Factors Associated With Psychiatric Readmission of Youths in a Racially Diverse and Urban Hospital Setting

Objective:

This study examined predictors of readmission to a psychiatric inpatient unit of an urban children’s hospital within 1 year of discharge among a racially diverse sample of youths.

Methods:

The authors retrospectively analyzed 2 years of electronic health record data of inpatient psychiatric unit admissions (N=1,604). Multivariate logistic regression and random-effects multinomial logistic regression were used for analyses.

Results:

The estimated odds ratios for any readmission within 1 year of discharge were significantly higher for Black youths, youths insured by Medicaid, and youths with a length of stay longer than 7 days. Factors remained strongly predictive when examining multiple readmissions versus no readmissions.

Conclusions:

Black youths, youths insured by Medicaid, and youths with longer stays were more likely than other youths to be readmitted. Findings suggest the need for interventions such as care coordination to target predictors of readmission and the need to examine inequities in the health care system.