Predictors of 30-day readmission after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Background: Readmission within 30 days is increasingly evaluated as a measure of quality of care. There are few data on the rates of readmission after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Objective: We sought to determine the predictors of 30-day readmission in patients with SAH. Methods: We prospectively identified 283 patients with SAH admitted between 2006 and 2012. Readmission was determined by means of an automated query with confirmation in the electronic medical record. Results: Overall, 21 (8 %) patients were readmitted for infection (n = 8), headache (n = 5), hydrocephalus (n = 4), cardiovascular causes (n = 2), medication-related complications (n = 1), and cerebral ischemia (n = 1). Readmission was associated with longer intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) (15.4 [13.4-19.3] vs. 12.2 [8.2-18.5] days, P = 0.02), hospital LOS (22.2 [17.4-23.0] vs. 16.8 [12.0-24.1] days, P = 0.01), and placement of an external ventricular drain (EVD, OR 3.9, 95 % CI 1.3-12.0, P = 0.01). Readmission was not associated with admission neurologic grade, NIH Stroke scale at 14 days, modified Rankin scale at 3 months, history of cardiovascular disease, or radiographic cerebral infarction (P > 0.1). Conclusions: Demographics, severity of neurologic injury, radiographic cerebral infarction, and outcomes were not associated with readmission after SAH. Markers of a more complicated hospital course (ICU and hospital LOS, EVD placement) were associated with 30-day readmission. Most readmissions were for infections acquired after discharge. Readmission within 30 days is difficult to predict, and, since the most common reason was infection acquired after discharge, it may be difficult to prevent without an integrated health system and coordinated care.