Long-term Safety of Directly Discharging Patients Home from the ICU Compared to Ward Transfer.
Eric J SyChiraag GuptaZunaira ShahabNathan FortinSandy KassirJonathan F MailmanVincent Issac LauPublished in: Journal of intensive care medicine (2022)
Purpose: To evaluate the long-term safety of directly discharging intensive care unit (ICU) survivors to their home. Methods: A retrospective observational cohort of 341 ICU survivors who were directly discharged home from the ICU ("direct discharge") or discharged home ≤72 hours after ICU transfer to the ward ("ward transfer") was conducted in Regina, Saskatchewan ICUs between September 1, 2016 and September 30, 2018. The primary outcome was 90-day hospital readmission. Secondary outcomes included 30-day, 90-day, and 365-day emergency department (ED) visits, 30-day and 365-day hospital readmissions, and 365-day mortality. All outcomes were evaluated by multivariable Cox regression after adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: Of 341 survivors (25.5% of total ICU visits), 148 (43.4%) patients were direct discharges and 193 (56.6%) were ward transfers. The median age was 46 years (interquartile range, 34-62), 38.4% were female, and 61.8% resided in Regina. Compared to the ward transfer cohort, more patients in the direct discharge cohort had at least one 90-day hospital readmission (30.4% versus 17.1% of patients, adjusted hazard ratio 2.09, 95% confidence interval 1.28-3.40, P = .003), after adjustment. Additionally, there were more 90-day ED visits ( P = .045), and 30-day ( P = .049) and 365-day hospital readmissions ( P = .03), after adjustment. Conclusions: In Saskatchewan, direct discharge compared to ward transfer was associated with an increase in 90-day hospital readmissions, and potentially other clinical outcomes. Further study is necessary.
Keyphrases
- intensive care unit
- emergency department
- end stage renal disease
- healthcare
- chronic kidney disease
- newly diagnosed
- ejection fraction
- young adults
- peritoneal dialysis
- type diabetes
- cardiovascular disease
- insulin resistance
- cardiovascular events
- weight loss
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- acute care
- electron transfer