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Predictors of hospital readmission in infants less than 3 months old
Ariel O Mace1,2,3, Rosanne Barnes3, Christopher C Blyth3,4,5,6
1Department of General Paediatrics, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Insights
Infant readmissions within seven days are common, especially for younger babies. Identifying risk factors like early age and shorter hospital stays can improve infant care guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Infant hospitalizations and subsequent readmissions are significant healthcare concerns.
- Understanding readmission patterns is crucial for optimizing infant care and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the rates and identify predictors of 7-day readmission in infants hospitalized before three months of age.
- To analyze readmission risk factors for both infectious and non-infectious conditions in young infants.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective population-based data-linkage study analyzed 121,854 infants from a 5-year metropolitan birth cohort (2008-2012).
- Cox proportional hazard models were employed to assess associations between infant and maternal factors and 7-day readmission.
Main Results:
- Of 11,669 infants hospitalized by three months, 4.8% experienced a 7-day readmission.
- Infants aged ≤21 days had the highest readmission risk (HR 7.7).
- Additional risk factors included shorter index hospitalizations, younger maternal age, and multi-gravidity.
Conclusions:
- Hospitalizations and readmissions are frequent occurrences for young infants.
- Identifying key risk factors, such as very young age, is essential for developing targeted management strategies.
- These findings can inform the development of risk-based guidelines for infant care and readmission prevention.
Aim:
To examine rates and predictors of 7-day readmission in infants hospitalised before 3 months of age with infectious and non-infectious conditions.
Methods:
Retrospective population-based data-linkage study of 121 854 infants from a 5-year metropolitan birth cohort (2008-2012). Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine associations between infant and maternal factors with 7-day readmission.
Results:
A total of 11 669 (9.6%) infants were hospitalised at least once by 3 months of age (median 23 days old, 56% male) with 12 602 total index hospitalisations. Infection-related conditions accounted for 29.4% (n = 3705). Readmission within 7 days occurred after 4.8% of all index hospitalisations and 5.4% of infection-related hospitalisations. Age ≤21 days was the strongest readmission risk factor (hazard ratio 7.7 (95% confidence interval 4.7-12.7) compared to infants 61-90 days old). Other risk factors included shorter index hospitalisations, younger maternal age and multi-gravidity.
Conclusion:
Hospitalisations and readmissions occur for many young infants. Risk factors for readmission should inform risk-based management guidelines.
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