title: [Description of the clinical complexity of patients admitted to long term care hospitals in Catalonia during 2003-2009].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This work describes the clinical complexity of patients admitted to long term care hospitals between 2003 and 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of Minimum Basic Dataset for Social and Healthcare Units information system data for 47,855 admissions. Outcomes assessed were functional and cognitive status, Resource Utilization Groups III (RUG-III), resource use categories, coverage and intensity of therapies, diagnosis, comorbidities, and medical procedures. Descriptive analyses were performed by year of admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dementia and acute cerebrovascular disease were the most frequent primary diagnoses, and showed a steady decline over time (8.8% and 2.3% decline), while family respite admissions and fractures increased (7.7% and 1.9%, respectively). The average functional and cognitive status of the treated population was similar across all years, although individuals with dependence in each Activity of Daily Living increased. The most frequent resource use categories were rehabilitation, reduced physical function, clinically complex care, and special care. A sharp increase in rehabilitation was observed during the study period (20.3%), while the other categories decreased. Increasingly more patients received rehabilitation therapy during their hospital stay (20.8%). Coverage increased particularly for physiotherapy (25.4%) and occupational therapy (17.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical complexity faced by long term care hospitals increased during 2003- 2009. The use of resources and provision of therapies show an increasing rehabilitation effort, possibly as a response to changes in the clinical complexity of the treated population, the standards of care, or the established information reporting practices.
authors.affiliation: Institut de l'Envelliment, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, España. Electronic address: antoni.salva@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvà
authors.affiliation: Institut de l'Envelliment, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roqué
authors.affiliation: Unitat del Conjunt Mínim Bàsic de Dades, Servei Català de la Salut, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vallès
authors.affiliation: Unitat del Conjunt Mínim Bàsic de Dades, Servei Català de la Salut, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bustins
authors.affiliation: Plà Director Sociosanitaria, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodó
authors.affiliation: Plà Director Sociosanitaria, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Pau
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Actividades de la vida diaria; Activities of daily living; Complejidad del paciente; Hospitales de enfermedades crónicas; Long term hospitals; Management information systems; Patient acuity; Rehabilitación; Rehabilitation; Sistemas de información administrativa