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Clinical Trial
. 2021 Oct 11;11(1):20172.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-99250-8.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of preventable hospital readmissions within 30 days

Elsemieke A I M Meurs  1 , Carl E H Siegert  2 , Elien Uitvlugt  1 , Najla El Morabet  1 , Ruth J Stoffels  3 , Dirk W Schölvinck  4 , Laura F Taverne  5 , Pim B J E Hulshof  2 , Hilde J S Ten Horn  6 , Philou C W Noordman  7 , Josien van Es  6 , Nicky van der Heijde  7 , Meike H van der Ree  2 , Maurice A A J van den Bosch  8 , Fatma Karapinar-Çarkit  9
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of preventable hospital readmissions within 30 days

Elsemieke A I M Meurs et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Knowledge regarding preventable hospital readmissions is scarce. Our aim was to compare the clinical characteristics of potentially preventable readmissions (PPRs) with non-PPRs. Additionally, we aimed to identify risk factors for PPRs. Our study included readmissions within 30 days after discharge from 1 of 7 hospital departments. Preventability was assessed by multidisciplinary meetings. Characteristics of the readmissions were collected and 23 risk factors were analyzed. Of the 1120 readmissions, 125 (11%) were PPRs. PPRs occurred equally among different departments (p = 0.21). 29.6% of PPRs were readmitted by a practitioner of a different medical specialty than the initial admission (IA) specialist. The PPR group had more readmissions within 7 days (PPR 54% vs. non-PPR 44%, p = 0.03). The median LOS was 1 day longer for PPRs (p = 0.16). Factors associated with PPR were higher age (p = 0.004), higher socio-economic status (p = 0.049), fewer prior hospital admissions (p = 0.004), and no outpatient visit prior to readmission (p = 0.025). This study found that PPRs can occur at any department in the hospital. There is not a single type of patient that can easily be pinpointed to be at risk of a PPR, probably due to the multifactorial nature of PPRs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart readmission inclusion and final preventability scores.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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