Hospital and Patient Level Predictors for 90-d Readmission Following Burn Injury

Predictors and contributing factors for hospital readmission following burn injury are currently not well described. Previous studies evaluating readmission following burn injury have been limited to specific patient subpopulations or to a short-term period after injury, for example, 30 d. We describe predictors for all cause, 90-d hospital readmission following burn injury among the US adult population.

An observational cohort study was conducted using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project 2017-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database data. Individuals ≥18 y of age at the time of admission were included in the study, and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision diagnosis codes were utilized to identify burn injury. Patient demographics, payor status, total charges, comorbidities, markers of socioeconomic status, and hospital characteristics were included in a multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify predictors for hospital readmission within 90-d postdischarge.

We identified 153,760 patients with a burn injury in the study period, of whom 20.8% required a readmission within 90 d postdischarge. Increased age, the presence of a comorbid condition, and lower socioeconomic status increased the likelihood of 90-d readmission. At the hospital level, admission to a private investor-owned and smaller bed size hospitals were associated with an increased likelihood of readmission.

Identification of factors that lead to increased likelihood of 90-d readmission following hospitalization for a burn injury may be beneficial in clinical decision making, allowing for more individualized care and minimization of unplanned readmissions.