Hospital readmission among elderly patients

Abstract

This study investigates the incidence and determinants of hospital readmissions among elderly patients in Norway. The analyses are based on registered data on inpatient admissions to public hospitals from 1999 to 2006. During this period, mean length of stay in hospital decreased, while readmission rates increased. Probit and instrumental variable regression models are applied for the analyses. The results indicate that longer length of stay in the hospital is associated with lower probability of readmission. A patient's age, comorbidities, and complexity of the treatment procedure are positively associated with readmissions, while higher number of diagnostic procedures negatively affects hospital readmission. Finally, patients discharged to institutions are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital.