Factors Associated with Readmission to Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

 

Factors associated with an increased risk of being readmitted to the ICU after release:

(1) significant illness present at the time of initial ICU discharge

(1a) acute physiology score (APS) from APACHE II > 40

(2) site prior to initial ICU admission:

(2a) general medical ward

(2b) transfer from another hospital

 

The risk factors indicate a failure to completely respond to therapy, whether in the ICU, on the general medical ward or at an outside hospital. This often reflects a sicker patient rather than any deficiency in the quality of care.

 

An ICU at a tertiary medical center is likely to have a high rate of readmission since the patients are sicker and many are transferred in from outside hospitals.

 

Performance:

• The hazard ratios for each risk factors ranged from 1.7 to 2.1.

• The area under the ROC curve was 0.67 (which is mediocre).