San Francisco >> << Aspiration pneumonia can be deadly and costly epidemic in older Americans, according to
William B. Baine, MD, who presented a poster at the 39th Conference of IL
on antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy. Pneumonitis due to inhalation
food and vomit, commonly known as aspiration pneumonia, was the second most common primary
diagnosis, conceding only that the broad designation of a comprehensive,
'pneumonia, the body without 'Among patients hospitalized Medicare >> << to any of 55 different diagnoses indicates infection or pneumonia
, said Dr Baine, who is senior medical advisor to the Centre >> << Results and Performance Studies Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
(AHCPR) in Rockville, Md. One possible explanation >> << to clear increase in aspiration pneumonia that hospitals increasingly
may strattera 40mg indicate aspiration pneumonia to get the maximum permissible compensation
from medical care, Dr. Baine continues. Even more worrying is the possibility that
[these diagnoses] may be detecting smoldering epidemic desire
, pneumonia in elderly patients. Several processes of disease diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia
included two different processes of the disease, Dr. Baine explained. One
version of the disease, spit out stomach acid goes down in the windpipe and
reaches the lungs. The result can be acid burn, providing lung tissue susceptible >> << complicate infection. According to another version often reflect other diseases that threaten
patient's ability to cough or swallow. For example, patients in yaks
throat muscles affected by the stroke may be at high risk of aspiration pneumonia >>. << Uncoordinated swallowing saliva misdirects, food, drink, or in the airways. If the cough reflex the patient is too weak, some of these materials can pass into the lungs
- with mouth and throat bacteria. Researchers examined the AHCPR
health care financing administration computer files Medicare hospital claims for
patients issued from 1991 to 1996 to determine the patient stay on
age of patients 65 years and over with primary diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia. From 1991 to 1996 the number of hospital discharges of Medicare patients
whose reason for admission, as reported, aspiration pneumonia increased by
76%, exceeding the 100 000 cases only in 1996, Dr. Baine he said. For >> << same interval, the number of seniors who are Medicare coverage increased
less than 7%. The annual increase in the number
hospitalizations for aspiration pneumonia per 100,000 person most visibly
in the very old. Average costs and Medicare hospital reimbursement were the lowest for
white women showed lower mortality in hospitals (23%). This subgroup
patients demonstrated the shortest average hospital stay (10. 4 days) and stay in the intensive care unit >> << (0. 8 days) and reached an average Medicare payment to hospital
to only $ 8246. Unlike black people at highest risk of death
(26%) had the longest average hospital stay (14. 2 days) and in intensive care
(1. 1 days) and were responsibility for the highest reimbursement Medicare hospital. Additional 22% of patients discharged to home alive or dead were self
within 90 days of hospitalization, mortality within 90 days were even
higher in patients directed to home care, intermediate care or skilled >> << elderly and disabled, or other entity. SECONDARY HIV diagnoses among Medicare patients with primary diagnosis
aspiration pneumonia, the three most common secondary diagnoses >> << are hypovolemia, congestive heart failure and urinary tract infection. Overall discharge diagnosis most strongly associated with primary diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia
- compared with a diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia - were dysphagia,
hastrostomiya status, and staphylococcal pneumonia. The question whether this increase in
in aspiration pneumonia occurs with real growth of such cases or
only apparent increase in pressure resulting from selection for aspiration pneumonia
diagnostic code. Most Medicare payments for pneumonia hospitalization
covers one of the two sets of diagnostic related groups (DRH): >> << simple pneumonia and pleurisy and respiratory infections and inflammation. As a last DRG includes pneumonia, which can be particularly serious, >> << hospital payment these are usually higher than for simple pneumonia. Reporting a patient with aspiration pneumonia and pneumonia,
body is not specified, the displacement DRG from lower to higher compensation
which is obviously in favor of the hospital. If, on the other hand, Medicare
account indicates a real increase in aspiration pneumonia, the second question
question: what is the basic process of this growth? To find out which of >> << needed further study, Dr. Baine noted. Further research
should focus on possible causal factors in his opinion, including >> << opportunity not previously link between some of these conditions or their
control and the risk of aspiration pneumonia . -Lawrence
Prescott