Thirty-day unplanned readmissions following hospitalization for atrial fibrillation in a tertiary Syrian center: A real-world observational cohort study

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide. Data regarding 30-day readmission following index admission for AF in the developing world are poorly described. Objectives The study aimed to assess the rate, predictors, and trends of 30-day readmission after index admission for AF in Syria. Methods We included adult patients who had an index admission with AF to Latakia's tertiary center between June 2021 and October 2023. Patients were monitored for readmission for 30 days after index discharge. Data were taken from patients' medical notes. Results A total of 661 patients were included in the final analysis, of which 282 (43%) were readmitted to hospital within 30 days following index admission. Cardiac causes were the most common cause of readmission in 72% of patients, of which 60% were AF. Readmitted patients had a higher median age (62 years vs 57 years, P = .001), and there were fewer males (58% vs 51%, P = .001). In multivariate analysis, factors that independently increased 30-day readmission risk were older age (hazard ratio HR 1.5, 95% confidence interval CI 1.1–1.9), female sex (HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.02–1.4), diabetes mellitus (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3–2.3), and congestive heart failure (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.7–2.9). Most cardiac readmissions happened during the first 15 days (79%). Conclusion Almost 1 in 2 patients were readmitted within 30 days after an index admission for AF. Female sex, advancing age, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure were independently associated with an increased risk of 30-day readmission.