Drug-Induced Acute Pancreatitis Hospital Readmission Linked to Higher Costs

Patients with drug-induced acute pancreatitis have high 30-day hospital readmission rates due to advanced age, dyslipidemia, and more, according to a retrospective study published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Researchers used data from the National Readmission Database (NRD) to evaluate patients who were hospitalized with drug-induced acute pancreatitis. After identifying index hospitalizations, researchers tracked hospital readmission, defined as readmission to the hospital within 30 days following index hospitalization for any cause. Researchers also used the NRD to obtain patients’ characteristics and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project to calculate the cost of inpatient care.

The primary outcome of the study was 30-day readmission rates. The secondary outcomes were the predictors for 30-day readmission, mean length of stay (LOS), total hospital cost (THC), and inpatient mortality.

Researchers included 4,457 patients with a discharge diagnosis of drug-induced acute pancreatitis from the data set. The 30-readmission rate was 12.5%. The readmitted patients were more likely to be middle age or older adults. They were also more likely to have comorbidities, such as congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, protein-energy malnutrition, or cancer. Readmission was associated with a higher THC and a longer LOS. Inpatient mortality was also increased in patients who were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. There was no association with household income or insurance payer type.

Study limitations include the retrospective design and using the NRD database, which only includes 59.7% of the US population.

Researchers noted, “Further studies are needed to determine other factors driving 30-DR in patients hospitalized for DIAP [drug-induced acute pancreatitis], which is necessary to reduce unplanned hospital readmissions and increased LOS, THC, and inpatient mortality.”