[Hospital readmission of diabetic patients: a follow-up of twelve months]

To determine the risk factors associated with hospital readmissions in diabetes mellitus (DM).

Adult patients with DM hospitalized were evaluated with a follow up during one year. Odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to identify predictors of hospital readmissions.

There were 153 patients, with a mean age 58 ± 13) years, 97% had type 2 DM with a mean disease evolution of 166 ± 132) months; 131 patients were evaluated every 4 months with follow-up of 11 ± 1.2) months and 35% had hospital readmission. The causes were: infections (36%), chronic renal failure (27%), acute complications of DM (8%) and cardiovascular disease (11%). They were associated with ≤ 6 years of education (RR 2.9, 1.22-7.03 CI 95%), duration of DM > 132 months (RR 1.2, 1.00-1.6 CI 95), nephropathy (RR 2.3, 1.5-7.0 CI 95%), and abnormal glycemia upon being discharged from initial hospitalization (RR 2.5, 1.13-5.6 CI 95%). Two or more readmissions where associated significantly with nephropathy (p = 0.05) and the use of alternative treatment (p = 0.01).

Multiple hospitalizations could be preventable with the identification of risk factors.