Examination of the Patient and Hospitalization Characteristics of 30-Day SCD Readmissions
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Updated: Mar 15, 2026
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C Patrick Carroll1, Carlton Haywood1, Sophie M Lanzkron1
1From the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Insights
Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients with frequent hospitalizations experience higher readmission rates due to increased complications and comorbidities. Higher hospital utilization in SCD may be linked to disease severity and co-occurring conditions.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Internal Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) contributes significantly to hospital readmissions.
- Understanding readmission factors is crucial for improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine patient and hospitalization factors associated with readmissions in sickle cell disease patients.
- To compare characteristics of SCD patients with readmissions versus those without.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study comparing SCD patients with readmissions to a matched sample of clinic patients.
- Analysis of comorbidities, complications, and prior healthcare utilization.
- Comparison of hospitalization characteristics (admitting service, length of stay, opioid dose) for readmitted versus non-readmitted patients.
Main Results:
- SCD patients with readmissions exhibited more complications and comorbidities.
- Higher prior healthcare utilization was observed in the readmission group.
- Hospitalizations leading to readmission had a longer length of stay but similar opioid doses compared to non-readmissions.
Conclusions:
- Readmissions in sickle cell disease patients with high hospital use may be an expected outcome.
- Increased disease severity and comorbidities likely contribute to frequent hospitalizations and subsequent readmissions.
Objectives:
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with a high level of emergency department and hospital utilization, as well as a high rate of hospital readmissions. At Johns Hopkins Hospital, as at other institutions, SCD accounts for a large proportion of readmissions. Our study examined patient and hospitalization factors involved in readmissions at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Methods:
Patients at the Johns Hopkins Sickle Cell Center for Adults with a readmission in fiscal year 2011 were compared with an age- and sex-matched sample of clinic patients for comorbidities, complications, and prior utilization. Hospitalizations that were followed by readmissions were compared with those that were not as to admitting service, length of stay, and average daily opioid dose.
Results:
Patients with readmissions had more complications and comorbidities and much higher prior utilization than typical clinic patients, whereas hospitalizations that were followed by readmissions had a longer length of stay but similar opioid doses.
Conclusions:
For patients with SCD with a high volume of hospital use, readmissions may be a natural consequence of a high-admission frequency associated with greater disease severity and higher comorbidity.
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