Frequent identical admission-readmission episodes are associated with increased mortality

Abstract

Frequent emergency readmissions may associate with health consequences. We examined the association between readmissions within 28 days of hospital discharge and mortality in 32, 270 alive-discharge episodes (18-107 years). Data collected between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2019 are presented as age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Compared with no readmission, mortality risk over a 2-year period was increased with one non-identical admission-readmission (AR) episode: HR = 2.4 (2.2-2.7), two or more non-identical AR episodes: HR = 3.0 (2.7-3.4), one identical AR episode: HR = 4.7 (3.6-6.1) and two or more identical AR episodes: HR = 5.0 (3.8-6.7). Eight conditions associated with AR episodes had increased risk of mortality including congestive heart failure: HR = 2.7 (2.2-3.2), chronic pulmonary obstructive disease: HR = 3.0 (2.5-3.6), pneumonia: HR = 2.0 (1.8-2.3), sepsis: HR = 2.2 (1.9-2.5), endocrine disorders: HR = 1.9 (1.6-2.3), urinary tract infection: HR = 1.5 (1.3-1.7), psychiatric disorders: HR = 1.5 (1.1-2.1) and haematological disorders: HR = 1.5 (1.2-1.9). Frequent identical AR episodes, particularly from chronic and age-related conditions, are associated with increased mortality.