An Evaluation of Critical Care Follow-Up Clinic attendance and subsequent Healthcare Utilisation in Wales, UK: A Retrospective, Population-Level Data-Linkage Study

Abstract

Objectives
This study evaluated the impact of critical care follow-up clinics in Wales by comparing demographics between patients who attended or did not attend clinics. Additionally, we assessed the impact of clinic attendance on healthcare resource utilisation (HRU) and patient outcomes during the first year post-discharge from critical care.

Methods
We conducted retrospective population-level cohort study using anonymised, linked administrative data in the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank. We analysed patient demographics and HRU metrics including critical care readmissions, GP events, emergency department attendances, and hospital days. Data were stratified by invitation and attendance status, and multivariable regression models were used to evaluate the impact of clinic attendance on HRU.

Results
Preliminary analysis revealed demographic differences between patients who attended and did not attend critical care follow-up clinics. We will also present the results of our analysis on the impact of follow-up clinic attendance on HRU.

Conclusion
This study is the first to evaluate the impact of critical care follow-up clinics in Wales. The findings suggest variability in both provision and impact of follow-up clinics, underscoring the potential benefits of these clinics and the need for further research to optimise their implementation and effectiveness.