Socioeconomic factors associated with readmission following pediatric tonsillectomy

Abstract

ObjectivesWe aim to analyze factors associated with readmission after tonsillectomy to understand socioeconomic factors associated with readmission. MethodsSingle institution retrospective study of pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy over an 8 year study period, comparing patients who required readmission for bleeding concerns or pain/dehydration to those who did not require readmission. ResultsOf the 14,152 tonsillectomy patients, 508 (3.6%) were readmitted with 423 (83.3%) for bleeding concerns and 85 (16.7%) for pain or dehydration. Overall readmission was more likely in age >6 years (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.34–1.92, P < 0.001), while poverty level below 10% (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66–0.94, P = 0.008) and parental college education above 25% (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65–0.96, P = 0.016) were associated with lower incidence of overall readmission. For patients readmitted for bleeding concerns, age >6 years (OR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.37–2.02, P < 0.001) was associated with readmission on multivariate analysis. Within the pain/dehydration group, African American race was associated with increased readmission rates, while poverty level below 10% and parental college education above 25% were associated with decreased readmission rates. ConclusionSocioeconomic factors and age play a role in readmission rates following pediatric tonsillectomy.