Time-trends and predictors of interhospital transfers and 30-day rehospitalizations after acute coronary syndrome from 2000-2015.

Abstract

AimsAssess trends and factors associated with interhospital transfers (IHT) and 30-day acute coronary syndrome (ACS) rehospitalizations in a national administrative database of patients admitted with an ACS between 2000-2015.Methods and resultsCohort study of patients hospitalized with ACS from 2000 to 2015, using a validated linkage algorithm to identify and link patient-level sequential hospitalizations occurring within 30 days from first admission (considering all hospitalizations within the 30-day timeframe as belonging to the same ACS episode of care-ACS-EC). From 212,481 ACS-EC, 42,670 (20.1%) had more than one hospitalization. ACS-EC hospitalization rates decreased throughout the study period (2000: 207.7/100.000 person-years to 2015: 185,8/100,000 person-years, p for trend ConclusionIHT and 30-day ACS rehospitalization reflect coronary referral network efficiency and access to specialized treatment. Identifying factors associated with higher likelihood of IHT and 30-day ACS rehospitalization may allow heightened surveillance and interventions to reduce rehospitalizations and inequities in access to specialized treatment.