TY - JOUR
T1 - Cirrhosis as a Comorbidity in Conditions Subject to the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
AU - Rosenblatt, Russell
AU - Cohen-Mekelburg, Shirley
AU - Shen, Nicole
AU - Tafesh, Zaid
AU - Lucero, Catherine
AU - Kumar, Sonal
AU - Fortune, Brett
AU - Liu, Sze Yan
AU - Brown, Robert
AU - Jesudian, Arun
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 by The American College of Gastroenterology.
PY - 2019/9/1
Y1 - 2019/9/1
N2 - INTRODUCTION:Although the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) has decreased readmissions in targeted conditions, outcomes in high-risk subgroups are unknown. This study analyzed the impact of cirrhosis as a comorbidity on readmissions in conditions subjected to the HRRP.METHODS:Using a longitudinal analysis of the New York, Florida, and Washington State inpatient databases from 2009 to 2013, adult Medicare beneficiaries with a diagnosis-related group of targeted conditions by the HRRP - pneumonia, congestive heart failure (CHF), and myocardial infarction (MI) - were included. Exclusion criteria included inability to assess for readmission, previous liver transplant, or having a readmission not subject to penalty under the HRRP. A sensitivity analysis used the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes to identify pneumonia, CHF, and MI hospitalizations. The primary outcome was 30-day readmission, with secondary outcomes including 90-day readmission, trends, and cirrhosis-specific risk factors for readmission.RESULTS:Of the 797,432 patients included, 8,964 (1.1%) had cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis had significantly higher 30-day readmissions overall (29.3% vs 23.8%, P < 0.001) and specifically for pneumonia and CHF, but not for MI. Thirty-day readmission rates significantly decreased in patients without cirrhosis (annual percent change -1.8%, P < 0.001), but not in patients with cirrhosis (P = 0.39). Similar findings were present for 90-day readmissions. A sensitivity analysis confirmed these findings. On multivariable analysis, cirrhosis was associated with significantly higher 30-day readmissions (odds ratio 1.13, P < 0.001).DISCUSSION:When cirrhosis is comorbid in patients with conditions subjected to the HRRP, readmissions are higher and have not improved. Focused efforts are needed to improve outcomes in cirrhosis and other high-risk comorbidities within the HRRP cohort.
AB - INTRODUCTION:Although the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) has decreased readmissions in targeted conditions, outcomes in high-risk subgroups are unknown. This study analyzed the impact of cirrhosis as a comorbidity on readmissions in conditions subjected to the HRRP.METHODS:Using a longitudinal analysis of the New York, Florida, and Washington State inpatient databases from 2009 to 2013, adult Medicare beneficiaries with a diagnosis-related group of targeted conditions by the HRRP - pneumonia, congestive heart failure (CHF), and myocardial infarction (MI) - were included. Exclusion criteria included inability to assess for readmission, previous liver transplant, or having a readmission not subject to penalty under the HRRP. A sensitivity analysis used the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes to identify pneumonia, CHF, and MI hospitalizations. The primary outcome was 30-day readmission, with secondary outcomes including 90-day readmission, trends, and cirrhosis-specific risk factors for readmission.RESULTS:Of the 797,432 patients included, 8,964 (1.1%) had cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis had significantly higher 30-day readmissions overall (29.3% vs 23.8%, P < 0.001) and specifically for pneumonia and CHF, but not for MI. Thirty-day readmission rates significantly decreased in patients without cirrhosis (annual percent change -1.8%, P < 0.001), but not in patients with cirrhosis (P = 0.39). Similar findings were present for 90-day readmissions. A sensitivity analysis confirmed these findings. On multivariable analysis, cirrhosis was associated with significantly higher 30-day readmissions (odds ratio 1.13, P < 0.001).DISCUSSION:When cirrhosis is comorbid in patients with conditions subjected to the HRRP, readmissions are higher and have not improved. Focused efforts are needed to improve outcomes in cirrhosis and other high-risk comorbidities within the HRRP cohort.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85071784340&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000257
DO - 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000257
M3 - Article
C2 - 31180921
AN - SCOPUS:85071784340
SN - 0002-9270
VL - 114
SP - 1488
EP - 1495
JO - American Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - American Journal of Gastroenterology
IS - 9
ER -