The 30-day readmission of same-day discharge following pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation: a propensity score-matched analysis from National Readmission Database

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The complication rate following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF) has improved in recent decades with the increasing number of PVI worldwide. The effectiveness and safety of same-day discharge for PVI has not been elucidated well using a large nationwide database. Purpose The aim of our study was to evaluate the readmission rates within 30-days among patients receiving PVI for AF with the same-day discharge compared with the usual overnight observation protocol. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study using the US Nationwide Readmission Database. Patients were divided into the two groups: the same-day discharge group and the overnight observation group (those who stayed at least one night following PVI). The primary outcome was an all-cause 30-day readmission rate following discharge in patients receiving PVI and a secondary outcome of total healthcare cost. A 1:3 propensity score matching was used to compare the safety within both protocols. Patients with peri-procedural complications such as pericardial, vascular, bleeding requiring transfusion, were excluded from the analysis. Result Among 30,776 patients (mean 67.2±11.4 years, 18,004 male (58.5%)) who received PVI from 2016 through 2018, 440 (1.42%) patients were discharged the same-day following PVI (same-day discharge group), and the remaining 30,336 patients stayed at least one night in the hospital (the overnight observation group). A propensity score analysis generated 1,751 matched pairs (440 in the same-day discharge group; 1311 in the observation overnight group). The 30-day readmission following discharge was not significantly higher in the same-day discharge group, compared to the overnight observation group (same-day discharge vs. overnight observation group: 12.7% vs. 9.7%, p=0.23; odds ratio [OR]:1.39, 95%confidence interval [CI]: 0.87–2.22) (Figure). Healthcare cost was significantly higher in the overnight observational group. ($25,237±14,036 vs. $30,749±16,383; p<0.01). Conclusion In this large nationwide study using a propensity score matching analysis, there was no significant difference in 30-day readmission rates following the same-day discharge in patients receiving PVI for AF compared with the overnight observation protocol. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.