Factors associated with unplanned transfers among cancer patients at a freestanding acute rehabilitation facility.
Akash Bhakta, Ishan Roy, Kevin Huang and 2 others
PMID 34296529WHAT IT FOUND
In cancer inpatient rehab, factors were linked to more unplanned transfers to acute care: gastrointestinal cancer, a 6-minute walk under 90 meters, and a previous unplanned transfer.
Key findings
01Unplanned transfer occurred in 111 of 330 encounters, a 34% rate.
02The most common reasons for transfer were new infection (29%) and change in mental status (19%).
03In the multivariable model, gastrointestinal malignancy, a 6-minute walk test under 90 m, and prior unplanned transfer were each independently associated with higher odds of transfer.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Single freestanding rehabilitation facility with affiliated cancer care, so care processes may differ elsewhere. Retrospective design, so it shows association rather than cause. No noncancer control group and no matching to control for demographic differences. Some oncologic treatment information, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, was not collected. Graft versus host disease was excluded from the multivariable model because of missing data. 6-minute walk and grip strength were recorded only for patients judged able to participate, so those results do not cover all encounters.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not include a conflicts-of-interest statement. The publication types list research support from NIH extramural.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read a 6-minute walk under 90 m as proof that the patient will transfer or that the distance causes transfer. This was a retrospective association at one freestanding rehabilitation facility, so it shows linkage, not cause.