Vulnerability to functional decline is associated with noncardiovascular cause of 90‐day readmission in hospitalized patients with heart failure

Abstract Background Hospital readmission is common among patients with heart failure. Vulnerability to decline in physical function may increase the risk of noncardiovascular readmission for these patients, but the association between vulnerability and the cause of unplanned readmission is poorly understood, inhibiting the development of effective interventions. Objectives We examined the association of vulnerability with the cause of readmission (cardiovascular vs. noncardiovascular) among hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Designs, Settings, and Participants This prospective longitudinal study is part of the Vanderbilt Inpatient Cohort Study. Main Outcome and Measures The primary outcome was the cause of unplanned readmission (cardiovascular vs. noncardiovascular). The primary independent variable was vulnerability, measured using the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES‐13). Results Among 804 hospitalized patients with acute decompensated heart failure, 315 (39.2%) experienced an unplanned readmission within 90 days of discharge. In a multinomial logistic model with no readmission as the reference category, higher vulnerability was associated with readmission for noncardiovascular causes (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.75) in the first 90 days after discharge. The VES‐13 score was not associated with readmission for cardiovascular causes (RRR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.75–1.17). Conclusions Vulnerability to functional decline predicted noncardiovascular readmission risk among hospitalized patients with heart failure. The VES‐13 is a brief, validated, and freely available tool that should be considered in planning care transitions. Additional work is needed to examine the efficacy of interventions to monitor and mitigate noncardiovascular concerns among vulnerable patients with heart failure being discharged from the hospital.