Two European Examples of Acute Geriatric Units Located Outside of a General Hospital for Older Adults With Exacerbated Chronic Conditions

ObjectiveThroughout Europe, the number of older adults requiring acute hospitalization is increasing. Admission to an geriatric unit outside a general hospital could be alternative. In this model medical care, comprehensive assessment and rehabilitation are provided selected patients. This study aims compare patients' diagnoses, characteristics, outcomes 2 European sites where care occurs.DesignExploratory cohort study.Setting participantsSubacute Care Unit (SCU), introduced in 2012 Barcelona, Spain, Acute Geriatric Community Hospital (AGCH), 2018 Amsterdam, Netherlands. The main admission criteria for patients were events or exacerbations chronic conditions, hemodynamic stability on admission, no requirement complex diagnostics.MeasuresWe compared setting, between admitted units.ResultsData from 909 SCU 174 AGCH available. Patients emergency department home. mean age was 85.8 years [standard deviation (SD) = 6.7] at 81.9 (SD 8.5) (P < .001) AGCH. At SCU, more often delirious (38.7% vs 22.4%, P admission. both units, infection diagnosis. Other diagnoses included heart failure obstructive pulmonary disease. Five percent less readmitted hospitals. Average length stay 8.8 4.4) days (SCU) 9.9 7.5) (AGCH).Conclusions ImplicationsThese units quite similar provide alternative hospital. We encourage comparison these other examples Europe suggest multicentric studies comparing their performance usual care.