Health

COVID-19 Fuels Alarming Rise in Nursing Home Stays and Deaths Across All Racial Groups

2025-01-29

Author: Nur

COVID-19's Impact on Nursing Homes

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected individuals across all racial and ethnic backgrounds, significantly increasing the likelihood of long-term nursing home stays or death. A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals startling statistics on this issue, indicating that nursing home residents suffered disproportionately, accounting for 22% of COVID-19 cases during the height of the pandemic.

Disparities Among Racial Groups

The findings indicate that nursing homes (NHs) with a higher percentage of Black residents reported three times the COVID-19-related deaths compared to their counterparts. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need to assess the pandemic's repercussions on the aging population, particularly regarding their extended stays in nursing homes or mortality rates.

Definition and Scope of Study

Researchers defined 'long-term nursing home stay or death' as new admissions to nursing homes following hospitalization or post-death discharge for adults who previously lived independently in the community. While earlier studies have examined the impact of the pandemic on post-acute care, its correlation with long-term nursing home placements has not been thoroughly investigated until now.

Study Population

The study centered on community-dwelling individuals aged 65 and older who were hospitalized due to sepsis—a condition recognized as a leading cause of death in the U.S. The research especially focused on minority groups to determine if they faced a heightened risk of long-term nursing home stays or death when compared to their White counterparts during this tumultuous period.

Data Analysis and Findings

Researchers analyzed patient-level data from Medicare files covering the period from 2016 to 2021. They originally identified nearly 5 million community-dwelling individuals with sepsis but refined the focus to 2.96 million patients who were discharged alive. Noteworthy is that geriatric patients accounted for a substantial portion of those affected, revealing the vulnerabilities of older adults in times of crisis.

Demographic Insights

Demographic data from the study indicated that nearly half of the patients (49.5%) were female, with a mean age of 76. In terms of race and ethnicity, a diverse group was represented, including 3.2% American Indian or Alaska Native, 9.4% Hispanic, 9.5% Black, and 71.2% White.

Increased Risk for Black Individuals

Shockingly, the data indicated that Black individuals were 33% more likely to face long-term nursing home stays or death compared to White individuals, even before the pandemic. In contrast, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic individuals were less likely to report long-term NH stays or fatalities relative to White individuals.

Trends in Nursing Home Stays and Deaths

While long-term nursing home stays and deaths had been on a decline prior to the pandemic, dropping from 13.5% in early 2016 to 6.9% by early 2020, this trend reversed. Following the onset of the pandemic, there was a 3% increase in the risk of long-term nursing home stays and deaths among non-Hispanic White individuals each quarter.

Conclusions and Implications

Researchers concluded that the pandemic has not only affected the elderly population at large but has also exacerbated existing inequalities. They acknowledge that their findings are limited to older adults with sepsis and may not be applicable to younger populations or those with other serious health conditions.

Need for Improved Elder Care

Despite these limitations, the study emphasizes the need for improved conditions and support within nursing homes, which serve as critical safety nets for the vulnerable elderly population. As the world navigates the aftermath of COVID-19, it is vital to reassess and strengthen the frameworks surrounding elder care.

Summary

In summary, the findings reveal a stark picture: the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the risk of long-term nursing home stays and deaths across demographic groups, particularly affecting the elderly living within communities. The pandemic serves as a pressing reminder and an opportunity to bolster the care systems in place for our most at-risk populations. Stay tuned as we continue to unveil further insights from this critical study!