Ambulatory Care Fragmentation and Subsequent Hospitalization: Evidence From the REGARDS Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous studies have suggested that highly fragmented ambulatory care increases the risk of subsequent hospitalization, but those studies used claims only and were not able to adjust for many clinical potential confounders.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the association between fragmented ambulatory care and subsequent hospitalization, adjusting for demographics, medical conditions, medications, health behaviors, psychosocial variables, and physiological variables.

Design

Longitudinal analysis of data (2003-2016) from the nationwide REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, linked to Medicare fee-for-service claims.

Subjects

A total of 12,693 Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older from the RE

SUBMITTER: Kern LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7954814 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature