Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) may put patients at risk of adverse health outcomes and often generate hospital readmission. A retrospective case-control study (2000-2004) of all DAMA in Veneto Region hospitals was carried out to determine the baseline characteristics of patients who leaves hospital. During the 5-years study period, the overall DAMA rates were 0.8 from ordinary hospitalization and 0.2 from daily. Prediction of patients at risk of DAMA may be possible with several defined variables and this analysis represent an instrument that should facilitate the development of successful strategies to reduce DAMA for high-risk patients.