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01-11-2014 | Original Research

Association of Living Alone and Hospitalization Among Community-Dwelling Elders With and Without Dementia

Authors: Stephanie K. Ennis, MS, MPH, Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, Louis Grothaus, MS, Christian D. Helfrich, PhD, Steven Balch, MA, Elizabeth A. Phelan, MD, MS

Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine | Issue 11/2014

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Older persons account for the majority of hospitalizations in the United States.1 Identifying risk factors for hospitalization among elders, especially potentially preventable hospitalization, may suggest opportunities to improve primary care. Certain factors—for example, living alone—may increase the risk for hospitalization, and their effect may be greater among persons with dementia and the old-old (aged 85+).

OBJECTIVES

To determine the association of living alone and risk for hospitalization, and see if the observed effect is greater among persons with dementia or the old-old.

DESIGN

Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

2,636 participants in the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study, a longitudinal cohort study of dementia incidence. Participants were adults aged 65+ enrolled in an integrated health care system who completed biennial follow-up visits to assess for dementia and living situation.

MAIN MEASURES

Hospitalization for all causes and for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) were identified using automated data.

KEY RESULTS

At baseline, the mean age of participants was 75.5 years, 59 % were female and 36 % lived alone. Follow-up time averaged 8.4 years (SD 3.5), yielding 10,431 approximately 2-year periods for analysis. Living alone was positively associated with being aged 85+, female, and having lower reported social support and better physical function, and negatively associated with having dementia. In a regression model adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity burden, physical function and length of follow-up, living alone was not associated with all-cause (OR = 0.93; 95 % CI 0.84, 1.03) or ambulatory care sensitive condition (ACSC) hospitalization (OR = 0.88; 95 % CI 0.73, 1.07). Among participants aged 85+, living alone was associated with a lower risk for all-cause (OR = 0.76; 95 % CI 0.61, 0.94), but not ACSC hospitalization. Dementia did not modify any observed associations.

CONCLUSION

Living alone in later life did not increase hospitalization risk, and in this population may be a marker of healthy aging in the old-old.

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Title: Association of Living Alone and Hospitalization Among Community-Dwelling Elders With and Without Dementia
Authors: Stephanie K. Ennis, MS, MPH
Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH
Louis Grothaus, MS
Christian D. Helfrich, PhD
Steven Balch, MA
Elizabeth A. Phelan, MD, MS
Publication date: 01-11-2014
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine / Issue 11/2014
Print ISSN: 0884-8734
Electronic ISSN: 1525-1497
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-014-2904-z

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ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

OBJECTIVES

DESIGN

PARTICIPANTS

MAIN MEASURES

KEY RESULTS

CONCLUSION

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