Scientific Reports (Oct 2024)

Incidence and predictors of unplanned 30-day hospital readmissions among heart failure patients in Ethiopia: a 5-year retrospective cohort study

  • Birhanu Ayenew,
  • Prem Kumar,
  • Adem Hussein

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71257-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

Read online

Abstract The burden of heart failure increases over time and is a leading cause of unplanned readmissions worldwide. In addition, its impact has doubled in countries with limited health resources, including Ethiopia. Identifying and preventing the possible contributing factors is crucial to reducing unplanned hospital readmissions and improving clinical outcomes. The study aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of 30-day unplanned readmission among heart failure patients at selected South Wollo general hospitals in 2022. A hospital-based retrospective cohort study design was employed from January 1, 2016, to December 30, 2020. The data was collected from 572 randomly selected medical records using data extraction checklists. Data were entered in Epi-Data version 4.6 and analyzed with Stata version 17. The Kaplan–Meier and log-rank tests were used to estimate and compare the survival failure time. A Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to identify the predictors of readmission. The statistical significance level was declared at a p-value 65 years) (AHR: 3.172, 95% CI:.21, 4.55, P = 0.001), rural in residency (AHR: 2.47, 95%CI: 1.44, 4.24, P = 0.001), Asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AHR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.35, P = 0.012), HIV/AIDS (AHR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.24, 2.75, P = 0.003), Haemoglobin level 8–10.9 g/dL (AHR: 6.20, 95% CI: 3.74, 10.28, P = 0.001), and Mean platelet volume > 9.1 fl (AHR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.40, P = 0.004) were identified as independent predictors of unplanned hospital readmission. The incidence of unplanned hospital readmission was relatively high among heart failure patients. Elderly patients, rural residency, comorbidity, a higher mean platelet volume, and a low hemoglobin level were independent predictors of readmission. Working on these factors will help reduce the hazards of unplanned hospital readmission.

Keywords