A cross-sectional analysis of the burden of respiratory disease and engagement with the respiratory outpatient service amongst hospitalised patients referred to the social inclusion team

Le résumé fourni par la source

Patients known to the social inclusion service have complex health care needs with emergency health service use being greater than the general population. For patients with airways disease, guidelines recommend follow up after a hospitalisation. A retrospective analysis was performed of patients referred to the social inclusion team at the Mater Misericordieae University Hospital, between February 2015 and September 2020. The burden of respiratory disease was determined using the Hospital In Patient Enquiry Scheme (HIPEs). An electronic record review was performed on all patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Asthma to determine engagement with the outpatient service. Between 2015 and 2020, 1394 patients were referred to the social inclusion team with a total of 2735 admissions. 237 patients had 394 admissions with a primary respiratory diagnosis (14.4%). The mean age recorded on the first admission was 39 years and the majority were male (77.3%) vs female (22.7%). Of those with a primarily respiratory diagnosis, 51.0% were diagnosed with respiratory sepsis, 34.0% COPD and 7.4% Asthma. 45% of those admitted with COPD and 82% with asthma were less than 45 years of age. Only 8.0% of patients admitted with asthma or COPD were currently attending the respiratory specialist. 39.8% were never referred and 34.1% were referred but never attended. Standard referral to the respiratory specialist of patients known to the social inclusion team for the management of respiratory disease is associated with low rates of attendance.

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