RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To document changes in 30-day hospital readmission rates and causes for returning to the hospital for care in THR patients. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional descriptive design. SETTING: Community-based acute care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Total sample size (N=142,022) included THR patients (identified as ICD-9-CM procedure code 81.51) in 2009 (n=31,232) and (n=32,863) in 2014. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 30-Day hospital readmission. RESULTS: The overall readmission rate decreased by 1.3% from 2009 to 2014. The decrease in readmission rates varied by groups, with lesser improvements seen in THR patients who were younger, with private insurance, and residing in lower-income and rural communities. Device complications were the leading cause of readmission in THR patients, increasing from 19.8% in 2009 to 23.9% in 2014. CONCLUSIONS: There has been little decrease in hospital 30-day readmission rates for US community hospitals between 2009 and 2014. Findings from this brief report indicate patient groups at greater risk for 30-day hospital readmission as well as leading causes for readmission in THR patients which can inform the development of tailored interventions for reduction.