One-year unplanned readmission after percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: rates, causes, and predictors—a retrospective cohort study

Background Unplanned readmissions after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) significantly impact healthcare systems. However, most of the existing literature focuses on short-term readmission rates and causes, with limited data on long-term readmissions. To date, no studies have evaluated the unplanned readmission post-PCI in STEMI patients within the Arab Gulf region. This study aimed to determine the rates, causes, and predictors of readmission post-PCI among STEMI patients over a one-year follow-up in Qatar, one of the Arab Gulf countries. Methods We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar, involving 1,257 patients who underwent PCI during their index STEMI admission between January 1, 2016, and September 30, 2018. Patients were divided into two groups; (1) those who had one or more unplanned readmission within one year after PCI; (2) and those who did not have readmissions. The outcomes evaluated were the rates, causes, and predictors of all-cause and cardiac readmissions within one year post-PCI. Results The mean age of the study population was 51 ± 10 years, and male gender presented 96%. The rate of all-cause readmission within one year post-PCI was 11.5%, with 8.2% due to cardiac reasons. Positive predictors of all-cause readmission included female gender (aOR = 4.14, 95% CI 2.10–8.18, p < 0.001), chronic kidney disease (aOR = 2.76, 95% CI 1.07–7.08, p = 0.035), more than one stent during PCI (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.09–2.55, p = 0.019), and clinical heart failure during the index admission (aOR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.49–3.74, p < 0.001). Conclusion This study highlights the need for targeted management strategies for high-risk populations to reduce readmission rates.