TY  -  JOUR
AU  -  Vitale, Elsa
AU  -  Mudoni, Simona
AU  -  Colacicco, Vito Gregorio
AU  -  Fornelli, Silvana
AU  -  Germini, Francesco
AU  -  Cassano, Maria
T1  -  Sex-related differences in the BRASS index assessment: a case-cohort observational study
PY  -  2021
Y1  -  2021-09-01
DO  -  10.1723/3673.36592
JO  -  The Italian Journal of Gender-Specific Medicine
JA  -  Ital J Gender-Specific Med
VL  -  7
IS  -  3
SP  -  142
EP  -  147
PB  -  Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
SN  -  2612-3487
Y2  -  2026/05/02
UR  -  http://dx.doi.org/10.1723/3673.36592
N2  -  Summary. Background and aim. The BRASS index is a tool used to identify patients at risk of difficult or prolonged hospitalization. The purpose of the study is to analyze whether there are differences in the evaluation of the BRASS index upon admission and upon discharge with regard to sex and to the length of hospital stay (in days). Methods. The BRASS assessment was performed upon admission (T0) and upon discharge (T1) for each participant, according to their sex and age. Statistical differences were evaluated on the basis of sex and the risk associated with the BRASS score. Spearman’s correlations were assessed among all the variables considered. Results. Ninety-five patients (43 males and 52 females) participated in this study. The average age was 80 ± 9 years. The BRASS index at T0 was 12.51 ± 7.66 and at T1 13.91 ± 8.61. The average length of hospitalization was 13 ± 7 days. There were statistically significant differences between the sex and the BRASS index risk assessment at T0 (p<0.001) and also at T1 (p <0.001) according to the sex variable, respectively. Correlations were also statistically significant between: sex and age (p = 0.016), sex and risk assessment both at T0 (p <0.001) and T1 (p <0.001), age and risk assessment both at T0 (p <0.001) and T1 (p <0.001) and age and days of hospitalization (p = 0.005). Conclusions. Data showed a significant increase in the BRASS index for female patients, both at T0 and T1. However, the BRASS assessment did not correlate with the length of hospital stay (in days). Nursing could play an important role in the BRASS assessment, both at T0 and T1, in order to better refer the patient to the most appropriate nursing setting after hospitalization.
ER  -