-up period, 45 participants (24.7%) showed some dependency. The hazards regression showed that the low visiting frequency group with presence of frailty had the most increased dependency, compared to other groups (adjusted HR 8.61 [95% CI 3.38–21.98]). Conclusions The coexistence of low visiting frequency and the presence of frailty influenced dependency more strongly than each factor alone. These findings suggest that the combination of visiting frequency and frailty status is a useful predictor for future dependency.