Incidence and Risk Factors for 28 Days Hospital Readmission: A Retrospective Study from Oman

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the incidence of 28-day hospital readmission in a tertiary hospital in Oman and identify potential factors associated with increased risk of hospital readmission.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all adult patients (≥ 18 years) admitted under the care of the General Internal Medicine unit from 1 June to 31 December 2020 at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital. Elective admissions and COVID-19 infection-related admission were excluded from the study.

RESULTS: There were 200 patients admitted during the study period. The mean age was 58.6±19.3 years, and 106 (53.0%) patients were males. Forty-eight (24.0%) patients had unplanned readmission within 28-days after discharge from the hospital. Patients with 28 days unplanned readmission were older (66.6 vs. 56.0 years, p < 0.001) and had a longer length of hospital stay (6.0 vs. 4.0 days, p < 0.001). Also, hypertension (77.1% vs. 55.3%, p =0.007), diabetes mellitus (64.6% vs. 48.0%, p =0.045), and comorbidity (≥ 3 comorbidities, [43.8% vs. 23.8%, p =0.005]) were more prevalent in the unplanned readmission group. Patients with poor functional status (43.7% vs. 26.3%, p < 0.001), requiring feeding tube (25.0% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.001), and with polypharmacy (75.0% vs. 50.0%, p =0.003) were at increased risk of readmission.

CONCLUSIONS: 28-day hospital readmission is prevalent in our health care setting. Old age, polypharmacy, comorbidities, and poor functional status were associated with an increased risk of hospital readmission. Therefore, evidence-based interventions must be implemented in our health care system to minimize the risk of hospital readmission.