Factors associated with frequent admission to hospital for patients with chronic airflow limitation.
BACKGROUND
Chronic airflow limitation (CAL) is a common cause of admission and readmission to hospital. This study has explored associated factors with repeat hospital admission in patients with CAL.


METHODS
A retrospective file review of patients admitted more than once to hospital during the 1999 calendar year, with a diagnosis of CAL.


RESULTS
Two hundred and two patients admitted with CAL accounted for 284 admissions and 1815 bed days. Of these, 46 patients were admitted more than once accounting for 115 (40.5%) admissions and 730 (39.8%) bed days. The study found evidence of general practice involvement in 35 (30.5%) admissions immediately before presentation at the hospital emergency department (ED). The discharge summary following that admission revealed only 67 (54%) were referred back to their general practitioners for follow up. The number of admissions attending the ED between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.00 pm were 62 (53.9%) and 96 (83.5%) between the hours of 7.00 am and 10.00 pm.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatments given in hospital were similar, in most cases, to what could be provided at home with appropriate community based support. General practitioners were involved in approximately one-third of those patients requiring admission or re-admission to hospital.
Wilson
S
S
Macarthur Health Service, School of Community Medicine, University New South Wales. stephen.wilson@swsahs.nsw.gov.au
Miller
R
R
Collins
N
N
Comino
E
E
Harris
M
M
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014600:Utilization Review