Risk factors of readmission after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A case-control study

Background & Aim: Reducing readmissions is a major goal of health care systems. This study aimed to identify readmission risk factors following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods & Materials: This case-control study analyzed 540 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery between January 2016 and December 2019 at Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Qom, Iran. The case group contained 270 patients who were readmitted to the hospital during the 30-day after discharge and the control group comprised 270 non-readmitted patients. Results: Readmit patients suffered from higher rates of cardiac failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension, myocardial dysrhythmia, and using antiplatelet coagulant medication (P<0.05). Compared with non-readmitted patients, readmitted patients were more likely to have emergency surgery (OR 1.62; CI 1.11-2.38), cardiac arrest (OR 2.52; CI 2.39-2.85), and massive intraoperative hemorrhage during surgery (OR 2.36; CI 2.13-2.67). Postoperative disorders such as surgical site infection, pleural effusion, dysrhythmias, and myocardial infarction were independent risk factors for readmission (P<0.05). Conclusion: Patients at risk for readmission should be closely monitored. Furthermore, careful decision-making about surgical criteria by a multidisciplinary team can help improve outcomes as well as reduce readmissions.