Understanding nationwide readmissions after thyroid surgery

Background The 30-day readmission rate is increasingly utilized as a metric of quality that impacts reimbursement. To date, there are no nationally representative data on readmission rates after thyroid surgery. We aimed to determine national readmission rates after inpatient thyroidectomy operations and whether select clinical factors were associated with increased odds of postthyroidectomy readmission. Methods Using the 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database, we identified patients undergoing inpatient thyroid surgery as defined by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, procedure codes for thyroid lobectomy, partial thyroidectomy, complete thyroidectomy, and substernal thyroidectomy. Descriptive statistics were used to report readmission rates, most common diagnosis and causes of readmission, and timing of presentation after discharge. Multivariable logistic regression models controlling for potential confounders were used to determine whether select factors were associated with 30-day readmission. Results A total of 22,654 patients underwent inpatient thyroid surgery during the study period, 990 of whom (4.4%) were readmitted within 30 days. Among these, the most common diagnoses during readmission were disorders of mineral metabolism and hypocalcemia, accounting for 36.0% and 26.6% of readmissions, respectively. This held true regardless of the apparent indication for thyroid surgery (goiter, cancer, or thyroid function disorder) or timing of readmission after discharge. Calcium-related abnormalities were the top diagnoses at readmissions (22.1%). Most readmissions (54.6%) occurred within 7 days of discharge, with 24.6% within the first 2 days Factors associated with an increased odds of readmission included having Medicare (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.47 and 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–2.11) or Medicaid insurance (AOR 1.44 [CI 1.04–1.99]), being discharged to inpatient post acute care (AOR 2.31 [CI 1.48–3.62]) or to home health care (AOR 1.78 [CI 1.21–2.63]), having an Elixhauser comorbidity score ≥ 4 (AOR 2.04 [CI 1.27–3.26]), and a duration of stay ≥2 days after the thyroid surgery (AOR 2.7 [CI 1.9–3.82]). The only complication during index admission associated with increased odds of readmission was hypocalcemia (AOR 1.5 [CI 1.1–2.06]. Indications for thyroid surgery were not associated with increased odds of readmission. Conclusion Readmissions after thyroid surgery are relatively low and occur early after surgery. The most common diagnoses identified on readmission were calcium and mineral metabolism disorders, which also were the most common cause of readmission. Socioeconomic factors, comorbidities, and complications during the index admissions were found to be associated with nonelective, postthyroidectomy readmissions. Recognition of these risk factors may guide the development of interventions and protocols to decrease readmissions.