The Effect of Home Care Support Clinics on Hospital Readmission in Heart Failure Patients in Japan

BackgroundHeart failure is common and is associated with high rates of hospitalization. Home care support clinics/hospitals (HCSCs) and enhanced HCSCs were introduced in Japan in 2006 and 2012, respectively.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the effect of post-discharge care by conventional or enhanced HCSCs on readmission, compared with general clinics.DesignRetrospective cohort study using the Japanese nationwide health insurance claims database.ParticipantsParticipants were >= 65 years of age, admitted for heart failure and discharged between July 2014 and August 2015 and received a home visit within a month following the discharge (n=12,393).Main MeasuresThe exposure was the type of medical facility that provides post-discharge home healthcare: general clinics, conventional HCSCs, and enhanced HCSCs. The primary outcome was all-cause readmission for 6 months after the first visit; the incidence of emergency house calls was a secondary outcome. We used a competing risk regression using the Fine and Gray method, in which death was regarded as a competing event.Key ResultsAt 6 months, readmissions were lower in conventional (38%) or enhanced HCSCs (38%) than general clinics (43%). The adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio (sHR) of readmission was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.78-0.96) for conventional and 0.86 (0.78-0.96) for enhanced HCSCs. Emergency house calls increased with conventional (sHR: 1.77, 95% CI:1.57-2.00) and enhanced HCSCs (sHR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.71-2.17).ConclusionsOlder Japanese patients with heart failure receiving post-discharge home healthcare by conventional or enhanced HCSCs had lower readmission rates, possibly due to compensation with more emergency house calls. Conventional and enhanced HCSCs may be effective in reducing the risk of rehospitalization. Further studies are necessary to confirm the medical functions performed by HCSCs.

Automated summary

A retrospective cohort study in Japan examined the effect of post-discharge care by conventional or enhanced HCSCs on readmission rates in elderly heart failure patients. The study found that patients receiving care from conventional or enhanced HCSCs had lower readmission rates but more emergency house calls. These findings suggest that both conventional and enhanced HCSCs may be effective in reducing the risk of rehospitalization.