30- and 60-Day Readmission Rates for Children With Heart Failure in the United States

Background: Studies on readmission for pediatric heart failure (HF) patients is sparse.

Objectives: This study evaluated 30- and 60-day readmission rates in pediatric HF patients from 2010 to 2019.

Methods: The authors used data from the Nationwide Readmission Database to evaluate trends in 30- and 60-day hospital readmissions among pediatric patients with HF and compare them with adults with HF. Readmissions were also stratified by sex, diagnosis, neighborhood income, and hospital volume.

Results: There were 84,731 hospital admissions for HF. Compared with children without HF, those with HF were older, had Medicare/Medicaid insurance, and resided in micropolitan areas and low-income neighborhoods. The 30- (19.5% vs 3.1%) and 60-day (27.5% vs 4.3%) all-cause readmission rates were higher for children with HF compared with those without HF. Compared with children without HF, lengths of stay, deaths, and costs related to their readmission were higher for children readmitted with HF (P < 0.05 for all). There was no significant decline in pediatric HF-related 30- or 60- day readmissions during the study period overall, or for those with congenital heart disease (P > 0.05), unlike adult HF readmissions (P < 0.01). Infants were at highest risk, and readmission rates for teenagers are rising.

Conclusions: The 30- and 60-day readmission rates for pediatric patients with HF in the current era is high (∼20% and 30%, respectively). Unlike adult HF, pediatric HF readmission rates have not declined. Pediatric HF patients readmitted to the hospital have higher death rates and greater resource utilization than patients without HF. National measures to decrease readmissions for pediatric patients with HF is warranted.