Premium
Depressive Symptoms and Hospital Readmission in Older Adults
Author(s) -
Albrecht Jennifer S.,
GruberBaldini Ann L.,
Hirshon Jon M.,
Brown Clayton H.,
Goldberg Richard,
Rosenberg Joseph H.,
Comer Angela C.,
Furuno Jon P.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.12686
Subject(s) - medicine , depression (economics) , comorbidity , emergency medicine , emergency department , confidence interval , incidence (geometry) , geriatric depression scale , prospective cohort study , center for epidemiologic studies depression scale , depressive symptoms , hospital readmission , cohort , cohort study , geriatrics , psychiatry , anxiety , physics , optics , economics , macroeconomics
Objectives To quantify the risk of 30‐day unplanned hospital readmission in adults aged 65 and older with depressive symptoms. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting University of Maryland Medical Center. Participants Individuals aged 65 and older admitted between July 1, 2011, and August 9, 2012, to the general medical and surgical units and followed for 31 days after hospital discharge (N = 750). Measurements Primary exposure was depressive symptoms at admission, defined as a score of 6 or more on the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale. Primary outcome was unplanned 30‐day hospital readmission, defined as an unscheduled overnight stay at any inpatient facility not occurring in the emergency department. Results Prevalence of depressive symptoms was 19% and incidence of 30‐day unplanned hospital readmission was 19%. Depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with hospital readmission (relative risk ( RR ) = 1.20, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) = 0.83–1.72). Age, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, and number of hospitalizations within the past 6 months were significant predictors of unplanned 30‐day hospital readmission. Conclusion Although not associated with hospital readmission, depressive symptoms were associated with other poor outcomes and may be underdiagnosed in hospitalized older adults. Hospitals interested in reducing readmission should focus on older adults with more comorbid illness and recent hospitalizations.