ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Early discharge and readmission to hospital in the first month of life in the Northern Region of the UK during 1998: a case cohort study

S J Oddie¹, D Hammal², S Richmond³, L Parker²

¹ Neonatal Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
² Paediatric and Lifecourse Epidemiology Research Group, School of Clinical Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
³ Neonatal Unit, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr S J Oddie
Higher Specialist Trainee in Neonatology, Neonatal Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK; samoddie{at}doctors.org.uk

Aims: To study the frequency and associations of early postpartum discharge and infant readmission to hospital.

Methods: Infants readmitted to hospital during the first 28 days of life in 1998 in the Northern Region of the UK were studied.

Results: A total of 4743 of 11 338 (42%) babies were discharged on or before the first postnatal day. Rates of early discharge varied significantly between hospitals. Infants <2500 g at birth (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.44, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.66), infants 35–37 weeks gestation at birth (AOR 0.65, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.86), and firstborn infants (AOR 0.09, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.10) were less likely to be discharged early. Women from more deprived areas were more likely to be discharged early (AOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.67). A total of 907 of 32 015 (2.8%) babies liveborn in the region were readmitted to hospital during 1998. Readmission rates varied significantly by hospital of birth but not by timing of discharge. Babies <2500 g at birth (AOR 1.95, 95% CI 1.16 to 3.28) and babies born at 35–37 weeks gestation (AOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.57) were more likely to be readmitted. Breast fed babies were less likely to be readmitted (AOR 0.69, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.90). Infants initially discharged early were not more likely to be readmitted.

Conclusions: Early discharge occurred variably in the Northern Region in 1998. It is not associated with readmission to hospital. Breast feeding is associated with lower rates of readmission to hospital.

Keywords: early discharge; jaundice; neonatal; postpartum; readmission

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