Thirty‐Day Readmission and Cost Analysis in Patients With Cirrhosis: A Nationwide Population‐Based Data

Accurate population‐based data are needed on the rate, economic impact, and the long‐term outcomes of readmission among patients with cirrhosis. To examine the rates, costs, and 1‐year outcomes of patients readmitted within 30 days following their index hospitalization for complications of cirrhosis, we conducted a nationwide, population‐based cohort study involving all patients with cirrhosis in Thailand from 2009 through 2013, using data from the National Health Security Office databases, which included those from nationwide hospitalizations. Readmission was captured from hospitals at all health care levels across the country within the Universal Coverage Scheme. For the 134,038 patients hospitalized with cirrhosis, the overall 30‐day readmission rate was 17%. Common causes of readmission consisted of complications of portal hypertension (47%) and infections (17%). After adjusting for multiple covariates, predictors of 30‐day readmission included hepatocellular carcinoma (odds ratio [OR] 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.84‐2.06), human immunodeficiency virus–related admission (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.51‐2.17) and cholangiocarcinoma (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.3‐2.05). In all, 2,936 deaths (13%) occurred during readmission, and an additional 14,425 deaths up to 1 year (63.5% total mortality among readmitted patients). Causes of death were mostly from liver‐related mortality. Average cost at index admission for those with a 30‐day readmission were significantly higher than those readmitted beyond 30 days or not readmitted. Conclusions: Patients hospitalized with cirrhosis complications had high rates of unscheduled 30‐day readmission. Average hospitalization costs were high, and only 36.5% of patients readmitted within 30 days survived at 1 year.