Factors related to readmission to a ward for dementia patients: Sex differences

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors related to readmission to a ward for dementia patients with special attention to sex-related issues. METHODS: We reviewed the data of 326 patients who were hospitalized in a ward for dementia patients between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2008, and followed up for 24 months after discharge. For univariate and multivariate analyses, patients were divided into: (i) patients who were not readmitted to our ward within 24 months (control); (ii) patients who were readmitted to our ward within 3 months (early readmission); and (iii) patients readmitted within 4 to 24 months (late readmission). RESULTS: Factors related to readmission differed between sexes as well as between the early and late stage. A small number of cohabitants and outcome (hospital) were factors related to early readmission in men, while outcome (hospital) and long stay in the ward were related to early readmission in women. High physical function, care distress and short stay in the ward were the factors related to late readmission in women. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients who were transferred to another hospital were readmitted within 3 months. Some women were readmitted in the late stage. They had relatively high cognitive and physical functions and most of their caregivers had care distress. The causes of readmission were not due to a decline in cognitive function. It is important to prevent complications in dementia patients and to establish a caregiving system for dementia patients that decreases the burden on caregivers in order to reduce the rate of readmission.