The Effects of a Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outpatient Diabetes Program on Hospital Readmission Rates in Patients with Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Prospective Study

Hospital Readmission Risk and Risk Factors of People with a Primary or Secondary Discharge Diagnosis of Diabetes

Hospital readmission among people with diabetes is common and costly. A better understanding of the differences between people requiring hospitalization primarily for diabetes (primary discharge diagnosis, 1°DCDx) or another condition (secondary discharge diagnosis, 2°DCDx) may translate into more effective ways to prevent readmissions. This retrospective cohort study compared readmission risk and risk factors between 8054 hospitalized adults with a 1°DCDx or 2°DCDx. The primary outcome was all-cause hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge. The readmission rate was higher in patients with a 1°DCDx than in patients with a 2°DCDx (22.2% vs. 16.2%, p < 0.01). Several independent risk factors for readmission were common to both groups including outpatient follow up, length of stay, employment status, anemia, and lack of insurance. C-statistics for the multivariable models of readmission were not significantly different (0.837 vs. 0.822, p = 0.15). Readmission risk of people with a 1°DCDx was higher than that of people with a 2°DCDx of diabetes. Some risk factors were shared between the two groups, while others were unique. Inpatient diabetes consultation may be more effective at lowering readmission risk among people with a 1°DCDx. These models may perform well to predict readmission risk.

Interventions incorporating a multi-disciplinary team approach and a dedicated care team can help reduce preventable hospital readmissions of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A scoping review of current literature

AIMS

This review aimed to identify interventions that hospitals can implement to reduce preventable hospital readmissions of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

A scoping review framework was utilised to inform the overall process. The electronic databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, the University of New England (UNE) library search engine and Google Scholar were utilised to search for relevant literature.

RESULTS

The results from this review demonstrate that interventions started at index admission for people diagnosed with T2DM can result in reductions in hospital readmissions. Common strategies which attributed to the success of interventions in reducing hospital readmissions of people with T2DM included a multidisciplinary team approach, a dedicated care team, certified diabetes educator appointments, basic survival skills education and influencing hospital protocol development and implementation.

CONCLUSION

This scoping review is an attempt at exploring and synthesising current research on interventions that hospitals can implement to reduce preventable hospital readmissions of people with T2DM.

Predicting and Preventing Acute Care Re-Utilization by Patients with Diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Acute care re-utilization, i.e., hospital readmission and post-discharge Emergency Department (ED) use, is a significant driver of healthcare costs and a marker for healthcare quality. Diabetes is a major contributor to acute care re-utilization and associated costs. The goals of this paper are to (1) review the epidemiology of readmissions among patients with diabetes, (2) describe models that predict readmission risk, and (3) address various strategies for reducing the risk of acute care re-utilization.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hospital readmissions and ED visits by diabetes patients are common and costly. Major risk factors for readmission include sociodemographics, comorbidities, insulin use, hospital length of stay (LOS), and history of readmissions, most of which are non-modifiable. Several models for predicting the risk of readmission among diabetes patients have been developed, two of which have reasonable accuracy in external validation. In retrospective studies and mostly small randomized controlled trials (RCTs), interventions such as inpatient diabetes education, inpatient diabetes management services, transition of care support, and outpatient follow-up are generally associated with a reduction in the risk of acute care re-utilization. Data on readmission risk and readmission risk reduction interventions are limited or lacking among patients with diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19. The evidence supporting post-discharge follow-up by telephone is equivocal and also limited. Acute care re-utilization of patients with diabetes presents an important opportunity to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs. Currently available predictive models are useful for identifying higher risk patients but could be improved. Machine learning models, which are becoming more common, have the potential to generate more accurate acute care re-utilization risk predictions. Tools embedded in electronic health record systems are needed to translate readmission risk prediction models into clinical practice. Several risk reduction interventions hold promise but require testing in multi-site RCTs to prove their generalizability, scalability, and effectiveness.