Hospital readmissions and deaths during the first year after hospitalization for stroke.

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The goal of this study of 326 patients surviving index hospitalization for stroke was to: 1) document deaths and readmissions and 2) describe the association of selected variables with these outcomes. Stroke severity data were retrieved from our Stroke Center's database; demographics and information relevant to index and subsequent readmissions was garnered from the Hospital's administrative database. The Social Security Death Index was also used to investigate deaths. During the year following index admission for stroke, 32.5% were readmitted at least once, 15.6% died, and 39.6% were either readmitted or died. The diagnosis-related group associated most often with the first readmission was number 14 (specific cerebrovascular disorders except transient ischemic attach). Only index length of stay had a significant bivariate correlation (r = .138) with readmission. Age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, index length of stay, and index discharge destination had significant bivariate correlations (r = .129-.231) with death and death or readmission. Regression analysis showed that a combination of the NIHSS score and index length of stay provided the strongest association with death (R2 = .094) and death or readmission (R2 = .099). Readmission and death are common during the first year after stroke. The initiation of secondary prevention strategies would appear to be highly warranted on the basis of these findings.