Hospital readmission is the largest factor driving the cost of inpatient care for adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), according to a research letter published March 7 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Led by Ari M. Cedars, MD, researchers examined data from the State Inpatient Databases from Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Nebraska and New York to determine which clinical factors impact inpatient spending on ACHD care the most.

The results of the analysis showed that the cost for ACHD patients readmitted to the hospital was $23,993 more than the cost for non-readmitted patients. The second determinant of inpatient care cost was found to be for operative procedures, which increased the cost by $16,822.

According to Cedars, et al., these results suggest that “unlike the demographic factors driving increases in ACHD spending, some portion of overall expenditure may be preventable and a target for improved efficiency.”

Clinical Topics: Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, Congenital Heart Disease, CHD and Pediatrics and Quality Improvement

Keywords: Demography, Health Expenditures, Heart Diseases, Hospitalization, Inpatients, Patient Readmission, Heart Defects, Congenital

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