title: Predictors of readmission for complications of coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Risk factors for perioperative mortality after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have been extensively studied. However, which factors are associated with early readmissions following CABG surgery are less clear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify significant predictors of readmission within 30 days following CABG surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Causes for readmission within 30 days were investigated for all patients discharged after CABG surgery in the state of New York from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 1999. A variety of patient demographics, preoperative risk factors, complications, operative and postoperative factors, and provider characteristics were considered as potential predictors of readmissions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge following CABG surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 16 325 total patients, 2111 (12.9%) were readmitted within 30 days for reasons related to CABG surgery. The most common causes of readmission were postsurgical infection (n = 598 [28%]) and heart failure (n = 331 [16%]). Eleven risk factors were found to be independently associated with higher readmission rates: older age, female sex, African American race, greater body surface area, previous myocardial infarction within 1 week, and 6 comorbidities. After controlling for these preoperative patient-level risk factors, 2 provider characteristics (annual surgeon CABG volume <100, hospital risk-adjusted mortality rate in the highest decile) and 2 postoperative factors (discharge to nursing home or rehabilitation/acute care facility, length of stay during index CABG admission of > or =5 days) were also related to higher readmission rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Readmission within 30 days following discharge is an important adverse outcome of CABG surgery. Continued attempts should be made to explore the potential of readmission as a supplement to mortality in assessing provider quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy, Management, and Behavior, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany 12144-3456, USA. elh03@health.state.ny.us
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hannan
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Racz
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walford
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: O Wayne
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Isom
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors