Search

ABSTRACT Background Methods Results Conclusion Healthcare systems need to address the high healthcare use of frail older adults. The Geriatric Services Hub (GSH) is a novel program in Singapore that delivers frailty screening, comprehensive geriatric assessment and coordinated care for community‐dwelling older persons with bio‐psycho‐social needs. We aimed to evaluate the effects of the GSH on healthcare use.We compared healthcare utilization of 634 GSH participants with 634 unique propensity score‐matched non‐GSH community‐dwelling older adults at 12 months before and after GSH enrolment. Baseline matching covariates included demographics, socioeconomic status, disease burden, calendar quarter of enrolment, and past healthcare utilization. We did exact matching on frailty categories (Clinical Frailty Score (CFS) score 4, 5, and 6–7). Difference‐in‐differences technique was used to derive effect estimates.After propensity score matching, baseline covariates were adequately balanced. Healthcare utilization declined in both groups after GSH enrolment. Relative to the comparators and after accounting for pre‐enrolment differences, participation in the GSH was associated with greater primary care (mean difference: 0.06, 95% CI−0.64 to 0.77) and specialist outpatient clinic visits (mean difference: 0.42, 95% CI −0.29 to 1.13), and fewer emergency department visits (mean difference: −0.18, 95% CI −0.69 to 0.34). However, these effects did not reach statistical significance. While number of hospitalizations did not differ between the groups, cumulative length of stay differed by 1.15 bed‐days and was not statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were observed within CFS groups.GSH was not associated with significant reductions in healthcare use in the first year of enrolment. Higher utilization of primary care and specialist outpatient clinic services could reflect the increased identification of care needs with the potential to reduce unnecessary healthcare use such as emergency department visits. Prospective studies with a longer follow‐up would ascertain if the GSH translates to reduced healthcare utilization as hypothesized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel K(Ca)3.1 is expressed in several structural and inflammatory airway cell types and is proposed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of asthma. The aim of the current study was to determine whether inhibition of K(Ca)3.1 modifies experimental asthma in sheep.Methodology and principal findingsAtopic sheep were administered either 30 mg/kg Senicapoc (ICA-17073), a selective inhibitor of the K(Ca)3.1-channel, or vehicle alone (0.5% methylcellulose) twice daily (orally). Both groups received fortnightly aerosol challenges with house dust mite allergen for fourteen weeks. A separate sheep group received no allergen challenges or drug treatment. In the vehicle-control group, twelve weeks of allergen challenges resulted in a 60±19% increase in resting airway resistance, and this was completely attenuated by treatment with Senicapoc (0.25±12%; n = 10, P = 0.0147). The vehicle-control group had a peak-early phase increase in lung resistance of 82±21%, and this was reduced by 58% with Senicapoc treatment (24±14%; n = 10, P = 0.0288). Senicapoc-treated sheep also demonstrated reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, requiring a significantly higher dose of carbachol to increase resistance by 100% compared to allergen-challenged vehicle-control sheep (20±5 vs. 52±18 breath-units of carbachol; n = 10, P = 0.0340). Senicapoc also significantly reduced eosinophil numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage taken 48 hours post-allergen challenge, and reduced vascular remodelling.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that K(Ca)3.1-activity contributes to allergen-induced airway responses, inflammation and vascular remodelling in a sheep model of asthma, and that inhibition of K(Ca)3.1 may be an effective strategy for blocking allergen-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in humans.

Introduction: High users of hospital services require targeted healthcare services planning for effective resource allocation due to their high costs. This study aims to segmentize the population in the "Ageing In Place-Community Care Team" (AIP-CCT), a programme for complex patients with high inpatient service use, and examine the association of segment membership and healthcare utilisation and mortality. Methods: We analysed 1,012 patients enrolled between June 2016 and February 2017. To identify patient segments, a cluster analysis was performed based on medical complexity and psychosocial needs. Next, multivariable negative binomial regression was performed using patient segments as the predictor, with healthcare and programme utilisation over the 180-day follow-up as outcomes. Multivariate cox proportional hazard regression was applied to assess the time to first hospital admission and mortality between segments within the 180-day follow-up. All models were adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, ward class, and baseline healthcare utilisation. Results: Three distinct segments were identified (Segment 1 (n = 236), Segment 2 (n = 331), and Segment 3 (n = 445)). Medical, functional, and psychosocial needs of individuals were significantly different between segments (p-value<0.001). The rates of hospitalisation in Segments 1 (IRR = 1.63, 95%CI:1.3–2.1) and 2 (IRR = 2.11, 95%CI:1.7–2.6) were significantly higher than in Segment 3 on follow-up. Similarly, both Segments 1 (IRR = 1.76, 95%CI:1.6–2.0) and 2 (IRR = 1.25, 95%CI:1.1–1.4) had higher rates of programme utilisation compared to Segment 3. Patients in Segments 1 (HR = 2.48, 95%CI:1.5–4.1) and 2 (HR = 2.25, 95%CI:1.3–3.6) also had higher mortality on follow-up. Conclusions: This study provided a data-based approach to understanding healthcare needs among complex patients with high inpatient services utilisation. Resources and interventions can be tailored according to the differences in needs among segments, to facilitate better allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) aims to improve care quality with a shift from the traditional biomedical model to one that emphasizes patient experience and preferences. Community for Successful Ageing (ComSA)-PCMH is the first community-based PCMH model for complex adults consisting of center-based primary care clinic and home-based care management as an integrated multidisciplinary care-team. This study aimed to understand patients' care experience in ComSA-PCMH. Methods A semi-structured topic guide was developed and adapted from the PCMH principles, to generate data on care experience. Qualitative data consisted of six focus group discussions with patients/primary caregivers enrolled in the program for at least six months. Framework analysis was used with both deductive and inductive approaches in coding. Results Majority of participants identified ComSA-PCMH as a 'specialized' primary care model targeting only older adults with complex care and reported qualitative benefits in consolidated appointments, integrated medical and social care, and subjective health-related improvement. Participants valued the sustained patient-provider relationship, communication, and care personalization in ComSAPCMH. They appreciated the relationship-based care, emphasizing on the high value to be treated holistically as a person, rather than a disease. Better continuity of care was experienced by having access to the same provider for their health journey, enabling them to have better perceived familiarity and trust while communicating their needs. These were supported by the sufficient time given during the consultation, perceived to be one of the key differentiating factor for ComSAPCMH from their previous provider. They also appreciated the involvement of family members/caregivers in care planning. Other aspects of care delivery, i.e. team-based care and care coordination were not as clearly expressed. Participants were unable to identify home-care management as part of their care-team, even for those receiving the services. In addition, experiences in care coordination across different healthcare provider were not shared much. However, participants perceived an "inherent" integration as evidenced from the linked medical record. Discussions Studies on patient-centeredness reported similar findings on participants who value patientprovider relationship and communication. In this study, characterization and understanding of this new care model was driven primarily by participant's previous experience of Singapore's current healthcare system. Perception on team-based care and care coordination was lacking. The experiences may not be realized by participants due to the lack of understanding of the new care model. Conclusions Participants were able to identify ComSA-PCMH as a new care model with better experiences in patient-provider relationship and communication. Perception in the domains of patientcenteredness may change with increasing awareness and longer experience with this type of care. Lessons learned Improved understanding and effective communication on components and functions of the new care model amongst patients and caregivers are important, as they would likely influence the perceived experiences of the intended care model. Limitations The FGDs may be limited to patients with less complex care needs. Suggestions Future research may sample participants with different biopsychosocial complexities, to fully capture the differing care experiences. Subsequent IDIs for different typology could give more understanding in context and mechanism of care experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa3.1 is expressed in several structural and inflammatory airway cell types and is proposed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of asthma. The aim of the current study was to determine whether inhibition of KCa3.1 modifies experimental asthma in sheep. Methodology and Principal Findings: Atopic sheep were administered either 30 mg/kg Senicapoc (ICA-17073), a selective inhibitor of the KCa3.1-channel, or vehicle alone (0.5% methylcellulose) twice daily (orally). Both groups received fortnightly aerosol challenges with house dust mite allergen for fourteen weeks. A separate sheep group received no allergen challenges or drug treatment. In the vehicle-control group, twelve weeks of allergen challenges resulted in a 60±19% increase in resting airway resistance, and this was completely attenuated by treatment with Senicapoc (0.25±12%; n = 10, P = 0.0147). The vehicle-control group had a peak-early phase increase in lung resistance of 82±21%, and this was reduced by 58% with Senicapoc treatment (24±14%; n = 10, P = 0.0288). Senicapoc-treated sheep also demonstrated reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, requiring a significantly higher dose of carbachol to increase resistance by 100% compared to allergen-challenged vehicle-control sheep (20±5 vs. 52±18 breath-units of carbachol; n = 10, P = 0.0340). Senicapoc also significantly reduced eosinophil numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage taken 48 hours post-allergen challenge, and reduced vascular remodelling. Conclusions: These findings suggest that KCa3.1-activity contributes to allergen-induced airway responses, inflammation and vascular remodelling in a sheep model of asthma, and that inhibition of KCa3.1 may be an effective strategy for blocking allergen-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]