October 31, 2001 News Release - October 2001 - CABG: Hospital Readmissions Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery

PHC4 CABG - Hospital Readmissions Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery - News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joe Martin, Communications Director
717-232-6787 or

INFECTION DRIVES HOSPITAL READMISSIONS AFTER HEART SURGERY; WOMEN, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, HISPANICS MORE LIKELY TO RETURN

Harrisburg, PA - October 31, 2001 - One out of every six patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is rehospitalized for additional treatment, according to a new report by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. The number one reason for readmission: infection. The report covers 2,800 heart surgery patients readmitted in Fiscal Year 1999 (7/1/98-6/30/99), with associated costs totaling more than $52 million.

"Many readmissions after heart surgery are related to quality of care," stated Marc P. Volavka, Executive Director of PHC4. "Many patients were rehospitalized because of infections or post-operative complications – conditions that are potentially avoidable."

The PHC4 report, titled Hospital Readmissions Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery, examines several factors surrounding CABG surgery including which patients are most likely to be readmitted and the major reasons for readmissions.

"35% of CABG surgery patients are readmitted to a different hospital than the one where their operation was performed," stated Mr. Volavka. "This raises potential questions about the management of the process of care of these patients."

Highlights of the Report

15.3% of all CABG patients in FY99 were rehospitalized. The figures ranged from a low of 8.2% to a high of 32.9%;
The most common reason for readmission was infection;
35% of CABG surgery patients were readmitted to a different hospital than the one where they had their operation;
19.1% of women were rehospitalized compared to 13.6% of male patients;
20.2% of African Americans and 19.8% of Hispanics were readmitted compared to 15.1% of white CABG patients.
Older CABG patients were more likely to be rehospitalized – 39% of those readmitted were over the age of 70;

"This Issue Brief is a prelude to the more comprehensive Guide to Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, a hospital and physician-specific report which will include readmissions, due out next Spring," said Mr. Volavka. "This CABG surgery readmission data, which has not been examined in the past, is important from both a quality of care and a cost containment standpoint."

PHC4 is an independent state agency, which provides the public with information that can be used to make more informed medical decisions, thereby improving the quality and restraining the cost of health care in Pennsylvania. Copies of this report are free and can downloaded from the Council's website at http://www.phc4.org.