Age stratified analysis of pre-operative factors impacting unplanned thirty day readmission in geriatric general surgery

The geriatrics population can no longer be considered as one homogenous group when it comes to patient-centric and value-based care. We aim to determine if there are pre-operative factors which differ between geriatric age strata (65–74, 75–84, 85 + years) that impact unplanned thirty-day readmission. 2015 NSQIP general surgery procedure data was utilized. Chi Square and t-tests were utilized to see if certain pre-operative factors impacted readmission. Regressions with age strata as an interaction term were run to determine if age was an effect-modifier. Significant pre-operative factors were included in a multivariate model with step-wise selection for significant age-stratification interaction terms. Gender, inpatient status, wound classification, disseminated cancer, origin status, functional status, and RVU were significantly impacted by age strata in unadjusted models. Gender, inpatient status, emergency, and transfer/origin status were significant in our adjusted model. Exogenous variables between age strata significantly impact unplanned thirty-day readmission in comparison to differing co-morbidity and symptomatology. •Geriatric patients are not one generalized group. Age stratification is one method of dividing the geriatrics population.•Certain exogenous variables have a larger impact on unplanned thirty-day readmission vs. co-morbidities depending on age.•Examples of these exogenous variables include gender, inpatient status, functional status and RVU.•These exogenous variables should be carefully considered in pre-operative assessment and in the design of care coordination.