Early re-hospitalization of elderly people discharged from a geriatric ward.
OBJECTIVE
Hospitalized elderly patients generally have a high level of disability and comorbidity. In many cases, at hospital discharge, the achieved health status balance is poor, and consequently the risk of further disability and hospital readmission is great. Identifying factors leading to hospital readmission could be helpful in reducing such events. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence and predictive factors of hospital readmission.


METHODS
We conducted an observational cohort study of a group of patients discharged from the Geriatric Ward of the San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Torino (Italy). The study sample contained 839 patients aged 80.6 +/- 6.3 years. The average hospital stay was 17.5 +/- 18.9 days (range 1-274 days).


RESULTS
Follow-up lasted three months, at the end of which 107 patients (12.8%) had been readmitted, 83 (9.9%) had only one readmission and 24 (2.9%) one or more readmissions. The first readmission took place within 15 days of discharge for 24 patients (2.9%) and within 30 days of discharge for 27 (3.2%). A new hospital admission within 15 days of discharge increased the risk of mortality (RR=3) and also the probability of a second re-hospitalization. 10.1% patients died; 88.2% of the patients who died had at least one readmission, whereas only 4.2% of live patients had a new hospital admission.


CONCLUSIONS
Tumors, dementia, comorbidity, high education level, day hospital course and period of convalescence were all significantly and independently related to readmission.
Zanocchi
Mauro
M
Geriatric Section, Medical and Surgical Department, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
Maero
Barbara
B
Martinelli
Elisa
E
Cerrato
Flavio
F
Corsinovi
Laura
L
Gonella
Mafalda
M
Ponte
Elisabetta
E
Luppino
Angela
A
Margolicci
Angela
A
Molaschi
Mario
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012307:Risk Factors