Self-rated health predicts healthcare utilization in heart failure

Alanna M. Chamberlain, Sheila M. Manemann, Shannon M. Dunlay, John A. Spertus, Debra K. Moser, Cecilia Berardi, Robert L. Kane, Susan A. Weston, Margaret M. Redfield, Véronique L. Roger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Heart failure (HF) patients experience impaired functional status, diminished quality of life, high utilization of healthcare resources, and poor survival. Yet, the identification of patient-centered factors that influence prognosis is lacking. Methods and Results: We determined the association of 2 measures of self-rated health with healthcare utilization and skilled nursing facility (SNF) admission in a community cohort of 417 HF patients prospectively enrolled between October 2007 and December 2010 from Olmsted County, MN. Patients completed a 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Low self-reported physical functioning was defined as a score ≤ 25 on the SF-12 physical component. The first question of the SF-12 was used as a measure of self-rated general health. After 2 years, 1033 hospitalizations, 1407 emergency department (ED) visits, and 19,780 outpatient office visits were observed; 87 patients were admitted to a SNF. After adjustment for confounding factors, an increased risk of hospitalizations (1.52 [1.17 to 1.99]) and ED visits (1.48 [1.04 to 2.11]) was observed for those with low versus moderatehigh self-reported physical functioning. Patients with poor and fair self-rated general health also experienced an increased risk of hospitalizations (poor: 1.73 [1.29 to 2.32]; fair: 1.46 [1.14 to 1.87]) and ED visits (poor: 1.73 [1.16 to 2.56]; fair: 1.48 [1.13 to 1.93]) compared with good-excellent self-rated general health. No association between self-reported physical functioning or selfrated general health with outpatient visits and SNF admission was observed. Conclusion: In community HF patients, self-reported measures of physical functioning predict hospitalizations and ED visits, indicating that these patient-reported measures may be useful in risk stratification and management in HF.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number000931
JournalJournal of the American Heart Association
Volume3
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Healthcare utilization
  • Heart failure
  • Hospitalizations
  • Physical functioning
  • Self-rated health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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