Abstract
ABSTRACT
Asthma is the most common preventable reason for hospitalization in the pediatric population. Readmissions are responsible for a substantial portion of all asthma admissions. Previous attempts to examine asthma readmission have focused on intervals of 6 months to 1 year. In this retrospective case-controlled study, we have examined hospital-associated risk factors occurring with readmission of pediatric asthma patients within 30 days of discharge. Pediatric patients admitted during 1997 for asthma and readmitted within 30 days of discharge (n = 37) were compared with a randomly selected control group of asthma patients (n = 70). Risk factors for short-term readmission for asthma include history of previous neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (OR 5.2 CI, 1.7–15.4), co-morbidity with other chronic disease (OR 4.3, CI 1.9–9.8), and history of previous hospital admission for asthma (OR 4.9, CI 3.2–7.3). Proper evaluation of risk factors at discharge and adequate follow-up may decrease the rate of short-term hospital admission.
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