A study published in CHEST examined readmission risk factors for sepsis patients.
Researchers identified sepsis patients admitted to hospitals from 2013 to 2014 using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Readmission Data.
Of 1.03 million index admissions, 898,257 patients survived to discharge and 157,235 had a 30-day readmission.
Four study findings:
1. The median time to readmission was 11 days.
2. Infectious etiology was the most commonly associated cause for 30-day readmission, followed by gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal causes.
3. Predictors increasing the risk of 30-day readmission include:
• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Discharge to short- or long-term facility
• Charlson comorbidity index equal to or greater than 2
• Length of stay equal to or greater than three days during the index admission.
4. The mean cost per readmission was $16,852, with the annual cost greater than $3.5 billion in the U.S.
Study authors concluded that "…readmission after a sepsis hospitalization is common and costly."