title: Risk factors for readmission after neonatal cardiac surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Repeat hospitalizations place a significant burden on health care resources. Factors predisposing infants to unplanned hospital readmission after congenital heart surgery are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a single-center, case-control study. Cases were rehospitalized or died within 30 days of discharge following an arterial switch operation (ASO) or Norwood procedure (NP) between 1992 and 2002. Controls underwent an ASO or NP between 1992 and 2002, and were neither readmitted nor died within 30 days of discharge. Patients and controls were matched by gender, year of birth, and procedure. Potential risk factors examined included indices of medical status at the time of discharge, determinants of access to health care, and provider characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight patients were readmitted; 19 of 498 (3.8%) following an ASO and 29 of 254 (11.4%) after a NP (p < 0.001). Six infants died within 30 days of discharge; 1 after an ASO and 5 after a NP. In multivariate analysis, predictors of readmission or death were: residual hemodynamic problem(s) (odds ratio [OR] 4.10 [1.18, 14.3], p = 0.026); an intensive care unit stay greater than 7 days (OR 5.17 [1.12, 23.9] p = 0.035) (ASO); residual hemodynamic problem(s) (OR 5.84 [1.98, 17.2], p = 0.001); and establishment of full oral intake less than 2 days before discharge (OR 5.83 [1.83, 18.6], p = 0.003) (NP). Combining both groups, living in a low income Zip Code (< 30,000 dollars/annum) was associated with a lower likelihood of readmission (OR 0.25 [0.07, 0.85], p = 0.027).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Residual hemodynamic problem(s) predispose to hospital readmission after the ASO and NP. Low socioeconomic status may reduce the likelihood of readmission even when problems arise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. andrew.mackie@muhc.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mackie
authors.forename: Kimberlee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gauvreau
authors.forename: Jane W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Newburger
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Lars C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors