Behavioral, Cognitive, and Functional Risk Factors for Repeat Hospital Episodes Among Medicare?Medicaid Dually Eligible Adults Receiving Long-Term Services and Supports

Date

2024-09-26

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Fakeye, Oludolapo, Prashant Rana, Fei Han, Morgan Henderson, and Ian Stockwell. ?Behavioral, Cognitive, and Functional Risk Factors for Repeat Hospital Episodes Among Medicare?Medicaid Dually Eligible Adults Receiving Long-Term Services and Supports.? Journal of Applied Gerontology, September 26, 2024, 07334648241286608. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648241286608.

Rights

? 2025 by Southern Gerontological Society. Use is restricted to non-commercial and no derivatives.

Abstract

Repeat hospitalizations adversely impact the well-being of adults dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid in the United States. This study aimed to identify behavioral, cognitive, and functional characteristics associated with the risk of a repeat hospital episode (HE) among the statewide population of dually eligible adults in Maryland receiving long-term services and supports prior to an HE between July 2018 and May 2020. The odds of experiencing a repeat HE within 30 days after an initial HE were positively associated with reporting difficulty with hearing (adjusted odds ratio, AOR: 1.10 [95% confidence interval: 1.02?1.19]), being easily distractible (AOR: 1.09 [1.00?1.18]), being self-injurious (AOR: 1.33 [1.09?1.63]), and exhibiting verbal abuse (AOR: 1.15 [1.02?1.30]). Conversely, displaying inappropriate public behavior (AOR: 0.62 [0.42?0.92]) and being dependent for eating (AOR: 0.91 [0.83?0.99]) or bathing (AOR: 0.79 [0.67?0.92]) were associated with reduced odds of a repeat HE. We also observed differences in the magnitude and direction of these associations among adults 65 years of age or older relative to younger counterparts.