American Heart Association: Elderly Heart Failure Patients Face Higher Risks After Discharge to Nursing Homes

According to the American Heart Association, elderly heart failure patients who need skilled nursing care after they are discharged from hospitals are at a higher risk of poor outcomes and even death.

The researchers analyzed data from 15,459 Medicare patients (with an average age of 80) who were discharged from a hospital after being treated for heart failure for three or more days. Their findings revealed:

• 14 percent of the seniors who were discharged to skilled nursing care facilities died within 30 days after hospitalization
• 4 percent of those who were discharged to their homes died within a month
• 27 percent of the patients were re-admitted to the hospital within a month of being discharged
• 24 percent of those discharged to their homes were re-admitted to the hospital

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