Study sheds light on hospital readmissions after noncardiac surgery
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Over 100 million major noncardiac surgeries are performed annually on adults over the age of 45 across the globe, and one in every 13 patients end up readmitted to the hospital.
An international sub-study of the VISION cohort study, led by School of Nursing Assistant Dean, Research, and Associate Professor, Michael McGillion, has shed new light on the timing and risk factors associated with hospital readmission within 30 days following noncardiac surgery. The study involved 28 centers across 14 countries and focused on adults aged 45 and above who underwent noncardiac surgery.
Out of 36,657 participants, 7.5% (2,744 patients) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. The highest rates of readmission occurred within the first week post-discharge, indicating a critical period for monitoring patient health.
The study identified a multitude of risk factors associated with readmission. These included nine baseline characteristics, including age, recent cancer treatment within the last six months, a history of tobacco use, venous thromboembolism, congestive heart failure, needing assistance with activities of daily living, peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, and stroke/transient ischemic attack.
As well as baseline laboratory and physical measures, including anemia, receiving dialysis, low systolic blood pressure, and a body mass index more than 18.5.
Lastly, types of surgeries were associated with readmission, with all types of surgery having a higher risk of readmission than orthopedic surgeries.
The identified risk factors can assist clinicians in pinpointing patients at the highest risk of readmission, enabling targeted preventive measures. The study’s results are expected to contribute significantly to efforts aimed at reducing the costly issue of hospital readmissions. This research is a crucial step towards understanding and mitigating the risk of readmission, ultimately improving patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. Further research is needed to develop effective strategies based on these risk factors to prevent readmissions and improve patient care.
To view the full study, visit here.
Research