Reattendances in primary care and their association with patient safety events: A cohort study in Spain.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the frequency of reattendances in PC and their association with adverse events, considering sex-based differences.

DESIGN

A retrospective observational study. SITE: Five primary care centres in the Valencia Region (Spain).

PARTICIPANTS

Patients over 50 years old attended in between 2019 and 2024.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

A review of 541 electronic health records of patients was conducted to identify reattendances occurring within 20 days after an index visit Associated AEs were assessed as well.

RESULTS

A total of 2077 reattendances were recorded (0.77 per patient-year), with significantly higher frequency among men (1601 in men vs. 476 in women; P<0.001). Eighty-five AEs were identified (annual incidence: 3.1; 95% CI: 2.5-3.8), with women experiencing an 18% higher incidence compared to men (OR=1.18; 95% CI: 1.13-1.24; P<0.001). No significant sex-based differences were observed in the severity of harm (P=0.713). Reattendances were associated with AEs (OR=7.04; P<0.001), as was cognitive impairment, measured using the Pfeiffer Index (OR=1.21; P=0.033). In contrast, low and medium PC utilization were associated with a lower probability of AEs (OR=0.22 and 0.45; P=0.003 and 0.043, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Reattendances in PC are frequent and significantly associated with the occurrence of preventable AEs. Sex-based differences and individual patient factors, such as cognitive status and care utilization patterns, should be considered in patient safety strategies.