title: Hospital-based acute care use in survivors of septic shock.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Septic shock is associated with increased long-term morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the use of hospital-based acute care in survivors after hospital discharge. The objectives of the study were to examine the frequency, timing, causes, and risk factors associated with emergency department visits and hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary, academic hospital in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients admitted with septic shock (serum lactate≥4 mmol/L or refractory hypotension) and discharged alive to a nonhospice setting between 2007 and 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The coprimary outcomes were all-cause hospital readmission and emergency department visits (treat-and-release encounters) within 30 days to any of the three health system hospitals. Of 269 at-risk survivors, 63 (23.4%; 95% CI, 18.2-28.5) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge and another 12 (4.5%; 95% CI, 2.3-7.7) returned to the emergency department for a treat-and-release visit. Readmissions occurred within 15 days of discharge in 75% of cases and were more likely in oncology patients (p=0.001) and patients with a longer hospital length of stay (p=0.04). Readmissions were frequently due to another life-threatening condition and resulted in death or discharge to hospice in 16% of cases. The reasons for readmission were deemed potentially related to the index septic shock hospitalization in 78% (49 of 63) of cases. The most common cause was infection related, accounting for 46% of all 30-day readmissions, followed by cardiovascular or thromboembolic events (18%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of hospital-based acute care appeared to be common in septic shock survivors. Encounters often led to readmission within 15 days of discharge, were frequently due to another acute condition, and appeared to result in substantial morbidity and mortality. Given the potential public health implications of these findings, validation studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: 1Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. 2Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. 3Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Division, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. 4Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. 5Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. 6The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. 7The Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, PA.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortego
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Gaieski
authors.forename: Barry D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Tiffanie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: Dylan S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: S Cham
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sante
authors.forename: Byron
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Drumheller
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States