The Impact of Drug Burden Index on Unplanned Hospital Readmission and Length of Hospital Stay

Background: The Drug Burden Index (DBI) is a pharmacotherapy risk assessment tool explored to evaluate its association with unplanned hospital-related outcomes. Objective: To the DBI hospital readmissions, develop prediction model for readmissions. investigate length of stay (LOS). Setting: Unplanned readmission data were collected 1000 adult hospitalized patients at Antrim Area Hospital in Northern Ireland. Method: study was designed as retrospective analysis. Logistic regression models developed determine power. Discriminative ability testing carried out using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Youden's index formula used detect cut-off points. Analysis covariance (ANCOVA) performed whether LOS differed based on score. Finally, negative binomial predict DBI. Results: Of patient records, 43% females, and total 885 (88.5%) exposed sedative anticholinergic medications (DBI>0). Readmission rates 7, 14, 30 90 days 5.4%, 9.0%, 15.0% 28.8% respectively. odds ratio (OR) within seven DBI>1 3.42 times higher than those who had their DBI=0 (OR= 3.42, 95% CI: 1.6–7.3; P= 0.001). category significantly predicts 7-day (P=0.002), area under curve ROC 0.65 (95% 0.58 - 0.71; P<0.001). For 14-day >1, compared DBI=0, reported Odds Ratio (OR = 2.19, 1.1– 4.4; 0.025). However, power not significant (P=0.069). failed show an 30- 90-day adjusted estimated marginal difference vs. 2.7 (95%CI: 0.89 – 4.5; P=0.003). Conclusion: statistically 7-days readmission. predictor over longer periods. Higher associated LOS. Impact Practice Statements: patient's discharge can be predicted by DBI, also Accordingly, teams consider reporting scores performing tailored plans are