OBJECTIVE: Medical care to patients with heart failure (HF) entails high needs in health care and social resources. Hospital at home (HH) is a potentially useful care alternative for these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational study with 110 elderly patients with non complicated HF admitted to an HH unit. Patients were treated with educational support (clinical, dietetic and pharmacologic) and intensive home follow-up. Conventional hospital admissions and visits to the Emergency Department were analyzed during the 90 days before and after HH. RESULTS: After HH, conventional hospital admissions decreased by 86% and visits to the Emergency Department by 91%. The mean Barthel Index changed from 74 to 77 (p < 0.05, in all cases). Ninety-six percent of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with HH. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients with non complicated HF, the intervention of an HH unit reduces conventional hospital admissions and the number of visits to the Emergency Department, the personal satisfaction degree is high and the functional capacity does not worsen.
OBJECTIVE: Medical care to patients with heart failure (HF) entails high needs in health care and social resources. Hospital at home (HH) is a potentially useful care alternative for these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational study with 110 elderly patients with non complicated HF admitted to an HH unit. Patients were treated with educational support (clinical, dietetic and pharmacologic) and intensive home follow-up. Conventional hospital admissions and visits to the Emergency Department were analyzed during the 90 days before and after HH. RESULTS: After HH, conventional hospital admissions decreased by 86% and visits to the Emergency Department by 91%. The mean Barthel Index changed from 74 to 77 (p < 0.05, in all cases). Ninety-six percent of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with HH. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients with non complicated HF, the intervention of an HH unit reduces conventional hospital admissions and the number of visits to the Emergency Department, the personal satisfaction degree is high and the functional capacity does not worsen.