Readmissions to Intensive Care from Palliative Care Units: Risk Factors, Incidence, and Outcome

Introduction: Palliative care units (PCUs), which offer medical, psychological, and physical support to patients in need of care, have become increasingly prevalent worldwide. A significant portion of the patient load in the PCU constitutes those transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU), yet a fraction of these patients are readmitted to the ICU for different reasons. It is a well-known fact that readmitted patients to the ICU exhibit higher morbidity and mortality. Methods: Our study was designed retrospectively. Patients transferred from our hospital’s ICU to the PCU were screened using our hospital’s information system software dating back 10 years. Readmission to the ICU was defined as patients transferred from the ICU to the PCU and readmitted to the ICU within 72 h. Results: Two hundred and seventy patients were included in the study. Of the 270 patients, 66 (24.4%) were readmitted to the İCU within 3 days. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the risk factors for readmission to the ICU, which revealed that the use of home ventilators, high initial the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, presence of stroke, and vasoactive agent use during the hospital stay were independent risk factors for readmission to the ICU. Conclusion: In patients transferred to palliative care following an ICU stay and readmitted to the ICU within 72 h, factors such as high APACHE II scores during admission, discharge with home ventilator, use of vasopressors in the ICU, intubation during ICU stay, and presence of stroke were identified as independent risk factors for readmission.