Developing and validating multivariable prediction models for predicting the risk of 7-day neonatal readmission following vaginal and cesarean birth using administrative databases

Sangmin Leea , Dylan E. O’Sullivanb, Darren R. Brennerac & Amy Metcalfeade* a Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canadab Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canadac Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canadad Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canadae Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, CanadaCONTACT Amy Metcalfe amy.metcalfe@albertahealthservices.ca Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medicine, and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, CanadaSupplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2020.1860933.AbstractBackground Approximately 3.5% of deliveries in Canada result in potentially preventable neonatal readmission, often times due to preventable morbidities. With complexities in hospital discharge planning, health care providers may benefit in identifying infants at risk of readmission for additional monitoring.Objectives To develop and validate models for predicting 7-day neonatal readmission following vaginal or cesarean births.Methods All liveborn term singleton infants without congenital anomalies in the province of Alberta who were not admitted to the NICU were identified using perinatal and hospitalization databases. A temporal split-sample was used for model development (2012–2014, vaginal n = 63,378; cesarean n = 21,225) and external validation (2014–2015, vaginal n = 21,583, cesarean n = 7,477). Multivariable logistic regression models using backward stepwise selection were used to identify predictors of 7-day readmission. We evaluated predictors of maternal age, Apgar score, length-of-stay, birthweight, gestational age, parity, residence, and sex. Hosmer-Lemeshow test and c-statistics were used to estimate calibration and discrimination.Results The rate of readmission was 3.3% (95% CI 3.1%, 3.4%) and 2.1% (95% CI 1.9%, 2.3%) following vaginal and cesarean births in the development dataset. Prediction model following vaginal birth, excluding predictors of length-of-stay and birthweight, had sub-optimal performance in development (c-statistics 0.69) and validation data (c-statistics 0.68). Prediction model following cesarean birth, excluding predictors of maternal age, birthweight, and residence, had sub-optimal performance in development (c-statistics 0.62) and validation data (c-statistics 0.64). Readmission was observed in 7.9% (95% CI 7.1%, 8.8%) and 4.9% (95% CI 3.9%, 6.1%) of infants of vaginal and cesarean births, respectively, in the top quintile for the risk of 7-day readmission.Conclusion Using routinely collected administrative data, we developed and validated prediction models for neonatal readmission following vaginal and cesarean births. Presently the model is sub-optimal for use in risk assessment and planning at discharge, however, additional information may improve the predictive performance.