Trends and causes of readmission following peripheral vascular intervention in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

OBJECTIVES

To study the risk factors associated with 30-readmission postperipheral vascular intervention (PVI) in peripheral artery disease (PAD).

BACKGROUND

There has been a paucity of data regarding the trend and predictors of PVI readmission.

METHODS

We performed an observational cohort study of patients admitted with peripheral vascular disease for PVI using the NRD for the years 2010-2014. PVI was defined as angioplasty, atherectomy, and/or stenting of lower limb vessels.

RESULTS

A total of 453,278 patients (30-day readmission n = 97,235). The mean age of study population was 68.6 ± 12.2 years and included 43.8% women. The 30-day readmission post-PVI was 21.5% (p = .034). Cardiovascular causes constitute 44% of readmission. Chronic limb ischemia and intermittent claudication were two most common cardiovascular causes constituting 11.7 and 4.9% cases of readmissions. Other cardiac causes of readmissions included heart failure (4.64%), dysrhythmias (1.4%), and acute myocardial infarction (1.7%). The high-risk factors for of all-cause 30-day readmission were hypertension, CLI, diabetes, renal failure, dyslipidemia, smoking, chronic pulmonary disease, and atrial fibrillation (p < .005). Length-of-stay was greater than 5 days for 56.2 and 75.4% paid by Medicare.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows an average yearly readmission rate of 21.5% post-PVI. Chronic comorbidities and prolonged hospitalization were associated with higher risk of readmission.