Frequency and Risk Factors of Readmissions in Children ward within 30 days in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge is a recognized indicator of healthcare quality and system efficiency. In resource-limited settings, early pediatric readmissions are often linked to malnutrition, chronic illness, and inadequate follow-up care.

Objective: To determine the frequency of 30-day all-cause readmissions and identify associated socio-demographic and clinical factors among children discharged from the pediatric ward of a tertiary care hospital.

Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Allama Iqbal Medical College/ Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, from January to June 2025. A total of 265 children under 18 years of age were included. Data were collected using a pre-designed proforma capturing demographic, clinical, and hospitalization-related variables. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed using SPSS version 26. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of participants was 4.3±2.8 years; 58.1% were male. Respiratory illness (37%) was the most common diagnosis at discharge. The 30-day readmission rate was 19.6%. Independent predictors of readmission included malnutrition (aOR: 3.42), presence of comorbidity (aOR: 2.31), history of previous admission (aOR: 3.89), discharge against medical advice (aOR: 2.41), and chronic illness (aOR: 2.76).

Conclusion: The burden of 30-day pediatric readmissions remains high in this setting. Modifiable risk factors such as malnutrition and discharge against medical advice highlight opportunities for intervention. Improving discharge planning and strengthening outpatient services may help reduce preventable readmissions.