Hospital Readmission Rates Among Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Stroke.

TitleHospital Readmission Rates Among Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Stroke.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsLahiri S, Navi BB, Mayer SA, Rosengart A, Merkler AE, Claassen J, Kamel H
JournalStroke
Volume46
Issue10
Pagination2969-71
Date Published2015 Oct
ISSN1524-4628
KeywordsCerebral Hemorrhage, Humans, Patient Readmission, Respiration, Artificial, Respiratory Insufficiency, Risk Factors, Stroke, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Tracheostomy
Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tracheostomy is frequently performed in patients with severe ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Little is known about readmission rates among stroke patients who undergo mechanical ventilation.

METHODS: We used previously validated International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition-Clinical Modification codes and data on all discharges from nonfederal acute care hospitals in 3 states. We compared readmission rates among mechanically ventilated patients with stroke who were discharged with or without a tracheostomy.

RESULTS: Among 39,881 patients who underwent mechanical ventilation during the index stroke hospitalization and survived to discharge, 10,690 (26.8%; 95% confidence interval, 26.4%-27.2%) underwent tracheostomy. During a mean follow-up period of 3.4 (±2.0) years, the overall incidence rate of readmissions was 4.25 (95% confidence interval, 4.22-4.28) per 100 patients per 30 days. The rate of any readmissions within 30 days was 26.9% among patients with tracheostomy compared with 22.5% among those without a tracheostomy (absolute risk difference, 4.4%; 95% confidence interval, 3.5%-5.4%; P<0.001). After adjustment for potentially confounding variables, tracheostomy was associated with a slightly increased readmission rate (incidence rate ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.11).

CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one quarter of mechanically ventilated patients with stroke who survive to discharge are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. Readmission rates are significantly higher in patients with stroke who undergo tracheostomy, but the difference is not clinically meaningful. Thirty-day readmission rates among mechanically ventilated patients with stroke are similar to Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with major medical diseases such as pneumonia.

DOI10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.010441
Alternate JournalStroke
PubMed ID26272387
PubMed Central IDPMC4589479
Grant ListK23 NS082367 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
K23NS082367 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States