The Effect of 30-Day Adequate Transitions of Acute Stroke Care on 90-Day Readmission or Death.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We explore patient-reported behaviors and activities within 30-days post-stroke hospitalization and their role in reducing death or readmissions within 90-days post-stroke. METHODS: We constructed the adequate transitions of care (ATOC) composite score, measuring patient-reported participation in eligible behaviors and activities (diet modification, weekly exercise, follow-up medical appointment attendance, medication adherence, therapy use, and toxic habit cessation) within 30 days post-stroke hospital discharge. We analyzed ATOC scores in ischemic and intracerebral hemorrhage stroke patients discharged from the hospital to home or rehabilitation facilities and enrolled in the NIH-funded Transitions of Care Stroke Disparities Study (TCSD-S). We utilized Cox regression analysis, with the progressive adjustment for sociodemographic variables, social determinants of health, and stroke risk factors, to determine the associations between ATOC score within 30-days and death or readmission within 90-days post-stroke. RESULTS: In our sample of 1239 stroke patients (mean age 64+/-14, 58% male, 22% Hispanic, 22% Black, 52% White, 76% discharged home), 13% experienced a readmission or death within 90 days (3 deaths, 160 readmissions, 3 readmissions with subsequent death). Seventy percent of participants accomplished a ≥75% ATOC score. A 25% increase in ATOC was associated with a respective 20% (95% CI 3%-33%) reduced risk of death or readmission within 90-days. CONCLUSION: ATOC represents modifiable behaviors and activities within 30-days post-stroke that are associated with reduced risk of death or readmission within 90-days post-stroke. The ATOC score should be validated in other populations, but it can serve as a tool for improving transitions of stroke care initiatives and interventions.