Correlation of inflammatory burden index with 30-day readmission rates in patients post-elective percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND: The 30-day readmission rate post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a critical quality metric, yet the factors influencing this outcome are not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the association between the Inflammatory Burden Index (IBI), a composite inflammatory biomarker, and 30-day readmission following PCI. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from patients who underwent elective PCI from January 2020 to December 2024. The primary outcome was the incidence of 30-day hospital readmission post-PCI. The IBI was calculated using C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil count, and lymphocyte count. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to assess the association between IBI and 30-day readmission. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the impact of demographic and clinical factors on this association. RESULTS: A total of 1,200 patients were included in final analysis. The mean age was 62.5 years, and 68% were male. The 30-day readmission rate was 16.2%. Higher IBI was significantly associated with 30-day readmission in both univariate (OR: 1.45, 95% CI:1.26-1.67, p < 0.001) and multivariate (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.19-1.67, p < 0.001) analyses. Subgroup analyses revealed that the association was particularly pronounced in older, male patients and those with diabetes. Sensitivity and competing risks analyses confirmed the robustness of our findings. CONCLUSION: Higher IBI is significantly correlated with 30-day readmission following elective PCI, independent of traditional risk factors. These results suggest that IBI may serve as a valuable tool for identifying patients at increased risk of readmission, potentially guiding the development of targeted post-discharge strategies to reduce readmission rates.