Patients who leave hospitals against medical advice are 2.2 times more likely to be readmitted within 30 days and 2.5 times more likely to die within 90 days of leaving, according to an article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Researchers analyzed data from approximately 2 million hospitalized patients, 1.1 percent of which left the hospital early.
In addition to being more likely to be readmitted or die within the tracked periods, researchers discovered the effects of leaving inpatient care against medical advice manifest within a week of leaving and lasted for at least 180 days post-discharge.
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