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Liu C, Rinne S, Perkins M, Wong ES, Bryson CL, Hebert PL. Burden of Readmissions for Heart Failure Patients in VA Healthcare System. Poster session presented at: AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting; 2014 Jun 10; San Diego, CA.
Reducing heart failure (HF) readmission is an important quality improvement and cost savings initiative Fully understand the clinical and economic burden of readmissions requires examining outcomes beyond the traditional 30-day follow-up period This study assessed readmission rates and associated costs for one year post-discharge for HF inpatients in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system Study Design: A retrospective cohort study of HF patients admitted to VA hospitals, who were discharged to home, in 2007 - 2009 Data Sources: VA administrative databases and Medicare claims Index Admission: First admission during the study period Baseline Characteristics: One year prior to index admission Readmission Rates: Excluded planned readmissions Readmitted in VA or Medicare in 30, 60, 90, 180, and 365 days All-cause readmissions HF-specific readmissions Readmission Related Costs: Total inpatient costs, including VA costs and Medicare payments, for all readmissions in one year Inflation-adjusted to 2010 dollars using the Consumer Price Index. Data Analysis: Descriptive analyses The burden of hospital readmissions for VA HF inpatients was extremely high. In one year after the index readmission: Two-thirds of patients were readmitted On average, 2.8 readmissions per patient On average, $38,269 per patient for readmissions
