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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 2 of 2 Research Studies DisplayedBath J, Smith JB, Kruse RL
Cohort study of risk factors for 30-day readmission after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
This retrospective cohort study examined 30-day readmission rates for patients who had abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair comparing two different procedures,. The cohort was selected from inpatients (2009-2016) who had undergone elective AAA repair using the multicenter Cerner Health Facts(R) database and were identified ICD-9 procedure codes. The two procedures compared were 3,101 endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVAR) and 1,622 open procedures. Patients who had EVAR were less likely to be readmitted. Risk factors for readmission included surgical site infection, age, receipt of bronchodilators or steroids, serum potassium > 5.2 mEq/L, and higher Charlson co-morbidity scores. The most common infections causing readmission were pneumonia and urinary tract infection after EVAR.
AHRQ-funded; HS022140.
Citation: Bath J, Smith JB, Kruse RL .
Cohort study of risk factors for 30-day readmission after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
Vasa 2019 May;48(3):251-61. doi: 10.1024/0301-1526/a000767..
Keywords: Risk, Hospital Readmissions, Surgery, Outcomes, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Ody C, Msall L, Dafny LS
Decreases in readmissions credited to Medicare's program to reduce hospital readmissions have been overstated.
This study examines the assumption that Medicare's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) can lower risk-adjusted readmission rates at general acute care hospitals for targeted conditions. Prior studies of HRRP have relied upon the control groups' having lower baseline readmission rates, which could falsely create the appearance that readmission rates are changing more in the treatment than in the control group. After adjustment for differences in pre-HRRP readmission rates across samples, the study found that declines for targeted conditions were statistically indistinguishable from declines for two control samples. The authors conclude that either the HRRP had no effect on readmissions, or it has led to a systemwide reduction in readmissions roughly half as large as prior estimates have suggested.
AHRQ-funded; HS024072.
Citation: Ody C, Msall L, Dafny LS .
Decreases in readmissions credited to Medicare's program to reduce hospital readmissions have been overstated.
Health Aff 2019 Jan;38(1):36-43. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05178..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Medicare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research