Association between timely outpatient visits and all-cause mortality and 30-day readmission in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND

The associations between delayed outpatient follow-up after discharge and the risks of readmission and mortality regarding heart failure (HF), as well as cause-specific readmission outcomes, remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the association of first post-discharge outpatient visit timing with all-cause mortality and 30-day all-cause readmission in patients with HF.

METHODS

Using data from the NHIS National Sample conducted in 2004-2019, patients newly hospitalised for HF were identified. Cox proportional hazards models examined the association between the timing of the first post-discharge outpatient visit and all-cause mortality and 30-day readmission.

RESULTS

Patients whose first outpatient visit occurred > 7 gt; 7 days after discharge had higher risks of all-cause mortality and 30-day readmission than those who visited within 7 days. A dose-response relationship was observed. Delayed outpatient follow-up was also associated with higher risks of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure-specific readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Outpatient follow-up within 7 days after discharge among patients hospitalized for heart failure was associated with significantly lower risks of 30-day readmission and long-term cardiovascular mortality.