Gender as risk factor for 30 days post-discharge hospital utilisation: a secondary data analysis

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Clinical Outcomes
• Gender Health Disparities

Background:

• Hospital utilization within 30 days of discharge is a significant concern due to its high cost and frequency.
• Understanding factors influencing post-discharge utilization is crucial for improving patient care and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between gender and hospital utilization within 30 days following hospital discharge.
• To identify specific risk factors contributing to hospital readmissions and emergency department visits in men and women.

Main Methods:

• Secondary data analysis of 737 adult patients from a general medical service at an urban academic safety-net medical center.
• Poisson regression stratified by gender was employed to analyze the primary endpoint: hospital utilization (emergency department visits and readmissions within 30 days).

Main Results:

• Male subjects exhibited a higher rate of hospital utilization (47 events per 100 people) compared to female subjects (29 events per 100 people), with an incident rate ratio (IRR) of 1.62.
• For men, risk factors included prior hospital utilization, being unmarried, positive depression screen, and no primary care physician (PCP) visit within 30 days.
• For women, the sole identified risk factor was prior hospital utilization within six months.

Conclusions:

• Male patients demonstrated significantly higher hospital utilization rates within 30 days post-discharge than female patients.
• Specific interventions targeting factors such as prior utilization, marital status, depression, and PCP access may help reduce hospital utilization among men.
• Further research is warranted to explore gender-specific pathways influencing post-discharge healthcare needs.