Risk Of Hospital Readmission Research Articles

Multi-trajectories of symptoms and their associations with unplanned 30-day hospital readmission among patients with heart failure: a longitudinal study.

This study aimed to uncover hidden patterns and predictors of symptom multi-trajectories within 30 days after discharge in patients with heart failure and assess the risk of unplanned 30-day hospital readmission in different patterns. The study was conducted from September 2022 to September 2023 in four third-class hospitals in Tianjin, China. A total of 301 patients with heart failure were enrolled in the cohort, and 248 patients completed a 30-day follow-up after discharge. Three multi-trajectory groups were identified: mild symptom status (24.19%), moderate symptom status (57.26%), and severe symptom status (18.55%). With the mild symptom status group as a reference, physical frailty, psychological frailty, and comorbid renal dysfunction were predictors of the moderate symptom status group. Physical frailty, psychological frailty, resilience, taking diuretics, and comorbid renal dysfunction were predictors of the severe symptom status group. Compared with the mild symptom status group, the severe symptom status group was significantly associated with high unplanned 30-day hospital readmission risks. This study identified three distinct multi-trajectory groups among patients with heart failure within 30 days after discharge. The severe symptom status group was associated with a significantly increased risk of unplanned 30-day hospital readmission. Common and different factors predicted different symptom multi-trajectories. Healthcare providers should assess the physical and psychological frailty and renal dysfunction of patients with heart failure before discharge. Inpatient care aimed at alleviating physical and psychological frailty and enhancing resilience may be important to improve patients' symptom development post-discharge.

Reducing Hospital Readmission Risk Using Predictive Analytics

This study highlights the development and application of a predictive analytics system in a Midwestern hospital to assess and manage the risk of patient readmissions within 30 days of discharge. By integrating advanced analytical modeling with electronic health records, the system enables the creation of personalized care plans by accurately predicting patients' readmission risks and the optimal timing for interventions. The results suggest that such models can significantly improve resource allocation and the personalization of care plans, thereby reducing unnecessary readmissions and aligning with value-based, patient-centered healthcare goals.

Association of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Race on Readmissions After Stroke.

There is limited research on outcomes of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who also develop stroke, particularly regarding racial disparities. Our goal was to determine whether PTSD is associated with the risk of hospital readmission after stroke and whether racial disparities existed. The analytical sample consisted of all veterans receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration who were identified as having a new stroke requiring inpatient admission based on the International Classification of Diseases codes. PTSD and comorbidities were identified using the International Classification of Diseases codes and given the date of first occurrence. The retrospective cohort data were obtained from the Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse. The main outcome was any readmission to Veterans Health Administration with a stroke diagnosis. The hypothesis that PTSD is associated with readmission after stroke was tested using Cox regression adjusted for patient characteristics including age, sex, race, PTSD, smoking status, alcohol use, and comorbidities treated as time-varying covariates. Our final cohort consisted of 93 651 patients with inpatient stroke diagnosis and no prior Veterans Health Administration codes for stroke starting from 1999 with follow-up through August 6, 2022. Of these patients, 12 916 (13.8%) had comorbid PTSD. Of the final cohort, 16 896 patients (18.0%) with stroke were readmitted. Our fully adjusted model for readmission found an interaction between African American veterans and PTSD with a hazard ratio of 1.09 ([95% CI, 1.00-1.20] P=0.047). In stratified models, PTSD has a significant hazard ratio of 1.10 ([95% CI, 1.02-1.18] P=0.01) for African American but not White veterans (1.05 [95% CI, 0.99-1.11]; P=0.10). Among African American veterans who experienced stroke, preexisting PTSD was associated with increased risk of readmission, which was not significant among White veterans. This study highlights the need to focus on high-risk groups to reduce readmissions after stroke.

Association of Malnutrition with Surgical and Hospital Outcomes after Spine Surgery for Spinal Metastases: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Study of 1613 Patients.

Background: Malnutrition is a common condition that may exacerbate many medical and surgical pathologies. However, few have studied the impact of malnutrition on surgical outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for metastatic disease of the spine. This study aims to evaluate the impact of malnutrition on perioperative complications and healthcare resource utilization following surgical treatment of spinal metastases. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the 2011-2019 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Adult patients with spinal metastases who underwent laminectomy, corpectomy, or posterior fusion for extradural spinal metastases were identified using the CPT, ICD-9-CM, and ICD-10-CM codes. The study population was divided into two cohorts: Nourished (preoperative serum albumin values ≥ 3.5 g/dL) and Malnourished (preoperative serum albumin values < 3.5 g/dL). We assessed patient demographics, comorbidities, intraoperative variables, postoperative adverse events (AEs), hospital LOS, discharge disposition, readmission, and reoperation. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with a prolonged length of stay (LOS), AEs, non-routine discharge (NRD), and unplanned readmission. Results: Of the 1613 patients identified, 26.0% were Malnourished. Compared to Nourished patients, Malnourished patients were significantly more likely to be African American and have a lower BMI, but the age and sex were similar between the cohorts. The baseline comorbidity burden was significantly higher in the Malnourished cohort compared to the Nourished cohort. Compared to Nourished patients, Malnourished patients experienced significantly higher rates of one or more AEs (Nourished: 19.8% vs. Malnourished: 27.6%, p = 0.004) and serious AEs (Nourished: 15.2% vs. Malnourished: 22.6%, p < 0.001). Upon multivariate regression analysis, malnutrition was found to be an independent and associated with an extended LOS [aRR: 3.49, CI (1.97, 5.02), p < 0.001], NRD [saturated aOR: 1.76, CI (1.34, 2.32), p < 0.001], and unplanned readmission [saturated aOR: 1.42, CI (1.04, 1.95), p = 0.028]. Conclusions: Our study suggests that malnutrition increases the risk of postoperative complication, prolonged hospitalizations, non-routine discharges, and unplanned hospital readmissions. Further studies are necessary to identify the protocols that pre- and postoperatively optimize malnourished patients undergoing spinal surgery for metastatic spinal disease.

Analysis of 30-day hospital readmissions and related risk factors for COVID-19 patients with myocarditis hospitalized in the United States during 2020

Background Despite extensive research on COVID-19 and its association with myocarditis, limited data are available on readmission rates for this subset of patients. Thirty-day hospital readmission rate is an established quality metric that is associated with increased mortality and cost. Methods This retrospective analysis utilized the Nationwide Readmission Database for the year 2020 to evaluate 30-day hospital readmission rates, risk factors, and clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients who presented with myocarditis at their index hospitalization. Results Our analysis revealed that 1) the 30-day all-cause hospital readmission rate for patients initially hospitalized with COVID-19 and myocarditis was 11.7%; 2) after multivariate adjustment, the primary predictor of readmission for COVID-19 patients with myocarditis was discharge against medical advice; 3) COVID-19 patients with myocarditis who required readmission had a higher proportion of older patients and Medicare beneficiaries; 4) the most common diagnoses at readmission were COVID-19, sepsis, congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and pneumonia; and 5) readmitted patients were more likely to require renal replacement therapy during their index hospitalization. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of optimizing discharge plans, preventing irregular discharges through shared decision-making, and ensuring robust post-hospital follow-up for patients with COVID-19 and myocarditis at index admission.

Harti Hauora Tamariki: randomised controlled trial protocol for an opportunistic, holistic and family centred approach to improving outcomes for hospitalised children and their families in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Health and wellbeing inequities between the Indigenous Māori and non-Māori populations in Aotearoa, New Zealand continue to be unresolved. Within this context, and of particular concern, hospitalisations for diseases of poverty are increasing for tamariki Māori (Māori children). To provide hospitalised tamariki Māori, and their whānau (families) comprehensive support, a wellbeing needs assessment; the Harti Hauora Tamariki Tool (The Harti tool) was developed. The purpose of this study is to determine how effective the Harti tool is at identifying wellbeing needs, ensuring the documentation of needs, enabling access to services and improving wellbeing outcomes for tamariki and their whānau. The study uses a Kaupapa Māori methodology with qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative methods include in-depth interviews with whānau. This paper presents an overview of a randomised, two parallel, controlled, single blinded, superiority trial for quantitative evaluation of the Harti programme, and hospital satisfaction with care survey. Participants will be Māori and non-Māori tamariki/children aged 0-4 years admitted acutely to the paediatric medical wards at Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand. They will be randomised electronically into the intervention or usual care group. The intervention group will receive usual care in addition to the Harti programme, which includes a 24-section health needs assessment delivered by trained Māori navigators to whānau during the time they are in hospital. The primary endpoint is the relative risk of an acute hospital readmission in the 30 days following discharge for the intervention group patients compared with control group patients. Secondary outcomes include access and utilisation of preventative health services including: oral health care, general practice enrolment, immunisation, healthy home initiatives, smoking cessation and the Well Child Tamariki Ora universal health checks available free of charge for children in Aotearoa New Zealand. Randomised controlled trials are a gold standard for measuring efficacy of complex multifaceted interventions and the results will provide high quality evidence for implementing the intervention nationwide. We expect that this study will provide valuable evidence for health services and policy makers who are considering how to improve the configuration of paediatric hospital services. The study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), registration number: ACTRN12618001079235.

Development of a Discharge Counseling and Medication Reconciliation Process for Pediatric Patients Within a Large, Academic Health System

OBJECTIVE This study aims to characterize the impact of a pharmacist-driven discharge medication reconciliation and counseling program targeting high-risk pediatric patients to mitigate barriers in transitions of care. METHODS This was a single-center quality improvement initiative including high-risk pediatric patients within a large academic medical center. Pharmacy, medical, and information technology team members developed a scoring system to identify patients at high risk of hospital readmission that resulted in a trigger tool built within the electronic medical record (EMR). Pharmacy workflow, the EMR documentation, and staff training were implemented. The primary end point was the number of high-risk patients with complete medication reconciliation and/or discharge counseling performed during the first 2 months after implementation. The secondary end points included quantification and qualification of the interventions conducted by a pharmacist. RESULTS Pediatric clinical pharmacists conducted discharge medication reconciliation and/or counseling for 60 patients during the first 2 months after implementation. There were 65 interventions performed, including 60 discharge medication reconciliations and 5 discharge counseling sessions. Of these interventions, 22 were recommendations on appropriate medication dosing and frequency (37%), 12 on duration of therapy (20%), and 8 were medication additions (13%). There were 6 interventions on adherence assistance (10%), 6 involved selection of medication formulation (10%), 3 involved medication discontinuation (5%), 2 involved appropriate therapy selection (3%), and 1 involved medication stability (1%). All interventions were accepted and implemented by the prescribing providers. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacist-driven discharge medication reconciliation and counseling programs targeting pediatric high-risk population might be an effective tool to mitigate gaps in transitions of care.

1901 Determinants of hospital readmissions in older people with dementia: A scoping review

Abstract Introduction In the UK, fifty-three percent of hospitalised older people with dementia have multimorbidity, and are at an increased risk of hospital readmission within 30 days from discharge. Between 20-40% of these readmissions are preventable [1]. Current research focused on the biological causes of readmissions. However, older people with dementia have additional psychosocial factors increasing their risk of readmission. The aim of this scoping review was to identify psychosocial determinants within the context of known biological factors. Methods Electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsychInfo were searched from inception until July 2022. Quantitative and qualitative studies in English including adults aged 65 years and over with dementia, their care workers and informal carers were considered if they investigated readmission. An inductive approach was adopted to map determinants of hospital readmission. Identified themes were described as narrative categories. Results Seventeen studies including 7,194,878 participants met our inclusion criteria from a total of 4736 articles. Sixteen quantitative studies included observational cohort and randomised controlled trial designs. One American study was qualitative. Ten studies were based in the USA, and one study each from Taiwan, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Japan, Denmark, and The Netherlands. Large hospital and insurance records provided data in over 2 million patients in one American study. Identified psychosocial determinants included inadequate hospital discharge planning, limited interdisciplinary collaboration, and socioeconomic inequalities among ethnic minorities. Biological determinants included reduced mobility and accumulation of comorbidities. Use of antipsychotic medications might explain the interplay between biological and psychosocial determinants. Conclusion Poorly defined roles and responsibilities of health and social care professionals and poor communication during care transitions increase the risk of readmission in older people with dementia. Reference 1. Godard-Sebillotte C, Strumpf E, Sourial N, et al. L. Primary care continuity and potentially avoidable hospitalization in persons with dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021;69(5):1208-20.

Predicting the risk of hospital readmissions using a machine learning approach: a case study on patients undergoing skin procedures.

Even with modern advancements in medical care, one of the persistent challenges hospitals face is the frequent readmission of patients. These recurrent admissions not only escalate healthcare expenses but also amplify mental and emotional strain on patients. This research delved into two primary areas: unraveling the pivotal factors causing the readmissions, specifically targeting patients who underwent dermatological treatments, and determining the optimal machine learning algorithms that can foresee potential readmissions with higher accuracy. Among the multitude of algorithms tested, including logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), Naïve Bayesian (NB), artificial neural network (ANN), xgboost (XG), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN), it was noted that two models-XG and RF-stood out in their prediction prowess. A closer inspection of the data brought to light certain patterns. For instance, male patients and those between the ages of 21 and 40 had a propensity to be readmitted more frequently. Moreover, the months of March and April witnessed a spike in these readmissions, with ~6% of the patients returning within just a month after their first admission. Upon further analysis, specific determinants such as the patient's age and the specific hospital where they were treated emerged as key indicators influencing the likelihood of their readmission.

Impact of delirium on acute stroke outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Delirium is a common complication in acute stroke patients. A 2011 meta-analysis showed an increased risk of in-hospital mortality and mortality within 12months post-stroke, longer hospitalization durations, and increased likelihood of being discharged to a nursing home for patients experiencing post-stroke delirium. There is a need for an updated meta-analysis with several new studies having been since published. The PubMed and Scopus databases were screened for relevant studies. Inclusion criteria were as follows: retrospective or prospective studies reporting on the effects of delirium accompanying acute stroke on mortality, functional outcomes, length of hospital stay and need for re-admission. Strength of association was presented as pooled adjusted relative risk (RR) for categorical outcomes and weighted mean difference (WMD) for continuous outcomes. Statistical analysis was done using STATA version 16.0. The meta-analysis included 22 eligible articles. Eighteen of the 22 studies were prospective follow ups. Included studies were of good quality. Post-stroke delirium was associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality, as well as mortality within 12months post-stroke. Patients with delirium experienced increased hospital stay durations, were at greater risk for hospital readmission, and showed elevated risk for poor functional outcome. Compared to those who did not have delirium, stroke patients with delirium were 42% less likely to be discharged to home. Acute stroke patients with delirium are at an increased risk for poor short- and long-term outcomes. More research is needed to identify the best set of interventions to manage such patients and improve outcomes.

Are Primary Health Care Visits Associated With Reduced Risk of Hospital Readmissions After Discharge From Geriatric Inpatient Departments? Evidence From Stockholm County.

Primary health care visits post-discharge could potentially play an important role in efforts of reducing hospital readmission. Focusing on a single or a particular type of visit obscures nuances in types of primary care contacts over time and fails to quantify the intensity of primary health care visits during the follow-up period. The aim of this study was to explore associations between the number and type of primary health care visits post-discharge and the risk of hospital readmission within 30 days. A register-based closed cohort study. The study population of 6135 individuals were residents of Stockholm who were discharged home from any of the 3 geriatric inpatient departments, excluding those who were readmitted within the next 24 h. The dependent variable was hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge. The key independent variable was the number and type of primary health care visits in 30 days post-discharge. Cox-regression with time-varying covariates was employed for data analyses. Approximately, 12% of the participants were readmitted to hospital within 30 days. There was no statistically significant association between number of primary care visits post-discharge and readmission (HR 1.00; 95% CI 1.00-1.01). Compared to no primary health care visit, no statistically significant association were found for administrative care related visits (HR 0.33, 95%CI 0.08-1.33), clinic visits (HR 0.93, 95%CI 0.71-1.21), home visits (HR 1.03, 95%CI 0.84-1.27), or team visits (HR 0.76, 95%CI 0.54-1.07). There were no associations between primary health care visits post-discharge and hospital readmission after geriatric inpatient care. Further studies using survey or qualitative approaches can provide insights into the factors that are relevant to post-discharge care but are unavailable in this type of register data studies.

Short and medium-term outcomes in individuals hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction and multiple chronic conditions: The Worcester heart attack study.

Multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) are common in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We examined the association of 12 MCCs with the risk of a 30-day hospital readmission and/or dying within one year among those discharged from the hospital after an AMI. We also examined the five most prevalent pairs of chronic conditions in this population and their association with the principal study endpoints. The study population consisted of 3,294 adults hospitalized with a confirmed AMI at the three major medical centers in central Massachusetts on an approximate biennial basis between 2005 and 2015. Patients were categorized as ≤1, 2-3, and ≥4 chronic conditions. The median age of the study population was 67.9 years, 41.6% were women, and 15% had ≤1, 32% had 2-3, and 53% had ≥4 chronic conditions. Patients with ≥4 conditions tended to be older, had a longer hospital stay, and received fewer cardiac interventional procedures. There was an increased risk for being rehospitalized during the subsequent 30 days according to the presence of MCCs, with the highest risk for those with ≥4 conditions. There was an increased, but attenuated, risk for dying during the next year according to the presence of MCCs. Individuals with diabetes/hypertension and those with heart failure/chronic kidney disease were at particularly high risk for developing the principal study outcomes. Development of guidelines that include complex patients, particularly those with MCCs and those at high risk for adverse short/medium term outcomes, remain needed to inform best treatment practices.

Real-world effectiveness of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a retrospective, non-interventional cohort analysis

Background and purpose: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have been shown in clinical trials to improve outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Yet, it is still uncertain how effective they are in real-world patients with HFrEF. This study aimed to investigate the association between MRAs and outcomes in the overall population and a propensity score-matched cohort, based on patient-level data from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry (SwedeHF). Methods: Patients diagnosed with HFrEF were included from the SwedeHF spanning from 2003 to 2020. Enrollment was based on medication dispensation within 3 months before and 6 months after the index date recorded in the register. Endpoints included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, and hospital re-admissions, tracked from the index date until censoring or occurrence of an event. Results: Of 47,103 patients identified through the SwedeHF with HFrEF, 22,368 individuals were not treated with MRA (referred to as MRA naive patients), 21,893 were treated with MRA at a dosage of 25 mg, and 1,423 were treated with MRA at 50 mg once daily. In the overall cohort, the administration of MRA at 25 mg was associated with modest reductions in the risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 0.92 [0.89–0.95], P &lt; 0.0001) and cardiovascular death (hazard ratio: 0.93 [0.89–0.98], P &lt; 0.01) compared to the MRA naive group. However, both dosages of MRA (25 and 50 mg) were associated with a slight increase in the risk of hospital re-admissions due to heart failure 10% compared to MRA naive patients. These findings were consistent when examining a propensity score-matched cohort. Interaction analysis showed a significantly improved survival rate for patients receiving MRA at 25 mg compared to MRA naive individuals, particularly among those with an estimated glomerular rate ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2 across all patients and in those aged 70 years and above. Conclusions: The administration of MRA treatment at 25 mg once daily was linked to a modestly improved survival in a real-life HFrEF population, with even more pronounced benefits observed within a specific subgroup. This finding highlights the importance of personalized medicine in providing customized therapeutic advantages.

Incidence and influencing factors related to social isolation among HIV/AIDS patients: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

People living with HIV (PLWH) are susceptible to social isolation as a result of stigma and discrimination, which not only diminishes adherence to antiretroviral therapy but also heightens the risks of hospital readmission, depression, and mortality. However, there is currently no systematic review addressing the occurrence and impact of social isolation in individuals with HIV. Therefore, this study undertook a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature to examine the prevalence and influencing factors associated with social isolation among PLWH. PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China Science and Technology Journal Database, The China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data and Chinese Biomedicine Literature Database will be searched from the establishment of the database to the latest search date. Literature screening, data extraction and literature quality assessment will be done independently by two researchers and results will be cross-referenced. Data analysis will be performed using stata15.1 software. Risk of publication bias will be assessed using Begg's and Egger's methods. Heterogeneity between studies will then be assessed using the I2 index and its 95% CI and Q statistics. Sources of heterogeneity will be accounted for by subgroup and sensitivity analyses. The results may reveal the prevalence of social isolation among PLWH and provide data support for understanding its etiology and prevention. By systematically reviewing the existing literature on social isolation among PLWH, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence of social isolation within this population, elucidate the detrimental effects it poses for people affected by HIV, and effectively inform targeted interventions for high-risk groups. Furthermore, these findings offer valuable insights to support evidence-based decision-making in public health policy. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024499044.

Hospital Associated Variation in Nutritional Status and Dietary Compliance of Elderly Patients

Background: Malnutrition is associated with detrimental aftermaths for patients including increased infections, complications, exacerbated muscle loss, prolonged hospital stay, and is often underdiagnosed. Objective: The study was carried out to determine the hospital associated variability of nutritional status, impact of length of stay on malnutrition in geriatrics. Methods: A sample of 100 participants was selected for a single group pretest posttest quasi experimental study. Interviewer administered questionnaire and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) tool were used to collect data both at the time of admission and discharge. Within group pre-admission and post-discharge outcomes including nutrition practices, dietary compliance and nutritional status assessed by SGA were compared. Results: The BMI of the participants decreased at the time of discharge (22.89±4.44 kg/m2 pretest vs. 22.25±4.46 kg/m2 posttest) and more adults were categorized undernourished (13% in pretest vs.17% in posttest). A significant decrease in well-nourished participants (45.0% pretest vs. 32.0% posttest), and increased malnourished individuals (12.0% pretest vs. 25.0% posttest) was observed. Conclusion: Length of stay along with dietary constraints in geriatrics affects the nutritional status drastically. Targeted dietetic interventions can decrease hospital associated malnourishment. Dietary compliance of hospitalized patients can be ensured by educating the patient/caregiver to reduce the risk of malnutrition and hospital readmission. Patients already malnourished at admission are more prone to have deteriorating health.

An Integrated Stroke Transitional Care Intervention Improves Physical Functioning, Self-Management and Patient Experience in Older Adults with Stroke and Multimorbidity: A Multisite Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The hospital-to-home transition for older adults with stroke is often fragmented, resulting in hospital readmissions and reduced quality of life, patient satisfaction and safety. There is limited evidence for strategies to improve transitions in care for older adults with stroke and multimorbidity. This study aimed to test, in real-world clinical practice, the effectiveness of the Transitional Care Stroke Intervention (TCSI) versus usual care on health outcomes, patient experience, and health and social service use costs in older adults (&gt; 55 years) with stroke and multimorbidity (&gt; 2 chronic conditions).&#x0D; Methods: This pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted among older adults with a stroke and multimorbidity discharged from the hospital to the community using outpatient stroke rehabilitation services in two communities in Ontario, Canada. Participants were randomized 1:1 to usual care (control group) or usual care plus the 6-month TCSI (intervention group). The TCSI was delivered virtually by an interprofessional team from hospital-based outpatient stroke rehabilitation clinics (Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Language Pathologist, Registered Nurse, and Social Worker). The TCSI is a complex, integrated intervention which includes care coordination/system navigation support, phone/video visits, monthly interprofessional case conferences, and an online resource to support system navigation. Data analysis was performed by intention to treat. The primary outcome was risk of hospital readmission (all-cause) after 6 months. Secondary outcomes were mental and physical functioning, depressive symptoms, stroke self-management, patient experience, number of hospital days and readmissions, number of ED visits, survival rates to first hospital and ED visit, risk of ED visits, and health and social service use costs. Older adults with stroke were engaged as co-investigators and informed the research design, implementation, and evaluation through participation in the Patient Partner Advisory and the TCSI Steering Committees.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: Ninety participants were enrolled (44 intervention, 46 control); 11 (12%) participants were lost to follow-up, leaving 79 (39 intervention, 40 control). Most participants were men (60%), with an average of 7 comorbid conditions, and 78% had experienced their first-ever stroke. No significant group differences were seen for the baseline to six-month risk of hospital readmission (all-cause). However, stroke survivors in the intervention group reported higher levels of physical functioning (SF-12 Physical Component Summary Score mean difference: 5.10; 95% CI: 1.58-8.62, p=0.005), stroke self-management (Southampton Stroke Self-Management Questionnaire mean difference: 6.00; 95% CI: 0.51—11.50, p=0.03), and patient experience (Person-Centred Coordinated Care Experiences Questionnaire mean difference: 2.64, 95% CI: 0.81, 4.47, p=0.005) compared with the usual care group. No significant group differences were seen for the other secondary outcomes.&#x0D; Discussion: The TCSI improved physical functioning, stroke self-management and patient experience in older adults with stroke and multimorbidity without increasing total healthcare costs compared to usual care.&#x0D; Conclusion:The results provide evidence for the effectiveness of an integrated intervention to optimize transitional care outcomes for older adults with stroke and multimorbidity receiving outpatient stroke rehabilitation services.&#x0D; Suggestions for future research: Future research is needed to further evaluate this intervention in diverse settings and populations, with a larger sample size and a full economic evaluation. &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Patients with early-stage alcohol-associated liver disease are at increased risk of hospital readmission and death.

Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) can develop alcohol-associated fatty liver disease (AFLD). However, the impact of AFLD on outcomes remains unclear. We studied the impact of AFLD on readmission, 30-day mortality, and overall mortality in patients admitted with AUD. Hospitalized patients with AUD between 2011 and 2019 at a tertiary medical center were retrospectively evaluated. Our population included patients with AUD with AFLD: AST and ALT elevation and serum bilirubin <3 mg/dl. Patients with AUD without evidence of liver disease served as control and were labeled as no ALD. Patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis (AC) and alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) were included for comparison. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable regression for predictors of mortality and survival were performed. There were 7522 patients of which 32.44% were female with mean age of 51.86 ± 14.41 years. Patient distribution included no ALD (n = 3775), AFLD (n = 2192), AC (n = 1017) and AH (n = 538) groups. Compared to no ALD group, AFLD group was associated with significantly higher 30-day mortality [4.43% vs. 1.56%, hazard ratio (HR): 2.84; P < 0.001], overall mortality [15.97% vs. 12.69%, HR 1.40, P < 0.001], and 30-day readmission [21.85% vs. 18.49%, odds ratio: 1.21; P < 0.01]. We demonstrated that AFLD is not a benign entity and poses significant mortality risk. Our results suggest that AFLD may be under-recognized and highlight the need for focused management and close follow-up after discharge.

AN INTEGRATED TRANSITIONAL CARE INTERVENTION IMPROVES PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES IN OLDER ADULTS WITH STROKE

Abstract The transition between hospital and home is associated with significant challenges resulting in hospital readmissions and poor health outcomes. This study aimed to test, in real-world clinical practice, the effectiveness of a Transitional Care Stroke Intervention (TCSI) compared to usual care on patient-reported outcomes and health and social service use costs in older adults (&amp;gt; 55 years) with stroke and multimorbidity (&amp;gt; 2 chronic conditions). The TCSI was delivered virtually by an interprofessional (IP) team, and included care coordination/system navigation support, phone/video visits, monthly IP team conferences, and an online resource co-designed with patient partners to support self-management and system navigation. The primary outcome was risk of hospital readmission after six-months. Secondary outcomes included physical and mental functioning, stroke self-management, patient experience, and health and social service costs. Ninety participants were enrolled (44 intervention, 46 control); 11 (12%) participants were lost to follow-up, leaving 79 (39 intervention, 40 control). Differences favoring the intervention group were seen in physical functioning (SF-12 PCS mean difference: 5.10; 95% CI: 1.58-8.62, p=0.005), self-management (Southampton Stroke Self-Management Questionnaire mean difference: 6.00; 95% CI: 0.51—11.50, p=0.03), and patient experience (Person-Centred Coordinated Care Experiences Questionnaire mean difference: 2.64, 95% CI: 0.81, 4.47, p=0.005). No significant between-group differences were seen for baseline to six-month risk of hospital readmission or total health and social service costs. The TCSI produced greater gains in patient-reported physical health, self-management and experience compared with usual stroke care. These improvements were achieved without increasing total healthcare costs.

Outcomes of early hospital readmission after kidney transplantation: Perspectives from a Canadian transplant centre.

Early hospital readmissions (EHRs) after kidney transplantation range in incidence from 18%-47% and are important and substantial healthcare quality indicators. EHR can adversely impact clinical outcomes such as graft function and patient mortality as well as healthcare costs. EHRs have been extensively studied in American healthcare systems, but these associations have not been explored within a Canadian setting. Due to significant differences in the delivery of healthcare and patient outcomes, results from American studies cannot be readily applicable to Canadian populations. A better understanding of EHR can facilitate improved discharge planning and long-term outpatient management post kidney transplant. To explore the burden of EHR on kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and the Canadian healthcare system in a large transplant centre. This single centre cohort study included 1564 KTRs recruited from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2017, with a 1-year follow-up. We defined EHR as hospitalizations within 30 d or 90 d of transplant discharge, excluding elective procedures. Multivariable Cox and linear regression models were used to examine EHR, late hospital readmissions (defined as hospitalizations within 31-365 d for 30-d EHR and within 91-365 d for 90-d EHR), and outcomes including graft function and patient mortality. In this study, 307 (22.4%) and 394 (29.6%) KTRs had 30-d and 90-d EHRs, respectively. Factors such as having previous cases of rejection, being transplanted in more recent years, having a longer duration of dialysis pretransplant, and having an expanded criteria donor were associated with EHR post-transplant. The cumulative probability of death censored graft failure, as well as total graft failure, was higher among the 90-d EHR group as compared to patients with no EHR. While multivariable models found no significant association between EHR and patient mortality, patients with EHR were at an increased risk of late hospital readmissions, poorer kidney function throughout the 1st year post-transplant, and higher hospital-based care costs within the 1st year of follow-up. EHRs are associated with suboptimal outcomes after kidney transplant and increased financial burden on the healthcare system. The results warrant the need for effective strategies to reduce post-transplant EHR.

Thirty-day hospital readmission predictors in older patients receiving hospital-at-home: a 3-year retrospective study in France

ObjectiveThis study described older patients receiving hospitalisation-at-home (HaH) services and identified factors associated with 30-day hospital readmission.Design3-year retrospective study in 2017–2019 in France.Participants75 108 patients aged 75 years and older...