Background: The aim of this study was to identify which factors were associated with a risk of hospital
readmission within 3 months after discharge of a sample of elderly patients admitted to internal medicine
and geriatric wards.
Methods: Of the 1178 patients aged 65 years or more and discharged from one of the 66 wards of the ‘Registry
Politerapie SIMI (REPOSI)’ during 2010, 766 were followed up by phone interview 3 months after discharge
and were included in this analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate
the association of several variables with rehospitalization within 3 months from discharge.
Results: Nineteen percent of patients were readmitted at least once within 3 months after discharge. By univariate
analysis in-hospital clinical adverse events (AEs), a previous hospital admission, number of diagnoses
and drugs, comorbidity and severity index (according to Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-CIRS), vascular and
liver diseases with a level of impairment at discharge of 3 or more at CIRS were significantly associated with
risk of readmission. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only AEs during hospitalization,
previous hospital admission, and vascular and liver diseases were significantly associated with the likelihood
of readmission.
Conclusions: The results demonstrate the need for increased medical attention towards elderly patients
discharged from hospital with characteristics such as AEs during the hospitalization, previous admission,
vascular and liver diseases.
