An Investigation into the Frequency and Demographic Characteristics of Hospital Readmissions in Various Departments of Vali-Asr Hospital, Fasa, Iran

Background & Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the frequency and demographic characteristics of patient readmissions across various departments of Vali-Asr Hospital in Fasa, Fars Province, Iran. Materials & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a census sample comprising 1,599 patients who experienced hospital readmissions. Demographic and clinical information was extracted from the Hospital Information System (HIS) for the period spanning 2020 to 2023. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-tests, Chi-square tests, one-way analysis and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Of the study population, 352 individuals (22%) were under 30 years of age, 642 (40%) were aged between 30 and 60 years, and 605 (38%) were over 60 years old. Readmission rates for gynecological, cardiac, and internal medicine conditions were higher among women, whereas men exhibited higher readmission rates for respiratory and surgical conditions. Gender differences were significant (P<0.01), with women more frequently readmitted for gynecological/cardiac conditions and men for respiratory/surgical issues. Additionally, a positive and statistically significant correlation was found between age and the number of readmissions (r = 0.08, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Targeted interventions for elderly patients and high-readmission departments (internal medicine/gynecology) are urgently needed. Additionally, given the elevated rate of readmissions identified in this study particularly among older adults raising awareness about the importance of follow-up care, enhancing the attentiveness of healthcare providers to the medical and psychosocial needs of patients, and informing hospital administrators of the financial consequences of readmissions may be instrumental in reducing their occurrence