Modifiable factors associated with children’s hospital readmissions, 2017-2018

Multicentre cohort study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute following-up for 12 months 767 children aged 3–18 years admitted to hospital for asthma in Victoria in 2017-2018.
Results:
– About one third (34.3 %) were readmitted to hospital for asthma, (those aged 3-5 years accounting for 69.2 per cent): 20.6 % were readmitted once and 13.7 % had two or more readmissions in 12 months.
– children were 57% more likely to be readmitted when their general practitioners did not adhere to recommended asthma management guidelines
– almost 75% were discharged without a preventer and more than 80% did not have a follow-up appointment at the hospital
– Over a third hadn’t had a review of inhaler technique
Conclusion: Hospital readmissions among Australian children with asthma are increasing (compared to a decade ago when about 1 in 5 were readmitted), and the study highlights the gaps in children’s asthma care throughout their care journey such as reviewing their baseline asthma control, inhaler technique and asthma medication, lack of booked follow-up arrangements before discharge, and guideline discordant care.

see MCRI website: https://www.mcri.edu.au/news-stories/hospital-readmissions-for-asthma-on-the-rise-among-children