Characteristics and temporal pattern of the readmissions of patients with multiple hospital admissions in the medical departments of a general hospital.

Introduction: Patients with multiple hospital admissions represent a small percentage of total hospitalizations but result in a considerable proportion of the healthcare expenditure. There are no studies that have analyzed their long-term clinical evolution.

Objectives: To study the characteristics, temporal patterns of readmissions and clinical evolution of patients with multiple hospital admission in the long term.