Functional Status and Hospital Readmissions Using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

M. Soley-Bori, R. Soria-Saucedo, C.M. Ryan, J.C. Schneider, A.B. Haynes, P. Gerrard, H.J. Cabral, K.D. Lillemoe, L.E. Kazis

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26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hospital readmissions are expensive and they may signal poor quality of care. Whether functional status is related to hospital readmissions using a representative U.S sample remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the relationship between functional status and all-cause 30-day hospital readmissions using a representative sample of the US population. DESIGN: This was a retrospective observational study (2003–2011). PATIENTS: The study included 3,772 patients who completed the SF-12 before being hospitalized. Three hundred and eighteen (8.4 %) were readmitted within 30 days after being discharged. MEASUREMENTS: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) was employed. Functional status was measured with the Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey Version 2® (SF-12). The probability of being readmitted was estimated using a logistic model controlling for demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, insurance coverage, physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) summaries of the SF-12, reason for hospitalization, length of hospital stay, region, and residential area. RESULTS: A one-unit difference in PCS reduced the odds of readmission by 2 % (odds ratio 0.98 [95 % CI, 0.97 to 0.99]; p <0.001), which implies an 18 % reduction in the odds of readmissions for a ten-unit difference (one standard deviation) in PCS. The c-statistic of the model was 0.72. CONCLUSION: Baseline physical function is associated with hospital readmissions. The SF-12 improves the ability to identify patients at high risk of hospital readmission. © 2015, Society of General Internal Medicine.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)965-972
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine
Volume30
Issue number7
Early online date18 Feb 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2015

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