Factors Associated with Readmission Among General Internal Medicine Patients Experiencing Homelessness. 2021

Andrea Wang, and Katherine Francombe Pridham, and Rosane Nisenbaum, and Cheryl Pedersen, and Rebecca Brown, and Stephen W Hwang
MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.

People who are homeless have a higher burden of illness and higher rates of hospital admission and readmission compared to the general population. Identifying the factors associated with hospital readmission could help healthcare providers and policymakers improve post-discharge care for homeless patients. To identify factors associated with hospital readmission within 90 days of discharge from a general internal medicine unit among patients experiencing homelessness. This prospective observational study was conducted at an urban academic teaching hospital in Toronto, Canada. Interviewer-administered questionnaires and chart reviews were completed to assess medical, social, processes of care, and hospitalization data. Multivariable logistic regression with backward selection was used to identify factors associated with a subsequent readmission and estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Adults (N = 129) who were admitted to the general internal medicine service between November 2017 and November 2018 and who were homeless at the time of admission. Unplanned all-cause readmission to the study hospital within 90 days of discharge. Thirty-five of 129 participants (27.1%) were readmitted within 90 days of discharge. Factors associated with lower odds of readmission included having an active case manager (adjusted odds ratios [aOR]: 0.31, 95% CI, 0.13-0.76), having informal support such as friends and family (aOR: 0.25, 95% CI, 0.08-0.78), and sending a copy of the patient's discharge plan to a primary care physician who had cared for the patient within the last year (aOR: 0.44, 95% CI, 0.17-1.16). A higher number of medications prescribed at discharge was associated with higher odds of readmission (aOR: 1.12, 95% CI, 1.02-1.23). Interventions to reduce hospital readmission for people who are homeless should evaluate tailored discharge planning and dedicated resources to support implementation of these plans in the community.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010351 Patient Discharge The administrative process of discharging the patient, alive or dead, from hospitals or other health facilities. Discharge Planning,Discharge Plannings,Discharge, Patient,Discharges, Patient,Patient Discharges,Planning, Discharge,Plannings, Discharge
D010359 Patient Readmission Subsequent admissions of a patient to a hospital or other health care institution for treatment. Hospital Readmission,Rehospitalization,Unplanned Hospital Readmissions,Unplanned Readmission,30 Day Readmission,Hospital Readmissions,Readmission, Hospital,Readmissions, Hospital,Thirty Day Readmission,30 Day Readmissions,Hospital Readmission, Unplanned,Hospital Readmissions, Unplanned,Readmission, Patient,Readmission, Thirty Day,Readmission, Unplanned,Rehospitalizations,Thirty Day Readmissions,Unplanned Hospital Readmission,Unplanned Readmissions
D002170 Canada The largest country in North America, comprising 10 provinces and three territories. Its capital is Ottawa.
D006703 Ill-Housed Persons Persons without adequate housing or without permanent residence. The concept excludes nomadic peoples. Homeless Persons,Homeless Shelters,Shelterless Persons,Shelters for Homeless Persons,Street People,Unhoused Persons,Homelessness,Homeless Person,Homeless Shelter,Ill Housed Persons,Ill-Housed Person,People, Street,Person, Homeless,Person, Ill-Housed,Person, Shelterless,Person, Unhoused,Persons, Homeless,Persons, Ill-Housed,Persons, Shelterless,Persons, Unhoused,Shelter, Homeless,Shelterless Person,Shelters, Homeless,Unhoused Person
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000359 Aftercare The care and treatment of a convalescent patient, especially that of a patient after surgery. After Care,After-Treatment,Follow-Up Care,Postabortal Programs,Postabortion,After Treatment,After-Treatments,Care, Follow-Up,Cares, Follow-Up,Follow Up Care,Follow-Up Cares,Postabortal Program,Program, Postabortal,Programs, Postabortal

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