Hospital readmission among older medical patients in Hong Kong

To study the risk factors for hospital readmission among older medical patients in Hong Kong. Cohort study. 1,204 consecutive hospital medical patients aged 70 years and over in Hong Kong. Subjects were interviewed by a research nurse on discharge, and were followed up for six months. Unplanned hosp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London 1999-03, Vol.33 (2), p.153-156
Main Authors: KWOK, T, LAU, E, WOO, J, LUK, K. H, WONG, E, SHAM, A, LEE, S. H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
20th century
Aged
Biology
Cohort Studies
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Health Services for the Aged - statistics & numerical data
Health Services for the Aged - utilization
History of science and technology
Hong Kong - epidemiology
Hospitals
Humans
Hygiene
hospitals
Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data
Life sciences
Logistic Models
Male
Medicine
surgery
pharmacy
Original Papers
Patient Readmission - statistics & numerical data
Risk Factors
Time Factors
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Summary:To study the risk factors for hospital readmission among older medical patients in Hong Kong. Cohort study. 1,204 consecutive hospital medical patients aged 70 years and over in Hong Kong. Subjects were interviewed by a research nurse on discharge, and were followed up for six months. Unplanned hospital readmissions were identified and classified as avoidable or unavoidable. The risk factors for early (within 28 days), recurrent (three or more) and avoidable readmissions were studied by multiple logistic regression. Four hundred and fifty-five patients (37.7%) had at least one readmission in six months; 18%, 6.4%, and 2.9% of subjects had early, recurrent and avoidable readmissions respectively. Recent hospital stay predicted all types of readmissions. Early readmission was predicted by length of stay, Barthel index (assessment of physical and mental function) and unresolved medical problems. Recurrence readmission was predicted by poor family support, residence in a home for the elderly and unresolved medical problems. Hospital readmission may be prevented by ensuring adequate length of stay, so that medical problems are resolved before discharge.
ISSN:0035-8819