CHEST Guidelines-Association-Between-Caregiver-Strain-and-Emergency

Association-Between-Caregiver-Strain-and-Emergency

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The study investigates the association between caregiver strain and healthcare resource utilization in critical illness survivors. It is part of a broader prospective cohort study analyzing data from the InS:PIRE program, aimed at assisting critical care survivors and their caregivers. Participants, recruited between 2016 and 2020, were critical care patients who received support through the program both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with modified virtual delivery during the pandemic.<br /><br />The study's analysis included 124 patients and their informal caregivers, examining the patients’ emergency department (ED) presentations and hospital readmissions within a year post-discharge. Caregiver burden was measured using the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), with a score of 7 or more indicating significant strain. Results revealed a positive association between higher CSI scores and increased ED visits and hospital readmissions. Specifically, each 1-point increase in the CSI score correlated with a 7.5% rise in ED visits and a 9.9% rise in hospital readmissions.<br /><br />Findings underscore the impact of caregiver strain on health resource utilization, paralleling similar correlations found in fields like dementia care. The study calls for an expansion of research to include the broader social context impacting readmission risk, such as the caregiver's role, highlighting the need for comprehensive support systems for caregivers post-hospitalization.<br /><br />Key limitations include restricted access to some electronic health records and the inclusion of patients from a single recovery program, which may limit generalizability. Despite these limitations, the study's insights suggest that improving support for informal caregivers could significantly impact healthcare system efficiencies and patient outcomes post-critical illness. Further research into holistic interventions catering to caregivers’ comprehensive needs is crucial.

Keywords

caregiver strain

healthcare resource utilization

critical illness survivors

InS:PIRE program

COVID-19 pandemic

Caregiver Strain Index

emergency department visits

hospital readmissions

caregiver support

healthcare system efficiencies