The Association of Socioeconomic Status and Discharge Destination with 30-Day Readmission after Ischemic Stroke

This study aimed to explore the association of socioeconomic status and discharge destination with 30-day readmission after ischemic stroke.

We examined 30-day all-cause readmission among patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke in states of Arkansas, Iowa, and Wisconsin in 2016 and 2017 and New York in 2016 using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases.

Among the 52301 patients included, 51.1% were female. The 30-day readmission rates were 10.2%, 8.2%, 9.3%, 10.4%, 11.6%, and 11.2% for age group 18-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, and ≥75 years, respectively (p<0.001). In Generalized Estimating Equation analysis, patients with Medicare and Medicaid insurance were more likely to be readmitted, compared with private insurance, (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 1.37, 95% CI 1.23-1.53; and aOR 1.26, 95% CI 1.09-1.45, respectively). Patients in the bottom quartile of zip code level median household income had higher 30-day readmission rate (12.4%) than those in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartile (10.3%, 10.1%, and 10.7%, respectively, p<0.001). Compared with those discharged home with self-care which had the lowest readmission rate (8.4%), patients who left against medical advice had the highest readmission rate (18.6%; aOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.75-2.83), followed by rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities (13.2%; aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.22-1.46), and home with home health care (11.3%, aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08-1.28).

Socioeconomic status and discharged destination affect readmission after stroke. These results provide evidence to inform vulnerable patient population as targets for readmission prevention.