Characteristics of elderly people readmitted to the hospital during the first year after stroke. The Göteborg 70+ stroke study.
OBJECTIVE
Readmissions after acute stroke vary over time and with age and comorbidity. Knowledge of the reasons for readmissions and characteristics of readmitted patients is sparse. This 1-year prospective study examined whether readmissions were related to severity of the index stroke or to comorbidity and explored outcomes in readmitted patients with respect to daily life activities and health-related quality of life.


METHODS
The study included 216 elderly patients (aged >/=70 years) discharged to their homes or a nursing home after index stroke. The main outcomes were readmission rates and reported diagnoses, performance of daily life activities and health-related quality of life.


RESULTS
Nearly half (45%) of the patients were readmitted to the hospital after being discharged to their homes. One readmission was most common, and stroke-related diagnoses were most frequently reported as the reason for readmission. Different forms of heart disease were the next most common reason. The readmitted patients were significantly more dependent in daily life activities, and health-related quality of life was significantly lower among this group.


CONCLUSIONS
Recurrent stroke and sequelae after stroke were major factors behind readmissions, followed by heart disease in elderly stroke patients. The readmitted patients were more dependent in daily life activities and reported a lower health-related quality of life compared with not readmitted patients.
Claesson
Lisbeth
L
Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
Gosman-Hedström
Gunilla
G
Lundgren-Lindquist
Birgitta
B
Fagerberg
Björn
B
Blomstrand
Christian
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors