title: Risk factors for hospital readmission of elderly patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to identify which factors were associated with a risk of hospital readmission within 3 months after discharge of a sample of elderly patients admitted to internal medicine and geriatric wards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 1178 patients aged 65 years or more and discharged from one of the 66 wards of the 'Registry Politerapie SIMI (REPOSI)' during 2010, 766 were followed up by phone interview 3 months after discharge and were included in this analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of several variables with rehospitalization within 3 months from discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen percent of patients were readmitted at least once within 3 months after discharge. By univariate analysis in-hospital clinical adverse events (AEs), a previous hospital admission, number of diagnoses and drugs, comorbidity and severity index (according to Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-CIRS), vascular and liver diseases with a level of impairment at discharge of 3 or more at CIRS were significantly associated with risk of readmission. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only AEs during hospitalization, previous hospital admission, and vascular and liver diseases were significantly associated with the likelihood of readmission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate the need for increased medical attention towards elderly patients discharged from hospital with characteristics such as AEs during the hospitalization, previous admission, vascular and liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy. carlotta.franchi@marionegri.it
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tettamanti
authors.forename: Codjo D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Djade
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasina
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corrao
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marengoni
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcucci
authors.forename: Pier Mannuccio
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mannucci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors