Inflammatory bowel disease readmissions are associated with utilization and comorbidity

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Health Services Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hospital care constitutes a significant portion of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management costs.
• A subset of IBD patients drives a disproportionately high rate of hospital utilization, underscoring the impact of frequent hospitalizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the burden and impact of 30-day readmissions among patients with IBD.
• To analyze the association between 30-day readmissions and key healthcare utilization and comorbidity outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study utilizing state-specific inpatient databases from New York and Florida (2009-2013).
• Identified IBD hospitalizations and determined the prevalence of 30-day IBD-specific readmissions.
• Employed multivariable logistic regression to analyze the association between readmissions and length of stay, and a composite of comorbid conditions.

Main Results:

• Approximately 13.7% to 16.2% of IBD hospitalizations resulted in a 30-day readmission.
• 30-day readmissions were significantly associated with an increased length of stay (by approximately 1 day) and a higher likelihood of comorbid conditions.
• These associations were consistent across both New York and Florida datasets.

Conclusions:

• Nearly one in seven hospitalizations for IBD patients leads to a 30-day readmission.
• IBD-specific readmissions are linked to increased healthcare utilization and patient comorbidity.
• Identifying and targeting patients at risk for readmission is crucial for enhancing IBD patient outcomes and the quality of care.