Readmissões em um hospital público: análise de frequência e custos

Abstract

Hospital readmissions are relevant indicators of healthcare quality, identifying areas that require corrective interventions and continuous improvement strategies. They represent a significant challenge for health systems, occupying beds that could be allocated to other patients, increasing care costs and overloading hospital services. The general objective was to estimate the frequency and costs associated with hospital readmissions in a public hospital. The specific objectives included identifying sociodemographic and diagnostic factors associated with readmissions within 30 days and factors associated with in-hospital mortality. This was a quantitative, observational, retrospective cohort study conducted at a public hospital in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais. All patients aged 18 years or older with at least one hospital readmission within 30 days were included, covering the period from January 1, 2022, to May 1, 2025, totaling 482 episodes. Admissions with discharge by hospital transfer or evasion were excluded. Data were collected from the internal hospital management system and Hospital Admission Authorization (AIH) records. Cost analysis was performed from the SUS perspective, based on approved AIH values according to the SIGTAP table. A readmission rate of 12.2% was identified, with in-hospital mortality of 10.6% in readmission episodes, and a mean cost of R$ 816.00 per episode. Age group and education level were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality.