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Risk of Hospitalization for Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
Author(s) -
Jones Katherine R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
image: the journal of nursing scholarship
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1547-5069
pISSN - 0743-5150
DOI - 10.1111/j.1547-5069.1992.tb00230.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hemodialysis , logistic regression , incidence (geometry) , quality of life (healthcare) , disease , emergency medicine , intensive care medicine , physics , nursing , optics
This study used primary data to analyze the incidence, causes and total days of hospitalization over a six‐month period for a sample of chronic hemodialysis patients in one geographic area of the country. Patients were hospitalized most frequently for access‐related and cardiovascular problems. Logistic regression analysis indicated that patients were more likely to be hospitalized if they had lower Karnofsky functional status scores, lower serum phosphate and protein levels, repeat access procedures, a negative hepatitis antigen, arthritis, psychiatric disorders, ischemic peripheral vascular disease or other cardiovascular conditions or were from larger households. Risk of hospitalization was not influenced by hemodialysis treatment characteristics. Recommendations for improved management of these high‐cost patients were made, which could enhance quality of life and lower hospital‐related costs.