Risk factors associated with 30-day hospital readmissions among persons living with HIV in Nantong, China

Objective To estimate 30-day hospital readmission rates among persons living with HIV (PLWH) at the Nantong Infectious Disease Hospital in China and analyse the related risk factors. Methods A single-centre retrospective cohort study was conducted. There were 894 PLWH records obtained from the electronic medical record (EMR) system at the Nantong Infectious Disease Hospital in China, from October 2013 to February 2018. The 30-day readmission rates were calculated, and the risk factors were analysed by generalised estimating equations (GEEs). Results A total of 1153 hospitalizations from 894 patients were recorded between October 2013 and February 2018. The median time of 30-day readmissions was 13 days (interquartile range (IQR), 6–23). The reasons for all causes, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illnesses (ADIs), and non-AIDS-defining infections (non-ADIs) were 9.08, 13.52, and 7.91%, respectively. The results from the GEE analysis demonstrated that the risk factors associated with 30-days readmissions were as follows: no antiretroviral therapy (ART) prior to hospitalisations (odds ratio (OR) = 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21–3.00), low CD4 counts (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.33–3.54), and multiple comorbidities (OR = 6.45, 95% CI: 1.62–25.73). Conclusion Early detection of HIV infection and early initiation of ART treatment are the keys to controlling 30-day readmissions.