Aims: We analyzed the impact of frailty on readmission rates for ST-elevated myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) and the utilization of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in STEMI admissions.
Methods and results: The 2016-2019 Nationwide Readmission Database was analyzed for patients admitted with an acute STEMI. Patients were categorized by frailty risk and analyzed for 30-day readmission risk after acute STEMIs, PCI utilization and outcomes, and healthcare resource utilization. Qualifying index admissions were found in 584,918 visits. Low risk frailty was noted in 78.20%, intermediate risk in 20.67%, and high risk in 1.14% of admissions. Thirty-day readmissions occurred in 7.74% of index admissions, increasing with frailty (p < 0.001). Readmission risk increased with frailty, 1.37 times with intermediate and 1.21 times with high-risk frailty. PCI was performed in 86.40% of low-risk, 66.03% of intermediate-risk, and 58.90% of high-risk patients (p < 0.001). Intermediate patients were 55.02% less likely and high-risk patients were 61.26% less likely to undergo PCI (p < 0.001). Length of stay means for index admissions were 2.96, 7.83, and 16.32 days for low, intermediate, and high-risk groups. Intermediate and high-risk frailty had longer length of stay, higher total cost, and were more likely to be discharged to a skilled facility (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Among adult, all-payer inpatient visits, frailty discerned by the hospital frailty risk score was associated with increased readmissions, increased healthcare resource utilization, and lower PCI administration.
Keywords: STEMI; acute myocardial infarction; frailty; percutaneous intervention; readmission.
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