Not All Discharge Settings Are Created Equal: Thirty-Day Readmission Risk after Elective Colorectal Surgery

Dis Colon Rectum. 2020 Sep;63(9):1302-1309. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000001727.

Abstract

Background: Discharge to nonhome settings after colorectal resection may increase risk of hospital readmission.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of various discharge dispositions on 30-day readmission after adjusting for confounding demographic and clinical factors.

Design: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Settings: Data were obtained from the University HealthSystem Consortium (2011-2015).

Patients: Adults who underwent elective colorectal resection were included.

Main outcome measures: Thirty-day hospital readmission risk was measured.

Results: The mean age of the study population (n = 97,455) was 58 years; half were men and 78% were white. Seventy percent were discharged home routinely (home without service), 24% to home with organized health services, 5% to skilled nursing facility, 1% to rehabilitation facility, and <1% to long-term care hospital. Overall rate of readmission was 12%; 9% from home without service, 16% from home with organized home health services, 19% from skilled nursing facility, 34% from rehabilitation facility, and 22% from long-term care hospital (p < 0.001). Patients with an intensive care unit stay, more postoperative complications, and longer hospitalization stay were more likely to be discharged to home with organized home health services or to a facility (p < 0.001). Discharge to home with organized home health services, skilled nursing facility, or rehabilitation facility increased multivariable-adjusted readmission risk by 30% (OR = 1.3 (95% CI, 1.3-1.6)), 60% (OR = 1.6 (95% CI, 1.5-1.8)), or 200% (OR = 3.0 (95% CI, 2.5-3.6)). Discharge to long-term care hospital was not associated with higher adjusted readmission risk (OR = 1.2 (95% CI, 0.9-1.6)), despite this group having the highest comorbidity and postoperative complications. Among patients readmitted within 30 days, median time to readmission was significantly different among home without service (n = 7), home with organized home health services (n = 8), skilled nursing facility (n = 8), rehabilitation facility (n = 9), and long-term care hospital (n = 12; p < 0.001).

Limitations: This study was limited by its retrospective nature.

Conclusions: Discharge to home with organized home health services, skilled nursing facility, or rehabilitation facility, but not long-term care hospital, is associated with increased adjusted risk of readmission compared with routine home discharge. Potential targets to decrease readmission include improving transition of care at discharge, improving quality of care after discharge, and improving facility resources. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B272.

No todas las configuraciones de alta son iguales: RIESGOS DE READMISIÓN A 30 DÍAS DESPUÉS DE CIRUGÍA COLORRECTAL ELECTIVA: El alta hospitalaria hacia el domicilio luego de una resección colorrectal puede aumentar el riesgo de readmisión.Determinar el impacto de varias configuraciones diferentes de alta en la readmisión a 30 días luego de ajustar factores demográficos y clínicos.Estudio de cohortes retrospectivo.Los datos se obtuvieron del Consorcio del Sistema de Salud Universitaria (2011-2015).Todos aquellos adultos que se sometieron a una resección colorrectal electiva.Los riesgos de readmisión hospitalaria a 30 días.La edad media de la población estudiada (n = 97,455) fué de 58 años; la mitad eran hombres y un 78% eran blancos. El 70% fueron dados de alta de manera rutinaria (a domicilio sin servicios complementarios), 24% alta a domicilio con servicios de salud organizados, 5% alta hacia un centro con cuidados de enfermería especializada, 1% alta hacia un centro de rehabilitación y <1% alta hacia un hospital con atención a largo plazo. La tasa global de readmisión fué del 12%; nueve por ciento desde domicilios sin servicios complementarios, 16% desde domicilios con servicios de salud organizados, 19% desde un centro de enfermería especializada, 34% desde el centro de rehabilitación y 22% desde un hospital con atención a largo plazo (p <0.001). Los pacientes con estadías en Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, con más complicaciones postoperatorias y con una hospitalización prolongada tenían más probabilidades de ser dados de alta hacia un domicilio con servicios de salud organizados o hacia un centro de rehabilitación (p <0,001). El alta hospitalaria con servicios organizados de atención médica domiciliaria, centros de enfermería especializada o centros de rehabilitación aumentaron el riesgo de readmisión ajustada de múltiples variables en un 30% (OR 1.3, IC 95% 1.3-1.6), 60% (OR 1.6, IC 95% 1.5-1.8), o 200% (OR 3.0, IC 95% 2.5-3.6), respectivamente. El alta hospitalaria a largo plazo no fué asociada con un mayor riesgo de readmisión ajustada (OR 1.2, IC 95% 0.9-1.6), no obstante que este grupo fué el que tuvo las mayores comorbilidades y complicaciones postoperatorias. Entre los pacientes readmitidos dentro de los 30 días, la mediana del tiempo hasta el reingreso fue significativamente diferente entre el domicilio sin servicios complementarios (7), domicilio con servicios de salud organizados (8), el centro de cuidados de enfermería especializada (8), centros de rehabilitación (9) y hospitales con atención a largo plazo (12) (p <0,001).Naturaleza retrospectiva del presente estudio.El alta hospitalaria con servicios de salud domiciliarios organizados, hacia centros de enfermería especializada o hacia centros de rehabilitación se asocian con un mayor riesgo ajustado de readmisión en comparación con el alta domiciliaria de rutina y los hospitales con atención a largo plazo. Los objetivos potenciales para disminuir la readmisión incluyen mejorar la transición de la atención al momento del alta, mejorar la calidad de la atención después del alta y mejorar las diferentes facilidades para los pacientes. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B272.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Digestive System Surgical Procedures*
  • Diverticulitis, Colonic / surgery
  • Elective Surgical Procedures*
  • Female
  • Home Care Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Hospitals, Rehabilitation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / surgery
  • Intensive Care Units / statistics & numerical data
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Long-Term Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Patient Discharge*
  • Patient Readmission / statistics & numerical data*
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities / statistics & numerical data*