Worse Outcomes After Readmission to a Different Hospital After Sepsis: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: In the United States, sepsis accounts for 13% of the total hospital expenses and > 50% of hospital deaths. Moreover, people with sepsis are more likely to be readmitted.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and outcomes of different hospital readmissions (DHRs) in patients with sepsis, and the factors associated with DHR.

Methods: We used data from the Nationwide Readmissions Database of the United States in 2017 to identify patients admitted for sepsis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors associated with DHR; five models were constructed to elucidate the relationship between DHR and in-hospital outcomes.

Results: In 2017, 85,120 (21.97%) of all patients with sepsis readmitted within 30 days in the United States were readmitted to a different hospital. The most common reason for readmission was infection irrespective of hospital status. Compared with the patients with sepsis who were readmitted to the same hospital, DHR was associated with higher hospitalization costs ($2264; 95% CI $1755-$2772; p < 0.001), longer length of stay (0.58 days; 95% CI 0.44-0.71 days; p < 0.001), and higher risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 1.63; 95% CI 1.55-1.72; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: DHR occurred in one-fifth of patients with sepsis in the United States. Our findings suggest that patients readmitted to a different hospital within 30 days may experience higher in-hospital mortality, longer length of stay, and higher hospitalization costs. Future studies need to examine whether continuity of care can improve the prognosis of patients with sepsis.