Dermatology-specific and all-cause 30-day and calendar-year readmissions and costs for dermatologic diseases from 2010 to 2014. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Readmissions for skin disease, particularly for the same diagnosis and over time, have not been well studied. OBJECTIVE: To characterize hospital readmissions for skin disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study examined the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2010 to 2014, a national sample of hospital discharges in the United States. RESULTS: Of the patients in 3,602,599 dermatologic hospitalizations from 2010 to 2014, 9.8% were readmitted for any cause, 3.3% were admitted for the same diagnosis within 30 days, and 7.8% were readmitted for the same diagnosis within the calendar year (CY). The cost of all CY same-cause readmissions was $508 million per year. Mycosis fungoides had the highest 30-day all-cause readmission rate (32%), vascular hamartomas and dermatomyositis had the highest 30-day same-cause readmission rates (21% and 18%, respectively), and dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus had the highest CY same-cause readmission rates (31% and 24%, respectively). Readmission rates stayed stable from 2010 to 2014. Readmission for the same diagnosis was strongly associated with Medicaid and morbid obesity. LIMITATIONS: This study is a broad description of hospitalizations for skin disease. Conclusions for individual diseases are not intended. CONCLUSION: The rates and costs of readmissions for skin diseases remained high from 2010 to 2014. This study identifies diseases associated with high risk of hospital readmission, but disease-specific studies are needed. The diseases and risk factors presented should guide additional studies focused on strategies to reduce readmissions in specific skin diseases.

publication date

  • May 15, 2019

Research

keywords

  • Hospital Costs
  • Patient Readmission
  • Skin Diseases

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC6698216

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85068965327

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.05.023

PubMed ID

  • 31102603

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 81

issue

  • 3