Defining readmission risk factors for liver transplantation recipients

Liver transplantation (LT) is a costly but effective treatment for end-stage liver disease (ESLD). However, there are minimal data on the patterns of and risk factors for hospital readmission after LT. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of and risk factors for rehospitalization after LT. Consecutive adult patients who underwent LT at a single center (n = 208) were prospectively studied over a 30-month period. Within 90 days of LT, 30.3% of LT recipients were readmitted to the hospital. Recipient and donor age, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, cold ischemia time, type of hepatic graft, length of hospitalization after LT, and occurrence of operative/postoperative complications had no association with the risk for readmission (P>.05). The length of stay in intensive care was negatively correlated with readmission (hazard ratio, 0.92; P=.028). ESLD from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as an indication for LT was the only factor associated with an increased risk for readmission (hazard ratio, 1.91 ; P=.010). Further studies are needed to explore the reasons for readmission among LT recipients, particularly those with HCV infection, in order to devise cost-savings policies for post-LT care.