30-Day readmission rates in pediatric patients with functional seizures

Purpose: To ascertain the rates of 30-day readmissions and emergency department presentations among pediatric patients with an index admission for functional seizures.Method: A retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with an index discharge from the pediatric epi-lepsy monitoring unit (EMU) or general neurology service for functional seizures. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, risk factors, and treatment during the index admission.Results: A total of one hundred and two patients were included, of which nearly one in five had a 30-day readmission or emergency department presentation. Index admission to the general neurology service was independently associated with more re-presentations to the hospital (t = 3.26, p < 0.0015). The uni-variate analysis indicated that cognitive impairment and autism were associated with a lower likelihood of readmission, while a neurology referral and being started on an anti-seizure medication were associ-ated with a greater likelihood of readmission.Conclusion: A substantial proportion of pediatric patients with FS return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. Our data suggest that patients admitted to the EMU service have a lower likelihood of readmis-sion. We speculate that this may be due to differences in patient clinical characteristics as well as the comprehensiveness of the diagnostic evaluation and management in the EMU compared to the general neurology service.@2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The purpose of this study was to determine the rates of 30-day readmissions and emergency department presentations among pediatric patients with an index admission for functional seizures. The results showed that nearly one in five patients had a 30-day readmission or emergency department presentation. Index admission to the general neurology service was associated with more re-presentations to the hospital, while cognitive impairment and autism were associated with a lower likelihood of readmission.