Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Interhospital Transfers to A Tertiary Care Center

Introduction: This study aimed to describe the demographic, clinical, and geographical characteristics of interhospital transfers (IHT) to a tertiary care center, to identify differences among transfer types, and to examine temporal trends in transfer patterns. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) obtained from autologous blood on rabbit intra-tunnel tendon bone healing using biomechanical and histologic parameters. Methods: Patients who were admitted through IHT between January 1, 2021, and May 31, 2025, from Eskişehir and neighboring provinces were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic variables, referring province, transfer type, and diagnostic categories were obtained from the Hospital Information System. Incomplete or duplicate records were excluded. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 3,280 patients included, 60% were male, with a mean age of 51±27 years. Adults accounted for 83.8% and pediatric patients for 16.2%. Most transfers originated from Eskişehir (n=1,547). The total number of transfers decreased over the study period; intraprovincial transfers predominated in 2021, while interprovincial transfers increased in subsequent years (p=0.001). Intensive care (42.7%) and emergency (41.1%) were the most frequent transfer types; ICU transfers were more common intraprovincially, whereas emergency transfers predominated interprovincially (p < 0.001). The most common diagnostic categories were cardiovascular (17.0%), respiratory (13.0%), and neurological diseases (7.9%). Conclusions: Clinical needs, along with organizational and geographical factors, influence interhospital transfer processes. Safe and effective transfer management requires strengthening coordination, ensuring patient stabilization, and improving information exchange. Multicenter prospective studies are needed to further elucidate the impact of transfer practices on patient outcomes.