Factors associated with avoidable 30-day readmissions in patients with cancer: a single institution study

Unplanned readmissions have profound medical and financial implications for patients and hospitals. Cancer patients are particularly susceptible to readmission and often face complex care needs. This quality improvement project aimed to identify factors associated with avoidable hospitalizations among oncology patients.

Hospital discharges of adult cancer patients at Stony Brook University Hospital (June 2021-July 2022) were reviewed to identify unplanned 30-day readmissions. Readmissions were categorized as avoidable or unavoidable. Factors analyzed included patient demographics, cancer characteristics, social factors, outpatient follow-up, and palliative care involvement.

Of the 468 hospitalized cancer patients, 96 (21%) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Most readmitted patients had stage IV disease (51%). Fifty-seven percent of patients were symptomatic on index admission compared to 100% on readmission. Pain was the most frequently reported symptom, increasing from 36 patients (38%) on index admission to 54 (56%) on readmission (p < 0.001). Notably, 16 patients (17%) were discharged on comfort-focused care and 11 (12%) died inpatient on readmission. Palliative care was consulted 2.3 times more frequently during readmission compared to index admission. Readmissions were determined to be avoidable for 27 patients (28%). A complaint of failure to thrive on readmission (p < 0.04), no identifiable post-discharge caretaker (p < 0.009), being symptomatic at index admission (p < 0.04), and not attending an outpatient visit prior to readmission (p < 0.05) were associated with avoidable readmissions.

Timely outpatient support and early palliative care involvement to manage symptoms and optimize care transitions are readily addressable measures that may reduce avoidable readmissions among advanced-stage cancer patients.