Predictors of early hospital readmission in patients receiving home mechanical ventilation.

BACKGROUND

Although the proportion of patients with chronic respiratory failure requiring home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is increasing, hospital readmissions in these patients are also increasing.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the factors for early readmission in patients receiving HMV.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of adult patients readmitted to the hospital within a year who first received HMV and were discharged from the Asan Medical Center between March 2014 and February 2019. We compared the clinical characteristics at discharge before readmission between the early (readmission within 30 days) and late readmission groups (readmission between day 31 and 1 year) and investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes at readmission.

RESULTS

Of the 116 patients identified, 36.2% had been readmitted early. The patients who received invasive HMV had a higher rate of early readmission than those who received non-invasive HMV. Pneumonia was the most common reason of readmission in the two groups. The rate of aspiration was significantly higher in the early readmission group (28.6% vs. 8.1%; P = .003). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, nasogastric tube feeding, sequelae of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome, and central nervous system disorders as causes for HMV were significantly associated with early readmission.

CONCLUSION

Feeding methods and causes for HMV were associated with early readmission. Educating caregivers on respiratory care (suction and feeding methods) is important for preventing early readmission.