Key result
Early hospital readmission after kidney transplantation ranges from 18% to 47% in the US and up to 26.6% in Brazil, and is associated with increased one-year mortality and graft loss.
Why the study?
Early hospital readmissions after kidney transplantation adversely affect clinical outcomes and costs, but these associations had not been explored within a Canadian setting.
Early hospital readmissions after kidney transplantation are common and are associated with poorer graft outcomes, increased risk of late readmissions, and higher healthcare costs.
May warrant closer post-discharge surveillance in kidney transplant recipients; leaves open whether interventions targeting readmission reduce mortality or graft loss.
BACKGROUND Early hospital readmissions (EHRs) after kidney transplantation range in incidence from 18%-47% and are important and substantial healthcare quality indicators. EHR can adversely impact clinical outcomes such as graft function and patient mortality as well as healthcare costs. EHRs have been extensively studied in American healthcare systems, but these associations have not been explored within a Canadian setting. Due to significant differences in the delivery of healthcare and patient outcomes, results from American studies cannot be readily applicable to Canadian populations. A better understanding of EHR can facilitate improved discharge planning and long-term outpatient management post kidney transplant. AIM To explore the burden of EHR on kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and the Canadian healthcare system in a large transplant centre. METHODS This single centre cohort study included 1564 KTRs recruited from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2017, with a 1-year follow-up. We defined EHR as hospitalizations within 30 d or 90 d of transplant discharge, excluding elective procedures. Multivariable Cox and linear regression models were used to examine EHR, late hospital readmissions (defined as hospitalizations within 31-365 d for 30-d EHR and within 91-365 d for 90-d EHR), and outcomes including graft function and patient mortality. RESULTS In this study, 307 (22.4%) and 394 (29.6%) KTRs had 30-d and 90-d EHRs, respectively. Factors such as having previous cases of rejection, being transplanted in more recent years, having a longer duration of dialysis pretransplant, and having an expanded criteria donor were associated with EHR post-transplant. The cumulative probability of death censored graft failure, as well as total graft failure, was higher among the 90-d EHR group as compared to patients with no EHR. While multivariable models found no significant association between EHR and patient mortality, patients with EHR were at an increased risk of late hospital readmissions, poorer kidney function throughout the 1st year post-transplant, and higher hospital-based care costs within the 1st year of follow-up. CONCLUSION EHRs are associated with suboptimal outcomes after kidney transplant and increased financial burden on the healthcare system. The results warrant the need for effective strategies to reduce post-transplant EHR.
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Famure et al. (2023) conducted a review in Kidney transplantation. Early hospital readmission was evaluated. Early hospital readmission after kidney transplantation ranges from 18% to 47% in the US and up to 26.6% in Brazil, and is associated with increased one-year mortality and graft loss.
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