Factors influencing unplanned ICU readmissions: A retrospective cohort study

Aim

The goal of this study is to explore the factors that predict ICU readmissions and their correlations with readmissions that occur early and those that occur later. It evaluates various elements, including demographic information, clinical attributes, and variables related to treatment, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the risk factors influencing the timing of ICU readmissions.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study, utilizing electronic medical records, to pinpoint adult patients who were repeatedly admitted to the ICU between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. Predictors of early and late ICU readmissions were evaluated, employing statistical analyses that involved logistic regression models.

Results

The study analyzed data from 136 ICU patients. Patients admitted from the emergency department exhibited 2.22 times higher odds of early readmission in comparison to those admitted from the ward (p-value = 0.044). However, no significant correlations were observed between gender and readmission, and univariate analyses demonstrated no noteworthy variances in age, APACHE II score at discharge, Braden score, and length of ICU stay with regard to the nature of readmission.

Conclusion

The findings from our study hold considerable implications for healthcare procedures and policies. These outcomes suggest that the source of ICU admission plays a pivotal role in foretelling early readmission, which could potentially influence patient care and administration. The correlation between the source of ICU admission and early readmissions accentuates the necessity for patient-centric care, especially for those admitted from the emergency department, who face heightened risks.