What Are the Burden, Causes, and Costs of Early Hospital Readmissions After Kidney Transplantation?

introductionKidney transplant recipients are at risk for complications resulting in early hospital readmission. This study sought to determine the incidences, risk factors, causes, and financial costs of early readmissions.

designThis single-centre cohort study included 1461 kidney recipients from 1 Jul 2004 to 31 Dec 2012, with at least 1-year follow-up. Early readmission was defined as hospitalization within 30 or 90-days postdischarge from transplant admission. Associations between various parameters and 30 and 90-days posttransplant were determined using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. The hospital-associated costs of were assessed.

resultsThe rates of early readmission were 19.4% at 30 days and 26.8% at 90 days posttransplant. Mean cost per 30-day readmission was 11 606 CAD. Infectious complications were the most common reasons and resulted in the greatest cost burden. Factors associated with 30 and 90-days in multivariable models were recipient history of chronic lung disease (hazard ratio or HR 1.78 [95%CI: 1.14, 2.76] and HR 1.68 [1.14, 2.48], respectively), median time on dialysis (HR 1.07 [95% CI: 1.01, 1.13]and HR 1.06 [95% CI: 1.01, 1.11], respectively), being transplanted preemptively (HR 1.75 [95% CI: 1.07, 2.88] and HR 1.66 [95% CI: 1.07, 2.57], respectively), and having a transplant hospitalization lasting of and more than 11 days (HR 1.52 [95% CI: 1.01, 2.27] and HR 1.65 [95% CI: 1.16, 2.34], respectively). DISCUSSION: Early hospital readmission after transplantation was common and costly. Strategies to reduce the burden of early hospital readmissions are needed for all patients.