Area deprivation index and cardiac readmissions: Evaluating risk-prediction in an electronic health record

BACKGROUND: Assessment of the social determinants of post-hospital cardiac care is needed. We examined the association and predictive ability of neighborhood-1 evel determinants (area deprivation index, ADI), readmission risk, and mortality for heart failure, myocardial ischemia, and atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a retrospective (January 1, 2011-December 31, 2018) analysis of a large healthcare system, we assess the predictive ability of ADI on 30-day and 1-year readmission and mortality following hospitalization. Cox proportional hazards models analyzed time-to-event. Log rank analyses determined survival. C-statistic and net reclassification index determined the model's discriminative power. Covariates included age, sex, race, comorbidity, number of medications, length of stay, and insurance. The cohort (n=27 694) had a median follow-up of 46.5 months. There were 14 469 (52.2%) men and 25 219 White (91.1%) patients. Patients in the highest ADI quintile (versus lowest) were more likely to be admitted within 1 year of index heart failure admission (hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95% CI, 1.03-1.51). Patients with myocardial ischemia in the highest ADI quintile were twice as likely to be readmitted at 1 year (HR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.44-2.91]). Patients with atrial fibrillation living in areas with highest ADI were less likely to be admitted within 1 year (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.95). As ADI increased, risk of readmission increased, and risk reclassification was improved with ADI in the models. Patients in the highest ADI quintile were 25% more likely to die within a year (HR, 1.25 1.08-1.44). CONCLUSIONS: Residence in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities predicts rehospitalization and mortality. Measuring neighborhood deprivation can identify individuals at risk following cardiac hospitalization.