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Purpose: Cancer, with readmission rates as high as 27%, has thus far been excluded from most readmission reduction efforts. However, some readmissions for patients with advanced disease may be avoidable. We assessed the prevalence of potentially preventable readmissions and associated factors in patients with metastatic cancer. Patients and Methods: Using a merged longitudinal data set of New York State hospital discharges and vital records, we measured 30-day readmissions for anemia, dehydration, diarrhea, emesis, fever, nausea, neutropenia, pain, pneumonia, and sepsis among patients with metastatic cancer between 2012 and 2014. We used competing-risk models to assess the effects of demographics, comorbidities, hospital type, payer, and discharge disposition. Results: A total of 11,275 patients had 19,307 hospitalizations. The 30-day readmission rate was 24.5%; 11.9% (n = 565) of readmissions were potentially preventable. Higher readmission rates occurred in black (hazard rate [HR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.35), Hispanic (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.31), and younger patients (HR per 10 years, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.90 to 0.97). Lower rates were associated with female sex (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91 to 0.99), private insurance (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.81), teaching hospitals, and hospice discharge (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.91). Discharge home with services (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.27) or to a skilled nursing facility (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.23) increased readmission likelihood. Potentially preventable readmissions were associated with younger age (HR per 10 years, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.98 to 0.99) and discharge home with services (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.50). Likelihood decreased if care was received at a teaching hospital (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.99). Payer, sex, race, and comorbidities did not contribute. Conclusion: Although the overall rate of potentially preventable readmissions among patients with metastatic cancer is low, higher readmission rates among those discharged home with help suggest that services supplied may not be sufficient to address health needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To estimate the relationship between comorbid serious mental illness (SMI) diagnosis and 30-day medical-surgical readmissions. Methods In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) we searched five databases (2012 to 2017) to identify relevant articles on the relationship between SMI diagnosis and readmissions. We used the National Institute of Health's Quality Appraisal Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies guidelines to appraise studies and assess risk of bias. Data were narratively synthesized and a pooled random effects unadjusted odds ratio was estimated using meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was investigated using subgroup analysis and meta-regression. Results Our search yielded 424 articles after removing duplicates. Nine met inclusion criteria. All studies were retrospective observational cohort studies. The meta-analysis showed that people with SMI have greater odds of readmission than people without SMI (pooled OR 1.38, CI 1.23–1.56, I2 = 98.6%). There was heterogeneity in patient cohorts, study methodology, and definition of SMI. No significant possibility of publication bias was detected (Classic fail-safe N = 3480). Conclusion There is a meaningful relationship between SMI diagnosis and medical-surgical readmissions. Given the prevalence of SMI in patients hospitalized for medical-surgical problems and the heterogeneity of evidence, further research on sources of variation in outcomes is critically needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]