Published online May 22, 2022. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v13.i3.85
Peer-review started: December 10, 2021
First decision: February 15, 2022
Revised: February 20, 2022
Accepted: March 27, 2022
Article in press: March 27, 2022
Published online: May 22, 2022
Processing time: 158 Days and 16.8 Hours
The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) continues to be on the rise around the globe. Despite outpatient management, these patients are at increased risk of relapse leading to hospitalizations and subsequent readmissions.
Through this study, we attempted to outline the magnitude, characteristics and outcomes of early (30 d) readmissions of IBD in the United States.
This national, retrospective, interrupted trends study aimed to identify hospitalization characteristics, readmission rates, adverse outcomes, and healthcare burden for 30 d readmissions of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in the United States between 2010-2018.
This was a retrospective, interrupted trends which analyzed data from the National Readmission Database (NRD) on all adult 30 d readmissions of CD and UC in the United States between 2010-2018. Patients < 18 years of age, elective and traumatic hospitalizations were excluded from the analysis. Hospitalization characteristics, readmission rates, adverse outcomes and the healthcare burden was identified. P-values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Total number of 30 d readmissions increased from 6202 in 2010 to 7672 in 2018 for CD and from 3272 in 2010 to 4234 in 2018 for UC. There was an increase in the 30 d all-cause readmission rate of CD and UC for the study period. We did not observe a change in the risk adjusted trends of inpatient mortality and mean length of hospital stay (LOS) for CD and UC readmissions. However, there was a rising trend of mean THC for UC readmissions. After comparison, there was no statistical difference in the trends for 30 d all-cause readmission rate, inpatient mortality, and mean LOS between CD and UC readmissions.
From 2010 to 2018, there was an increase in the total number of 30 d readmissions with a trend towards increasing 30 d all-cause readmission rates for CD and UC. However, there was no change in the risk adjusted trends of inpatient mortality.
This study helps clinicians better understand the magnitude and characteristics of 30 d readmissions of CD and UC in the United States. Through this study, we also aim to encourage and promote future research on readmissions of IBD.