Which factors best discriminate increases in potentially avoidable hospital admissions as people living with dementia approach the end of life? Evidence from the ELSA Study linked to Hospital Episode Statistics

The mechanism underlying potentially avoidable admissions among people living with dementia appears to involve two main pathways: clinical factors, through decompensations in the cardiovascular and genitourinary systems, and socioeconomic factors, which may reflect inequalities in access to preventive care. Identifying risk profiles for increased unplanned hospital use in the final years of life could support the development of targeted care models to reduce unnecessary admissions and improve end-of-life care.