Causes, Predictors, and Costs of Unplanned 30-Day Readmissions in Patients with Right Heart Failure

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe the frequency, causes, factors, and costs associated with right heart failure encounters. BACKGROUND Multiple studies have looked into heart failure readmissions but there is no study to our knowledge specifically analyzing patients with right heart failure. METHODS Patients with right heart failure diagnosis were identified using the 2017 Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) and were evaluated for the rates, predictors, and costs of unplanned 30 days readmission. Weighted analysis was performed to obtain nationally representative data. RESULTS We identified 7142 patients with right heart failure of whom 21% had an unplanned readmission within 30 days of the index discharge. Patients with history of Coronary artery bypass grafting ( p =0.033; OR 2.359; 95% CI 1.071 - 5.197), Chronic kidney disease (p<0.001; OR 1.607; 95% CI 1.402 - 1.843), atrial fibrillation ( p =0.014; OR 1.417; 95% CI 1.072–1.873) had high odds of unplanned 30 day readmissions while obesity (p<0.001; OR 0.686; 95% CI 0.594 - 0.792) had negative odds of such readmissions. CONCLUSIONS Thirty-day unplanned readmissions remain a significant issue affecting over 1 in 5 patients with right heart failure. Early unplanned readmissions are associated with significant mortality and financial burden in these patients.