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Early Discharge of Alberta Mothers Post-delivery and the Relationship to Potentially Preventable Newborn Readmissions

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Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether early maternal discharge increases newborn readmission rates.

Methods: Singleton vaginal deliveries weighing at least 2500 grams were extracted from April 1, 1997 to March 31, 2000 Alberta hospital abstracts and linked to records of birth. Potentially preventable readmissions were for dehydration, jaundice, feeding problems, inadequate weight gain, and social reasons.

Results: The most common reason for readmission is jaundice (74%). In order of importance, influencing factors were: length of gestation, Aboriginal treaty status, first live birth, delivering in region of residence, number of deliveries done in the hospital, newborn sex, maternal smoking, birthweight, previous abortions, and delivering in nearest hospital. Post-delivery length of stay was associated with readmissions in the first 6 days post discharge (25% greater in those <27 hours compared to those >48 hours) but not in the first 28 days post discharge.

Conclusion: Early maternal discharge is a minor determinant of potentially preventable newborn readmissions.

Résumé

Objectif: Déterminer si le congé précoce après l’accouchement accroît le taux de réadmission des nouveau-nés.

Méthode: Nous avons extrait des registres d’hôpitaux albertains les dossiers d’accouchements simples par voie vaginale où le nouveau-né pesait au moins 2 500 grammes, pour la période du 1er avril 1997 au 31 mars 2000, et nous les avons couplés à l’ensemble des naissances enregistrées. Les réadmissions évitables étaient des cas de déshydratation, de jaunisse, de problèmes d’alimentation, de gain de poids insuffisant et de problèmes d’ordre social.

Résultats: Le motif de réadmission le plus commun était la jaunisse (74 %). Les facteurs déterminants, par ordre d’importance, étaient la durée de la grossesse, le statut d’autochtone visé par un traité, la naissance d’un premier enfant vivant, l’accouchement dans la région de résidence, le nombre d’accouchements à l’hôpital, le sexe du nouveau-né, le tabagisme maternel, le poids à la naissance, les avortements antérieurs et l’accouchement à l’hôpital le plus proche. La durée d’hospitalisation après l’accouchement était associée aux réadmissions durant les six premiers jours suivant le congé (les réadmissions après un séjour de moins de 27 heures étaient de 25 % supérieures aux réadmissions après un séjour de plus de 48 heures), mais pas aux réadmissions durant les 28 premiers jours suivant le congé.

Conclusion: Le congé précoce des mères après la naissance est un déterminant mineur des réadmissions évitables de nouveau-nés.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Anesthesia, Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    David Johnson MD, SM, MBA

  2. Health Service Utilization, Alberta Health and Wellness, 22nd floor, TELUS Plaza North Tower, 10025 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5J 2N3, Canada

    Yan Jin MA & Corrine Truman PhD

Authors
  1. David Johnson MD, SM, MBA
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  2. Yan Jin MA
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  3. Corrine Truman PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Johnson MD, SM, MBA.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: This work was partially supported by the Alberta Center for Health Service Utilization Research. The opinions and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and no endorsement by the Alberta Ministry of Health & Wellness is implied.

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Johnson, D., Jin, Y. & Truman, C. Early Discharge of Alberta Mothers Post-delivery and the Relationship to Potentially Preventable Newborn Readmissions. Can J Public Health 93, 276–280 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405016

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