Hospitalisation Risk Among Danish Older Adults Receiving Municipality Care: An Integrative Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Denmark faces a growing elderly population with multiple chronic diseases, increasing hospitalization risks.
• Understanding risk factors for hospitalization is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
• This review focuses on Danish older adults receiving home care or residing in nursing homes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize data on the characteristics of Danish older adults at risk for hospital admission and readmission.
• To identify predictors of hospitalization in this demographic while under home care or in nursing homes.

Main Methods:

• An integrative review methodology was employed.
• Studies were identified through comprehensive searches of electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest, SCOPUS) and theoretical sources.
• All included records were critically appraised using the CASP Cohort Study Checklist.

Main Results:

• Age and sex were found to be unreliable predictors of hospital admission and readmission.
• A higher number of comorbidities and medications strongly predicted hospitalization.
• Increased illness severity and required care level correlated with higher admission and readmission risks.

Conclusions:

• Home care and nursing home residency significantly influence older adults' hospitalization likelihood.
• Findings will inform the development of targeted interventions to improve healthcare strategies.
• This review provides insights to reduce preventable hospitalizations in vulnerable elderly populations.