Readmission of patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To assess rates, reasons, and predictors of hospital readmission after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).


METHODS
In this prospective, descriptive, correlational study, 124 subjects responded to a mailed questionnaire 6 weeks after undergoing CABG at Yale New Haven Hospital.


RESULTS
The sample was 79% male, 94% white, and had a mean age of 66 +/- 10 years and a mean length of stay of 5.7 +/- 1.8 days. A total of 14.5% had unplanned cardiac-related readmissions (44% to their community hospital). Chest pain with or without shortness of breath was the primary reason for readmission (33%), followed by incisional problems (17%) and analgesic reactions (17%). Logistic regression analysis, based on bivariate analyses, revealed that female sex (odds ratio 4.7; 95% confidence interval, 1. 5-14.6; P =.007) and obesity (odds ratio 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-11.6; P =.026) predicted hospital readmission.


CONCLUSIONS
Effective follow-up, with particular focus on women and the obese, may decrease readmissions. (Heart Lung((R)) 1999;28:243-50).
Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale University School of Nursing, Conn. 06536-0740, USA.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome