title: [Factors Related to the Unplanned 90-Day Readmission Rate Among Elderly at a Geriatric Medicine Center].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unplanned readmissions increase healthcare utilization rates and healthcare costs. The Taiwan Healthcare Indicator Series regards the rate of hospital readmission as an important indicator of inpatient-care quality. The elderly face a higher risk of unplanned readmission due to elderly-specific health and disease characteristics such as deteriorating body functions and the relatively high incidence of complications after the treatment of acute diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the factors that relate to the unplanned readmission of elderly within 90 days of discharge at a geriatric medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of inpatients aged ≥65 years who had been admitted between January 2013 and December 2014. Related factors that affected the rate of unplanned readmission within 90 days of discharge were screened and analyzed using the chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 90-day unplanned readmission rate was 20.3%. Factors that were found to relate to unplanned readmissions were: emergency room admission (88.7%), lack of regular outpatient follow-up (60.4%), cerebrovascular incidents (43.4%), osteoporosis (32.1%), gastrointestinal diseases (45.3%), and a hemoglobin level < 10.0 mg/dL (35.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study may help the healthcare team better understand the factors that affect unplanned readmission in the elderly. We suggest that these teams provide timely health education for elderly, integrative healthcare for chronic diseases, and appropriate nutritional supplements in order to reduce unplanned readmissions.
authors.affiliation: MS, RN, Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chun-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: BSN, RN, Head Nurse, Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Miaw-I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, Taiwan, ROC. lee106@isu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: MSN, RN, Supervisor, Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shiow-Rong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Jeang
authors.affiliation: PhD, RN, Director, Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yan-Choiu
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Ku
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords:  elderly ;  logistic regression analysis ;  unplanned readmissions 