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Learning Objective 1: To estimate the incidence rates of readmission within 15days after discharge with pulmonary disease.
Learning Objective 2: To explore the significant predictors for readmission.
Study design This was a retrospective cohort study of 18,421 PLBW infants (ICD-9-CM=765) among whom 10,946 suffered from pulmonary disease (ICD-9-CM=748A769A770) with his/her lifetime initial hospitalization in 2000-2002 were identified from the ICR of the NHID. The study subjects were then linked to the 2000-2003 ICR to identify all hospitalizations occurred within 15 days of observation following the initial hospitalization.
Results The CIR associated with pulmonary relative disease was estimated at 4.8%. The incidence density estimate was readmissions 2.39/ person-years (pys). Results from the Cox multivariate regression analysis indicated that male infants,< 1,750 grams of birth weight, <28 weeks of gestational age , congenital anomaly were all significant predictors for elevated readmission rates.Conclusions: The study found that the readmission rate among PLBW infants in Taiwan was higher than the figures previously reported in Western countries. Despite that, more intensive and quality-improved cares for the PLBW infants who are at a higher risk of readmission, especially due to respiratory infection, should be considered in order to further reduce the readmission rate among PLBW infants.