Predictors of 30-Day Readmission for COPD in African-American Patients in a Community Hospital: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

PURPOSE: COPD is important cause of hospital admission and is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare cost. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has expanded its Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program to financially penalize hospitals with higher than expected all-cause 30-day readmission rates following a hospitalization for COPD exacerbation 1. The factors affecting COPD readmission is still poorly understood and vary in different patient population. This study aims to predict factors associated with 30 days readmission for COPD in African American (AA) patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study performed in a community Hospital in Central Brooklyn. Data from 867 African American patients who were admitted with diagnosis of COPD exacerbation between the period of January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2015 were analyzed.