Risk Factors for Re-Hospitalization

Past Studies

Past Studies The amount of medical care that individuals with traumatic brain injury require differs and can be complex, depending on what other types of injuries they received. Historically, individuals move from the hospital to the inpatient rehabilitation setting when they are medically stable and able to participate in therapy. Once in inpatient rehabilitation, some individuals experience medical complications and need to return to the hospital for medical care.

In recent years, individuals are being admitted to rehabilitation earlier during their recoveries than before. It appears there is a trend for some individuals to be admitted to inpatient rehabilitation when they are less medically stable than others. Their medical symptoms need to be monitored carefully by rehabilitation physicians. An increasing number of individuals have experienced medical complications during inpatient rehabilitation that required re-hospitalization for treatment. Such medical transfers are costly and can cause setbacks in the individual’s rehabilitation progress. Prior to this study, no research had been conducted to identify which medical conditions during initial hospitalization were associated with re-hospitalization during inpatient rehabilitation.

This Study

This study reviewed the cases of 100 individuals with traumatic brain injury at one inpatient rehabilitation center. The researchers found that 22 individuals were re-hospitalized and 78 individuals did not require re-hospitalization for medical conditions while they were inpatients. The researchers compared the medical records of the two groups to find out which medical conditions were most frequently associated with re-hospitalization.

A history of pneumonia and recent surgery were factors most frequently associated with re-hospitalization. Patients with a history of surgery were over three and a half times more likely to be re-hospitalized as those without a history of surgery. Similarly, patients with a history of pneumonia were almost 4 times more likely to be at risk for re-hospitalization as those without a history of pneumonia. . The researchers suggested that physicians should be aware that individuals who experience these conditions before coming to inpatient rehabilitation might be at a greater risk for medical problems and return to the hospital.

Who May Be Affected By These Findings

Individuals with traumatic brain injury and their loved ones, physicians, researchers, healthcare personnel, and funders.

Caveats

This study focused on a small number of individuals. The researchers state that a larger study would produce results that could be applied generally to all individuals with traumatic brain injury.

Bottom Line

Patient with a history of pneumonia and surgery are at with an increased risk for re-hospitalization in the inpatient rehabilitation setting.

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