title: Predicting Heart Failure Readmissions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the effects of sociodemographic and clinical factors on heart failure (HF) readmission risk were examined.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Hospitals now incur financial penalties for excessive HF readmission rates; therefore, identifying factors associated with risk is essential for designing risk-reduction strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study using chart reviews compared HF inpatients (N = 245) who were readmitted with those who were not readmitted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample included mostly white (64%) elderly (mean [SD] age, 69.8 [15.1] years) men (49%) and women (51%). Using Cox regression, the number of comorbidities (3-4 or 5-8) and type of comorbidities, specifically renal insufficiency (readmission ratio [RR], 1.7; P = .003), atrial fibrillation (RR, 1.7; P = .005), cardiomyopathy (RR, 1.5; P = .020), followed by a history of myocardial infarction/coronary artery disease (RR, 1.4; P = .055), were the predictors of HF readmission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeting those with high-risk comorbidities is important in designing measures to prevent or delay readmission of HF patients.
authors.affiliation: Anita P. Sherer, MSN, RN, PCCN Clinical Nurse Specialist, Telemetry Cone Health, Greensboro, North Carolina. Patricia B. Crane, PhD, RN, FAHA, FNAP Professor, Associate Dean for Research and Creative Activities, Richard R. Eakin Distinguished Professor of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. Willie Mae Abel, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Jimmy Efird, PhD, MSc Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Heart Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Anita P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sherer
authors.forename: Patricia B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: Willie Mae
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Efird
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000639:trends*; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data