RESUMEN
Background Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a leading cause of hospitalizations and readmissions, placing a significant burden on the healthcare system. Identifying factors associated with readmission risk is crucial for developing targeted interventions and improving patient outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of socioeconomic and demographic factors on 30-day and 90-day readmission rates in patients primarily admitted for CHF. Methods The study was carried out using a cross-sectional study design, and the data were obtained from the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) from 2016 to 2020. Adult patients with a primary diagnosis of CHF were included. The primary outcomes were 30-day and 90-day all-cause readmission rates. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with readmissions, including race, ethnicity, insurance status, income level, and living arrangements. Results A total of 219,904 patients with a primary diagnosis of CHF were used in the study. The overall 30-day and 90-day readmission rates were 17.3% and 23.1%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, factors independently associated with higher 30-day readmission risk included Hispanic ethnicity (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.35), African American race (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.04-1.28), Medicare insurance (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.12-1.38), and urban residence (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.21). Higher income was associated with lower readmission risk (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.79-0.96 for highest vs. lowest quartile). Similar patterns were observed for 90-day readmissions. Conclusion Socioeconomic and demographic factors, including race, ethnicity, insurance status, income level, and living arrangements, significantly impact 30-day and 90-day readmission rates in patients with CHF. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and policies that address social determinants of health and promote health equity in the management of CHF. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating culturally sensitive, community-based strategies to reduce readmissions and improve outcomes for high-risk CHF patients.
RESUMEN
Background There has been a steady rise in types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus among the youth in the USA from 2001 to 2017. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common and preventable presentation of both types of diabetes mellitus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) United States Diabetes Surveillance System, during 2004-2019 an increase in DKA hospitalization rates by 59.4% was noted, with people aged less than 45 years having the highest rates. Readmissions reflect the quality of disease management, which is integrally tied to care coordination and communication with the patient and their families. This study analyzes the trends and risk factors contributing to 30-day unplanned DKA readmissions in the pediatric age group and looks into possible preventive measures to decrease them. Methods A retrospective study was performed using the National Readmission Database (NRD) from January 1, 2017, to December 1, 2017. Pediatric patients aged 18 years and younger with the primary diagnosis of DKA were included using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code E10.10. All statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 1.0.0.1327 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Pearson's chi-square test was used for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables. To independently determine the predictors of readmission within each clinical variable, multiple logistic regressions with values presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were performed. Results A weighted total of 19,519 DKA-related pediatric index admissions were identified from the 2017 NRD. Of these pediatric patients, 831 (4.3%) had 30-day DKA readmission. The median age of a child for readmission was 16 years with an interquartile range of 0 to 18 years. A sharp rise in 30-day DKA readmissions was noted for ages 16 years and over. Females in the 0-25th percentile median household income category, with Medicaid covered, large metropolitan areas with at least 1 million residents, and metropolitan teaching hospitals were found to have a statistically significant higher percentage of readmissions. The mean length of stay for those who had a DKA readmission was 2.06 days, with a standard deviation of 1.84 days. The mean hospital charges for those who had a DKA readmission were $ 20,339.70. The 30-day DKA readmission odds were seen to be increased for female patients, Medicaid-insured patients, admissions at metropolitan non-teaching hospitals, and children from 0-25th percentile median household income category. Conclusion There has not been much of a change in the trend and risk factors contributing to the 30-day unplanned DKA readmissions over the years despite the steady rise in cases of diabetes mellitus. The length of stay for those who did not get readmitted within 30 days was longer than for those who did. This could reflect more comprehensive care and discharge planning that may have prevented them from readmission. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that demands a team effort from the patient, family, healthcare personnel, insurance companies, and lawmakers. There is scope for a lot of improvement with the way our patients are being managed, and a more holistic approach needs to be devised.