title: Unplanned readmission rates, length of hospital stay, mortality, and medical costs of ten common medical conditions: a retrospective analysis of Hong Kong hospital data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies on readmissions attributed to particular medical conditions, especially heart failure, have generally not addressed the factors associated with readmissions and the implications for health outcomes and costs. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with 30-day unplanned readmission for 10 common conditions and to determine the cost implications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This population-based retrospective cohort study included patients admitted to all public hospitals in Hong Kong in 2007. The sample consisted of 337,694 hospitalizations in Internal Medicine. The disease-specific risk-adjusted odd ratio (OR), length of stay (LOS), mortality and attributable medical costs for the year were examined for unplanned readmissions for 10 medical conditions, namely malignant neoplasms, heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, pneumonia, injury and poisoning, nephritis and nephrosis, diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, septicaemia, and aortic aneurysm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall unplanned readmission rate was 16.7%. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis had the highest OR (1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-1.87). Patients with cerebrovascular disease had the longest LOS, with mean acute and rehabilitation stays of 6.9 and 3.0 days, respectively. Malignant neoplasms had the highest mortality rate (30.8%) followed by aortic aneurysm and pneumonia. The attributed medical cost of readmission was highest for heart disease (US$3 199 418, 95% CI US$2 579 443-803 393).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed variations in readmission rates and mortality for different medical conditions which may suggest differences in the quality of care provided for various medical conditions. In-hospital care, comprehensive discharge planning, and post-discharge community support for patients need to be reviewed to improve the quality of care and patient health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong. lywong@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Eliza L Y
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Annie W L
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Michael C M
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Carrie H K
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yam
authors.forename: Frank W K
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Fiona Y Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Eng-Kiong
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Yeoh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000639:trends*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000639:trends*; D012189:Retrospective Studies