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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

Unplanned readmission rates, length of hospital stay, mortality, and medical costs of ten common medical conditions: a retrospective analysis of Hong Kong hospital data

Authors: Eliza LY Wong, Annie WL Cheung, Michael CM Leung, Carrie HK Yam, Frank WK Chan, Fiona YY Wong, Eng-Kiong Yeoh

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

Studies on readmissions attributed to particular medical conditions, especially heart failure, have generally not addressed the factors associated with readmissions and the implications for health outcomes and costs. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with 30-day unplanned readmission for 10 common conditions and to determine the cost implications.

Methods

This population-based retrospective cohort study included patients admitted to all public hospitals in Hong Kong in 2007. The sample consisted of 337,694 hospitalizations in Internal Medicine. The disease-specific risk-adjusted odd ratio (OR), length of stay (LOS), mortality and attributable medical costs for the year were examined for unplanned readmissions for 10 medical conditions, namely malignant neoplasms, heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, pneumonia, injury and poisoning, nephritis and nephrosis, diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, septicaemia, and aortic aneurysm.

Results

The overall unplanned readmission rate was 16.7%. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis had the highest OR (1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-1.87). Patients with cerebrovascular disease had the longest LOS, with mean acute and rehabilitation stays of 6.9 and 3.0 days, respectively. Malignant neoplasms had the highest mortality rate (30.8%) followed by aortic aneurysm and pneumonia. The attributed medical cost of readmission was highest for heart disease (US$3 199 418, 95% CI US$2 579 443-803 393).

Conclusions

Our findings showed variations in readmission rates and mortality for different medical conditions which may suggest differences in the quality of care provided for various medical conditions. In-hospital care, comprehensive discharge planning, and post-discharge community support for patients need to be reviewed to improve the quality of care and patient health outcomes.
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Metadata
Title
Unplanned readmission rates, length of hospital stay, mortality, and medical costs of ten common medical conditions: a retrospective analysis of Hong Kong hospital data
Authors
Eliza LY Wong
Annie WL Cheung
Michael CM Leung
Carrie HK Yam
Frank WK Chan
Fiona YY Wong
Eng-Kiong Yeoh
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-11-149

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