According to the data that was presented at the 2024 ACR Convergence, a considerable number of patients are hospitalized when it could have been avoided.
As reported in Healio News, Dr. Dani Contreras from Calgary University spoke at the ACR and told attendees that many rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients can avoid a hospital stay by seeking treatment within a five-year period after diagnosis.
The doctor added that RA is a care-sensitive disorder whereby appropriate ambulatory care could minimize the number of hospitalizations.
About the Study
The original estimate of hospitalizations that could be avoided was 52,596 RA patients as opposed to 210,384 controls matched according to sex and age. Overall, as a final analysis, hospitalizations for care patients totaled 83,811 vs 190,304 total for controls.
The leading cause for hospitalization taken individually was found to be chronic lower respiratory disorders. The study found that RA patients were at greater risk of hospitalization due to consistently higher pulmonary edema and heart failure.
Other factors affecting risk would be:
- Increasing age
- Avoidance of seeing physician since diagnosis
- Living in a rural area
- Having co-existing conditions
Dr. Contreras concluded by emphasizing the significance of outpatient access.
