[The evaluation of hospital readmissions in the internal medicine service].

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is determine the frequency of hospital readmission rate at an internal medicine department in a Community Hospital. We want to verify such a variables there are been associated with the readmission rate. METHODS: 870 patients were analyzed to repeated admissions to the hospital in a period of one year. The general independent variables and the complications were classified. We compared them with the calculation of the odds ratio (OR) in a bivariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The readmission rate was about 15.9% (CI: 13.7-18.3). The male patients (OR = 1.8 [CI 1.2-2.7]) and the great mortality (OR = 2.1 [CI 1.2-3.5]) were variables of great significance. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and malignant tumors of lung and pleura--as main diagnosis at discharge--correlated with readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of hospital readmissions is an indicator to be studied.