Ethnic differences in discharge destination among older patients with traumatic brain injury.
Ethnic differences in discharge destination among older patients with traumatic brain injury.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the association between ethnicity and discharge destination in older patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
A retrospective analysis.


METHODS
Nationally representative sample of older patients from the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation in 2002 and 2003.


METHODS
Patients (N=9240) aged 65 years or older who received inpatient rehabilitation services for TBI.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Discharge destination (home, assisted living facility, institution) and ethnicity (white, black, Hispanic).


RESULTS
Multinomial logit models showed that older Hispanics (odds ratio [OR]=2.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66-3.02) and older blacks (OR=2; 95% CI, 1.55-2.59) with TBI were significantly more likely to be discharged home than older whites with TBI, after adjusting for relevant risk factors. Older blacks were also 78% less likely (OR=.22; 95% CI, .08-.60) to be discharged to an assisted living facility than whites after adjusting for relevant risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that older minority patients with TBI were significantly more likely to be discharged home than white patients with TBI. Studies are needed to investigate underlying factors associated with this ethnic difference.
Chang
Pei-Fen J
PF
Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1137, TX, USA. pjchang@utmb.edu
Ostir
Glenn V
GV
Kuo
Yong-Fang
YF
Granger
Carl V
CV
Ottenbacher
Kenneth J
KJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000208:ethnology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data