Drug abuse, marijuana use up risk of readmission in gastroparesis patients

Diabetes, hypertension, and older age are associated with lower hospital readmission in patients with gastroparesis, while higher length of stay (LOS), drug abuse, and marijuana use increase the 30-day readmission rate, a study has shown.

“Use of the Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) allows better understanding of gastroparesis admissions and readmissions,” the authors said. “Average hospital stay was 5.4 days with 0.4-percent mortality rate [and] overall 30-day readmission rate was 6.2 percent.”

Patients admitted to hospitals were identified using the NRD for the year 2014. The International Classification of Diseases 9 code for gastroparesis was used as primary diagnosis or as the secondary diagnosis with first diagnosis code of gastroparesis-related symptom. Risk factors associated with 30-day readmission were determined through logistic regression.

In total, 5,268 gastroparesis patients (mean age, 48.9±18.1 years; 73.8 percent female; 31 percent had diabetes) were admitted, with an average LOS of 5.4±6.6 days. Inpatient mortality was 0.4 percent, and overall 30-day readmission rate was 6.2 percent.

The following factors correlated with increased risk of 30-day readmission: LOS (odds ratio [OR], 1.4, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.0–1.9), younger age, drug abuse (OR, 1.6, 95 percent CI, 1.2–2.2), and marijuana use (OR, 1.7, 95 percent CI, 1.0-2.7).

Additionally, female gender (p=0.083), opioid use (p=0.057), and admission to larger hospital (p=0.070) showed a trend toward higher readmission rates. In contrast, older patients and those with diabetes and hypertension demonstrated lower readmission rates.

“Gastroparesis can be associated with severe symptoms,” the authors said. “Healthcare utilization for gastroparesis has increased in part due to an increase in hospital admissions.”