[Factors predicting return home of hospitalized aged patients].
BACKGROUND
The identification of predictors of return home and nursing home placement in elderly patients, at the moment of admission to a Geriatric Convalescence Unit, may allow to make a discharge planning for these patients, and also may improve efficiency in the unit.


METHODS
A number of 445 patients over 65 years were consecutively admitted to the unit. Analyzed variables at admission were; age, sex, diagnostic, comorbidity, functional status prior to admission, degree of independence in activities of daily living (Barthel index), cognitive function (Folstein Mini-Mental) and social support (modified version of social-familiar evaluation scale of Gijón). All these variables were used in two models of logistic regression analysis: 1 [symbol: see text] (dependent variable: return home after discharge versus other destinations), and 2 [symbol: see text] (dependent variable: nursing home placement on discharge versus other destinations).


RESULTS
The variables significatively associated with greater probability of at home discharge were: moderate dependency for activities of daily living (Barthel index = 31-59), odds ratio (OR) = 2.46 (95% confidence interval: 1.43-4.22); mild dependency (Barthel index > or = 60), OR = 3.67 (1.96-6.87); normal cognitive function (Mini-Mental > or = 21), OR = 3.14 (1.76-5.60), and a favourable social support (social-familiar scale < 12), OR = 7.33 (3.18-16.91). The only variable significatively associated with the probability of nursing home placement after discharge was an impaired social function (social-familiar scale > or = 12), OR = 4.53 (2.25-9.12).


CONCLUSIONS
Probability of return home after discharge is associated with functional status, cognitive function and social support. Definitively nursing home placement was only related with de degree of familiar support.
Sabartés
O
O
Servicio de Geriatría, Centro Geriátrico Municipal, IMAS, Barcelona.
Miralles
R
R
Ferrer
M
M
Esperanza
A
A
García-Palleiro
P
P
Llorach
I
I
Guillem
J
J
Lamarca
R
R
Cervera
A M
AM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012944:Social Support