Intensive Care Unit Readmissions in a Level I Trauma Center

Intensive care unit (ICU) readmissions are associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates, longer hospitalization, and increased health-care expenditures. This study sought to present a large cohort of trauma patients readmitted to the ICU, characterizing risk factors and providing quality improvement strategies to limit ICU readmission. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on adult trauma patients admitted to the ICU at a single level I trauma center from 2014 to 2021. Patients were split into readmission and no readmission groups. Patients experiencing readmission were compared to a similar group that was not readmitted using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. In this study, 3632 patients were included and 278 (7.7%) were readmitted to the ICU. Significant differences were found in age, Elixhauser Comorbidity score, number of days on a ventilator, and number of patients requiring ventilator support. Furthermore, logistic regression showed that increasing age and the Elixhauser Comorbidity Score were associated with an increased likelihood of ICU readmission. Over the study period, the ICU readmission rate increased while the ICU length decreased. Age, Elixhauser Comorbidity score, and ventilator use were all significant risk factors for ICU readmission. During our study period, a concerning trend of increasing ICU readmissions and decreased ICU length of stay was found. By identifying this trend, our institution was able to employ mitigation strategies that have successfully reversed the trend in ICU readmissions, decreasing the rate below the national average.