Korean J Adult Nurs.  2024 Feb;36(1):52-62. 10.7475/kjan.2024.36.1.52.

Risk Factors for Readmission of Heart Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

• Jang DE
• Jang YS

• KMID: 2553570
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2024.36.1.52

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing the readmission of heart transplant recipients through survival analysis.
Methods
We collected data from heart transplant recipients who were discharged after surgery between November 2005 and September 2020 from the electronic medical records of Y University Hospital in Seoul. The Kaplan-Meier estimation was utilized to calculate the survival rate, and Cox's proportional hazards model was employed to determine the factors influencing readmission within 1 year.
Results
Out of 150 heart transplant recipients, 81 (54.0%) were readmitted within one year. The median time to readmission was 231 days. An increased duration of postoperative days was associated with a higher risk of readmission (p=.016). Groups with abnormal sodium levels (p<.001), those requiring postoperative hemodialysis (p=.013), patients with chronic kidney disease (p=.002), dyslipidemia (p=.040), or diabetes mellitus (p=.045) also faced higher readmission risks. In the final model, sodium levels (hazard ratio [HR]=2.31, p<.001) and chronic kidney disease (HR=1.67, p=.045) were significant risk factors for readmission (x² =31.90, p<.001).
Conclusion
Interventions to improve kidney function and a multidisciplinary approach are needed to reduce readmission of heart transplant recipients.

Keyword

Heart transplantation; Patient readmission; Survival analysis