Factors influencing readmission risk: implications for quality monitoring

By applying multiple logistic regression to data from the 1980 National Medical Care Utilization and Expenditure Survey, independent risk factors for readmission to an acute care hospital within 31 days of the preceding discharge were identified. Subjects who were initially admitted for a high-risk condition, those with poor perceived health status, and those who had no surgical procedures performed were most likely to be readmitted. Sex, race, marital status, insurance coverage, and access to outpatient care did not independently influence readmission risk. Readmission risk models used to monitor quality of care need not adjust for these nonmedical factors.