Lower rehospitalization rates among rural Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes

J Rural Health. 2012 Summer;28(3):227-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2011.00399.x. Epub 2011 Nov 7.

Abstract

Purpose: We estimated the 30-day readmission rate of Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, across levels of rurality.

Methods: We merged the 2005 Medicare Chronic Conditions 5% sample data with the 2007 Area Resource File. The study population was delimited to those with diabetes and at least 1 hospitalization in the year. Unadjusted readmission rates were estimated across levels of rurality. Multivariate logistic regression estimated the factors associated with readmissions.

Findings: Overall, 14.4% had a readmission; this was higher among urban (14.9%) than rural (12.9%) residents. The adjusted odds indicated that remote rural residents were less likely to have a readmission (OR 0.74, 0.57-0.95) than urban residents. Also, those with a 30-day physician follow-up visit were more likely to have a readmission (OR 2.25, 1.96-2.58) than those without a visit.

Conclusion: The factors that contribute to hospital readmissions are complex; our findings indicate that access to follow-up care is highly associated with having a readmission. It is possible that residents of remote rural counties may not receive necessary readmissions due to lower availability of such follow-up care. Policy makers should continue to monitor this apparent disparity to determine the impact of these lower rates on both patients and hospitals alike.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy*
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medicare / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Readmission / statistics & numerical data*
  • Rural Population / statistics & numerical data*
  • United States
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data