Predictors of Alcohol Withdrawal Readmissions

Hospital readmissions serve as a major benchmark for the quality of care and alcohol withdrawal (AW) may lead to multiple hospitalizations and readmissions. We sought to evaluate readmission rates and predictors of having AW-related readmissions in a nationally representative sample.

In a nationally representative sample, AW readmission within 30 days and multiple readmissions during the year were high and were particularly predicted by discharge against medical advice (AMA), comorbid psychosis, comorbid depression, poor socioeconomic status, comorbid drug abuse and alcohol-related medical disease.

Subjects from the 2013 Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) with AW as a primary or secondary diagnosis. Cross-sectional and retrospective analyses were performed using regression methods appropriate for the NRD complex sampling design. The outcome measures were AW-related readmission, 30-day readmission and multiple readmissions.

In 2013, 393,118 discharges involved ICD-9 coding for AW and 41.5% of these included AW as the primary discharge diagnosis. The rate of AW-related readmission in 2013, as estimated from first-quarter index events, was 58.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 57.5-60.1), with an average of 1.8 readmissions (95% CI 1.7-1.9). The 30-day readmission rate, estimated from January-November index events, was 19.7% (95% CI 19.0-20.4). The strongest independent predictors of yearly, 30-day and multiple readmission were discharged AMA and comorbid psychotic disorder.

AW readmission within 30 days and multiple readmissions during the year were common and were particularly predicted by AMA discharge and comorbid psychotic disorder. While these and other factors can help identify high-risk patients, further study to determine causal mechanisms may aid efforts to improve both the outcomes and costs associated with acute AW treatment.