Medications and Patient Factors Associated With Increased Readmission for Alcohol-Related Diagnoses

To investigate medication factors and patient characteristics associated with readmissions following alcohol-related hospitalizations.

Adult patients admitted from September 1, 2016, through August 31, 2019, who had an alcohol-related hospitalization were identified through electronic health records. Patient characteristics and medications of interest administered during hospitalization or prescribed at discharge were identified. Medications of interest included US Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for alcohol use disorder, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, gabapentin, opioids, and muscle relaxants. The primary outcome was to identify medications and patient factors associated with 30-day alcohol-related readmission. Secondary outcomes included medications and patient characteristics associated with multiple alcohol-related readmissions within a year from the index admission (ie, two or more readmissions) and factors associated with 30-day all-cause readmission.

Characteristics of the 932 patients included in this study associated with a 30-day alcohol-related readmission included younger age, severity of alcohol withdrawal, history of psychiatric disorder, marital status, and the number of prior alcohol-related admission in the previous year. Benzodiazepine or barbiturate use during hospitalization or upon discharge was associated with 30-day alcohol-related readmission (P=.006). Gabapentin administration during hospitalization or upon discharge was not associated with 30-day alcohol-related readmission (P=.079).

The findings reinforce current literature identifying patient-specific factors associated with 30-day readmissions. Gabapentin use was not associated with readmissions; however, there was an association with benzodiazepine/barbiturate use.