Nutritional Profile and Cost Evaluation of Elderly Patients in Home Care Within the Brazilian Private Health Sector: A Retrospective Study
Author(s)
SARAH R. RODRIGUES, BSc, MSc1, KEILA R. AMARAL, BSc2, MARTHA OLIVEIRA3, Erica CAMARGO, BSc4, MATHEUS LUIZ, BSc4.
1Medical Affairs, DANONE, São Paulo, Brazil, 2LACOS EM SAÚDE, RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, 3Brazil, 4DANONE, SAO PAULO, Brazil.
1Medical Affairs, DANONE, São Paulo, Brazil, 2LACOS EM SAÚDE, RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, 3Brazil, 4DANONE, SAO PAULO, Brazil.
OBJECTIVES: Homecare has been emerging as an efficient alternative to ensure continuous and individualized care outside the hospital setting besides optimizing resources and promoting comprehensive healthcare. As part, of the multidisciplinary approach promoted in the homecare, nutrition plays an important role to assure patient overall health status and well being. This study aims to describe the nutritonal profile of elderly patients enrolled in a home nutritional care program, identifying relationships between nutritional status, clinical risk, and healthcare costs
METHODS: This is a retrospective, descriptive study analyzing data from patients aged 60 years or older who were followed by a home nutritional care service in the private health sector. Clinical, anthropometric and patient related costs were evaluated and categorized according to patient's body mass index (BMI): underweight (UW), adequate weight (AW), overweight (OW) and obesity (OB).
RESULTS: A final cohort of 3.417 patients was included in this study. The overall average BMI was 27,06 kg/m2: 44% AW, 20% UW , 24% OB, and 12% OW. The UW group had higher risk of falls (45% vs. 35 AW, 28% OB, and 30% OW), hopitalizations (0,55 visit per patient vs. 0,21 AW, 0,12 OB, and 0,21 OW), hospital readmissions (7.3% vs. 5,5% AW, 6,5% OB, and 3,6% OW). The average cost per day of hospitalization was also higher in this group (EUR 1.173,98 vs. EUR 301,76 AW, EUR 233,68, and EUR 234,95 OW).
CONCLUSIONS: The study reinforces the importance of individualized nutritional care in the home setting and suggests that early interventions may reduce clinical risks and associated hospital costs.
METHODS: This is a retrospective, descriptive study analyzing data from patients aged 60 years or older who were followed by a home nutritional care service in the private health sector. Clinical, anthropometric and patient related costs were evaluated and categorized according to patient's body mass index (BMI): underweight (UW), adequate weight (AW), overweight (OW) and obesity (OB).
RESULTS: A final cohort of 3.417 patients was included in this study. The overall average BMI was 27,06 kg/m2: 44% AW, 20% UW , 24% OB, and 12% OW. The UW group had higher risk of falls (45% vs. 35 AW, 28% OB, and 30% OW), hopitalizations (0,55 visit per patient vs. 0,21 AW, 0,12 OB, and 0,21 OW), hospital readmissions (7.3% vs. 5,5% AW, 6,5% OB, and 3,6% OW). The average cost per day of hospitalization was also higher in this group (EUR 1.173,98 vs. EUR 301,76 AW, EUR 233,68, and EUR 234,95 OW).
CONCLUSIONS: The study reinforces the importance of individualized nutritional care in the home setting and suggests that early interventions may reduce clinical risks and associated hospital costs.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
CO172
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Economic Evaluation, Real World Data & Information Systems
Disease
Geriatrics, No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Nutrition, Oncology