Effects of Age and Sex on Hospital Readmission in Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective

To investigate the effects of age and sex on 30-, 60-, and 90-day hospital readmission after acute hospital discharge for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Acute hospitals and postacute discharge settings.

Participants

Individuals (N=52,877) with Diagnosis Related Group codes of TBI, who were divided into 4 age groups: 18 to 40, 41 to 65, 66 to 75, and ≥76 years.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

All-cause hospital readmission.

Results

Sex differences in 30-, 60-, and 90-day hospital readmission were found among all age groups (P<.05 for all). The largest sex differences in hospital readmission were in the 2 oldest groups (66–75 and ≥76y). For both sexes, the oldest group (≥76y) had the highest adjusted 90-day readmission risk (eg, 90-d readmission: odds ratio, 2.32 95% confidence interval, 2.01–2.69] for men; odds ratio, 1.96 95% confidence interval, 1.59–2.43] for women). Among those readmitted within 90 days, the youngest group (18–40y) had the highest cumulative readmission percentage (35% for both sexes) within the first week of hospital discharge.

Conclusions

Age and sex were significantly associated with hospital readmission during the first 90 days postdischarge in our TBI sample. Specifically, those aged 66 to 75 or ≥76 years had the highest readmission risk over 90 days for both sexes. The findings suggest that clinicians should consider age and sex in discharge planning and for the entire episode of care for the population with TBI.