Factors associated with readmission to the same hospital within 30 days of discharge in patients who received surgical treatment for head and neck cancer: An NCDB analysis.

Abstract

e18570 Background: Readmission rates within 30-days of discharge is an important quality metric when caring for hospitalized patients. Higher rates of readmission are a predictor of all-cause mortality and associated with negative financial implications for hospitals. Patients undergoing surgery for the treatment of head and neck cancer have readmission rates ranging from 7.3% to 26.5%. The benefits to the patient and the hospital highlight the importance of determining if certain patient features impact the likelihood of readmission. This study sought to determine if certain socioeconomic and demographic factors are associated with higher 30-day readmission rates following surgically treated head and neck cancers. Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, 221,822 patients were identified as having surgically treated head and neck cancer between 2004 and 2020. Using SPSS statistics 28, 30-day readmission rates for these patients were compared to each other based on certain characteristics including sex, race, ethnicity, insurance status, income, and facility type. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a multivariate binary logistic regression, and chi-square analyses using a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Higher 30-day readmission rates in patients with certain demographic and socioeconomic factors were identified. Black and Asian patients had higher readmission rates in comparison to white patients (p < .001, 95% CI = 1.24-1.41 and 1.08-1.30, respectively). Patients of Hispanic backgrounds were 25% more likely to be readmitted than non-Hispanic patients (p < .001, 95% CI = 1.15-1.34). Males had a 13% higher readmission rate than females (p < .001, 95% CI = 1.09-1.17). Uninsured patients were more likely to be readmitted than those with some form of insurance (p < .001). Those with a median annual income less than $46,277 were 11% more likely to be readmitted than those who had a median annual income higher than $46,277 (p < .001). In comparison to those treated at a community cancer program, patients who received treatment at academic/research programs or integrated network cancer programs were 32% and 21% more likely to be readmitted, respectively (p < .001, 95% CI = 1.20-1.45 and 1.10-1.34, respectively). Conclusions: Patients who are more likely to be readmitted to the same hospital within 30-days of being surgically treated for head and neck cancers include black patients, Asians, those of Hispanic descent, males, the uninsured, those with a lower median annual income, and those who received surgical treatment at academic/research programs or integrated network cancer programs. Identification of factors contributing to readmission allows for development of targeted interventions to prevent this occurrence.