Readmission within three months after inpatient geriatric care—Incidence, diagnosis and associated factors in a Swedish cohort

INTRODUCTION: Readmissions are very costly, in monetary terms but also for the individual patient's safety and health. Only by understanding the reasons and drivers of readmissions, it is possible to ensure quality of care and improve the situation. The aim of this study was to assess inpatient readmissions during the first three months after discharge from geriatric inpatient care regarding main diagnosis and frequency of readmission. Furthermore, the aim was to analyze association between readmission and patient characteristics including demography and socioeconomics, morbidity, physical function, risk screening and care process respectively. METHODS: The study includes all individuals admitted for inpatient care at three geriatric departments operated by the Stockholm region during 2016. Readmission after discharge was studied within three different time intervals; readmission within 10 days after discharge, within 11-30 days and within 31-90 days, respectively. Main diagnosis at readmission was assessed. RESULTS: One fourth of the individuals discharged from inpatient geriatric care was readmitted during the first three months after discharge. The most common main diagnoses for readmission were heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia. Statistically significant risk factors for readmission included age, sex, number of diagnoses at discharge, and to some extent polypharmacy and destination of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Several clinical risk factors relating to physical performance and vulnerability were associated with risk of readmission. Socioeconomic information did not add to the predictability. To enable reductions in readmission rates, proactive monitoring of frail individuals afflicted with chronic conditions is necessary, and an integrated perspective including all stakeholders involved is crucial.