Living alone predicts 30-day hospital readmission after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
BACKGROUND
Earlier studies show that medical factors and disease severity predict early readmission to hospital after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABGS). Few studies have investigated psychosocial predictors. This study investigated medical, sociodemographic and psychosocial predictors of 30-day hospital readmission.


METHODS
A consecutive sample of 181 patients wait-listed for CABGS completed self-report questionnaires before surgery, and at 2 and 6 months after surgery.


RESULTS
Twenty-six (14.4%) patients were readmitted within 30 days of hospital discharge. Readmitted patients were older (t=2.12, df=179, P=0.035), and more likely to be unmarried (chi=5.80, df=1, P=0.016), live alone (chi=8.33, df=1, P=0.004), have a history of hypertension (chi=2.731, df=1, P=0.098) and have higher anxiety before surgery (t=1.67, df=175, P=0.097). When these variables were entered into a backward stepwise logistic regression, the only significant unique predictor of 30-day readmission was living alone (Wald=7.08, odds ratio=3.42, P=0.008). Patients living alone were over three times more likely than those living with others to be readmitted to hospital. Disease severity and other medical factors were not associated with readmission.


CONCLUSIONS
Living alone was identified as the single most important risk factor for early readmission after CABGS. Patients who live alone may benefit from additional support during early convalescence. Intervention studies could explore support options for these patients.
Murphy
Barbara M
BM
Heart Research Centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. barbara.murphy@heartresearchcentre.org
Elliott
Peter C
PC
Le Grande
Michael R
MR
Higgins
Rosemary O
RO
Ernest
Christine S
CS
Goble
Alan J
AJ
Tatoulis
James
J
Worcester
Marian U C
MU
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000523:psychology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010359:Patient Readmission; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012847:Single Person / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome