Statistical Models and Patient Predictors of Readmission for Heart FailureA Systematic Review

Abstract

Readmission after hospital discharge is attracting considerable attention from the Institute of Medicine,¹ the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,² and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission³ as an indicator of the quality and efficiency of care. Readmission after heart failure (HF) hospitalization is being given particular attention because HF is one of the most common principal discharge diagnoses among Medicare beneficiaries⁴ and because there is wide variation among hospital HF readmission rates,³ with some studies reporting rates approaching 45% at 6 months.⁵ Moreover, improved hospital^6,7 and postdischarge^8-12 care, including predischarge planning,^13,14 home-based follow-up,¹⁵ and patient education,^13,16,17 lowers HF readmission rates, suggesting that HF readmission rates might be reduced if proved interventions were more fully instituted.