• Alison M Mudge, Karen Kasper, Anne Clair, Helen Redfern, Jack J Bell, Michael A Barras, Grad Dip, and Nancy A Pachana.
• Department of Internal Medicine and Aged Care, Herston, Queensland, Australia. Alison_Mudge@health.qld.gov.au
• J Hosp Med. 2011 Feb 1; 6 (2): 616761-7.

BackgroundHospital readmissions are common and costly. A recent previous hospitalization preceding the index admission is a marker of increased risk of future readmission.ObjectivesTo identify factors associated with an increased risk of recurrent readmission in medical patients with 2 or more hospitalizations in the past 6 months.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingAustralian teaching hospital acute medical wards, February 2006-February 2007.Participants142 inpatients aged ≥ 50 years with a previous hospitalization ≤ 6 months preceding the index admission. Patients from residential care, with terminal illness, or with serious cognitive or language difficulties were excluded.Variables Of InterestDemographics, previous hospitalizations, diagnosis, comorbidities and nutritional status were recorded in hospital. Participants were assessed at home within 2 weeks of hospital discharge using validated questionnaires for cognition, literacy, activities of daily living (ADL)/instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) function, depression, anxiety, alcohol use, medication adherence, social support, and financial status.Main Outcome MeasureUnplanned readmission to the study hospital within 6 months.ResultsA total of 55 participants (38.7%) had a further unplanned hospital admission within 6 months. In multivariate analysis, chronic disease (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-9.3, P = 0.002), depressive symptoms (adjusted OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.3-6.8, P = 0.01), and underweight (adjusted OR, 12.7; 95% CI, 2.3-70.7, P = 0.004) were significant predictors of readmission after adjusting for age, length of stay and functional status.ConclusionsIn this high-risk patient group, multiple chronic conditions are common and predict increased risk of readmission. Post-hospital interventions should consider targeting nutritional and mood status in this population.Copyright © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.

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