title: [Differential features of DRG 541 readmitting patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hospital readmission is considered an adverse outcome, and the hospital readmission ratio is an indicator of health care quality. Published studies show a wide variability and heterogeneity, with large groups of patients with different diagnoses and prognoses. The aim of the study was to analyse the differences between patients readmitted and those who were not, in patients grouped into the diagnosis related group (DRG) 541.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational study was conducted on DRG 541 patients discharged in 2010. Readmission is defined as any admission into any hospital department, and for any reason at ≤30 days from discharge. An analysis was performed that included age, sex, day of discharge, month of discharge, number of diagnoses and drugs at discharge, respiratory depressant drugs, length of stay, requests for consultations/referrals, Charlson comorbidity index, feeding method, hospitalisations in the previous 6 months, albumin and haemoglobin levels and medical examinations within 30 days after discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 985 patients included in the study, 189 were readmitted. On multivariate analysis, significant variables were: Haemoglobin -0.6g/dl (95% confidence interval [95%CI] -0.9 to -0.3), gastrostomy feeding odds ratio (OR) 5.6 (95%CI: 1.5 to 21.6), hospitalisations in previous 6 months OR 1.9 (95%CI: 1.3 to 2.8), visits to emergency department OR 17.4 (95%CI: 11.3 to 26.8), medical checks after discharge OR 0.4 (95%CI: 0.2 to 0.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DRG 541 readmitting patients have some distinctive features that could allow early detection and prevent hospital readmission.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López Pérez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España. Electronic address: eduardo.montero@salud.madrid.org.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montero Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D012709:Serum Albumin
keywords: Diagnosis-related groups; Disease management; Grupos relacionados por el diagnóstico; Manejo de enfermedades; Patient readmission; Reingreso hospitalario