Home Health Care Linked to Lower Mortality and Readmission Risks in Heart Failure Patients

Understanding Heart Failure

Heart failure is a condition where the heart struggles to pump blood effectively, impacting the body’s organ systems. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, approximately 600,000 Canadians are currently living with this condition. The primary cause of heart failure is a heart attack, followed by hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure. Patients with heart failure may exhibit various symptoms, including shortness of breath during physical activity, chest pain, swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, and abdomen, as well as fatigue and a general loss of energy.

The Role of Home Health Care

Home health care, delivered by a nurse or skilled health care professional in a patient’s own home, may offer significant support for individuals managing heart failure.

Study Findings on Readmission Rates

A recent study published in the *Journal of the American Geriatrics Society* highlighted that heart failure patients discharged from skilled nursing facilities experienced lower readmission rates when they received home health care. The findings revealed that the median time for readmission was eleven days for those receiving home health care, compared to nine days for those who did not. Furthermore, the thirty-day readmission rates were 22.8% for patients with home health care versus 24.5% for those without.

Mortality Rates and Home Care Benefits

The study also indicated a decrease in mortality rates among heart failure patients who received home care. Only 3.1% of these patients died within 30 days of discharge, whereas the rate was 4.1% for those without home health care. Interestingly, patients who received home health care had more significant “functional impairments.” This suggests that even those in worse health benefited from home care, leading to improved outcomes. Enhanced support may have contributed to better adherence to medication, dietary guidelines, and discharge instructions.

Conclusion: The Importance of Home Health Care

As heart failure becomes increasingly prevalent worldwide, with heart disease being a leading cause of death for both genders, the results of this study underscore the advantages of home health care in reducing readmission rates and improving health outcomes for heart failure patients post-hospitalization. The researchers noted the need for more heart failure patients to be considered for home health care services upon discharge.

References

Weerahandi, H., Bao, H., Herrin, J., Dharmarajan, K., Ross, J. S., Jones, S., Horwitz, L. I. (2019). Home Health Care After Skilled Nursing Facility Discharge Following Heart Failure Hospitalization. *Journal of the American Geriatrics Society*. Heart and Stroke Foundation. https://www.heartandstroke.ca/heart/conditions/heart-failure