Abstracts Category : Other

PREDICTIVE FACTORS OF INCREASED CUMULATIVE HOSPITAL DAYSAMONG COMMUNITY DWELLING OLDER ADULTS: ARE THERE GENDERDIFFERENCES?

by Rashmita Bajracharya

Hospitalization has negative consequences among olderadults; past studies show it is costly and leads to functionalimpairment for these individuals. However, studies on communitydwelling older adults focus on hospital readmissions; no study hasidentified predictors of cumulative hospital days for the generalpopulation of older adults. Thus, the current study identifieswhether predictors of readmission also predict hospital daysincluding first admissions. As gender interacts with predictors ofreadmission, this study also examines gender differences incumulative hospital days. Negative binomial regression models areestimated using data from the 2015 National Health InterviewSurvey. Consistent with past studies, results show that age,functional limitations, and chronic illness increases cumulativehospital days. Marital status and educational level do notsignificantly predict cumulative hospital days which isinconsistent with readmissions literature. Additionally, men andwomen differ significantly with respect to medical poverty; medicalpoverty increases cumulative hospital days for men but not forwomen. Program and policy implications are discussed.Advisors/Committee Members: Brown, Scott (Advisor).