Table 4

Association of patient characteristics with changes in vulnerability after controlling for initial VES-13 scores and HHC referral in linear regression

CharacteristicsChange period
Baseline to 30 days30–90 daysBaseline to 90 days
VES-13 score (baseline)−0.54†−0.51†
VES-13 score (30 days)−0.50†
HHC referral0.16†−0.07*0.05
Hospital admission variables
Age0.14†0.12†0.14†
Female0.050.030.04
Health literacy (BHLS score)<0.01−0.02<0.01
Year of education0.060.010.04
Difficulty paying bills0.030.010.03
Married/living with partner0.01−0.02−0.03
Race: African-American−0.030.08‡0.05
Race: Other−0.04−0.04−0.04
Annual household income−0.08−0.03−0.05
Social support (ESSI score)−0.05<0.01−0.04
Depressive symptoms (PHQ score)0.040.11§0.02
Cognitive functioning (SPMSQ score)−0.040.040.01
Length of hospital stay−0.03−0.03−0.06
Comorbidity (Elixhauser Index)0.060.060.04
Outpatient visits (past 12 months)0.10§0.08‡0.09‡
Hospitalisations (past 12 months)0.09‡0.030.07
Admitting diagnosis: ADHF−0.020.03<0.01
Admitting diagnosis: ACS/ADHF0.02<0.010.01
  • Change 30 days from baseline: (baseline VES-13, HHC referral) adjusted R2=0.15, p<0.001; (patient factors) Rchange=0.06, p<0.001; final model: R2=0.46, adjusted R2=0.19, p<0.001. Change 90 days from 90 days: (30-day VES-13, HHC referral) adjusted R2=0.13, p<0.001; (patient factors) R2change=0.06, p<0.001; final model: R2=0.43, adjusted R2=0.17, p<0.001. Change 90 days from baseline: (baseline VES-13, HHC referral) adjusted R2=0.14, p<0.001; 

  • (patient factors) R2change=0.06, p<0.001; final model: R2=0.44, adjusted R2=0.18, p<0.001.

  • *P=0.059.

  • †P<0.001.

  • ‡P<0.05.  

  • §P<0.01.

  • ACS, acute coronary syndrome; ADHF, acute decompensated heart failure; BHLS, Brief Health Literacy Screen; ESSI, ENRICHD Social Support Inventory; HHC, home healthcare; PHQ, Patient Health Questionnaire; SPMSQ, Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire; VES-13, Vulnerable Elders Surveys 13.