Predictors of Readmission After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Prevention of early unplanned readmissions after hospitalization is now a central focus of quality-improvement efforts and cost-effectiveness strategies. In a two-center study, investigators examined the incidence, causes, and predictive factors of hospital readmission after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Participants were 720 patients (mean age, 82) with severe aortic stenosis who survived to 1 year. Overall, 44% were readmitted, 16% had multiple readmissions, and 15% were readmitted within 30 days of the procedure. Heart failure and arrhythmias accounted for 30% and 10%, respectively, of the early readmissions. However, the majority of early readmissions were due to noncardiac causes, including infections (10%), respiratory…