Relationship Between Depression and/or Anxiety and Hospital Readmission Among Women After Childbirth

Objective: To examine the relationship between depression and/or anxiety and any psychiatric diagnosis and readmission after childbirth. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of administrative data from patient discharge records. Setting: Urban academic medical center in the northeastern United States. Participants: Women admitted for childbirth (N = 17,905). Methods: Differences among participants with and without depression and/or anxiety present on admission were compared using t tests and chi-square tests. Risk-adjusted logistic regression models were used to examine the effects of depression and/or anxiety and any psychiatric diagnosis on 7-, 30-, 60-, 90-, and 180-day readmissions after childbirth. Results: Significant differences were noted between participants with (n = 1,169) and without (n = 16,736) depression and/or anxiety. Participants with these diagnoses had a higher mean age and a longer mean length of stay during hospitalization for childbirth. A greater proportion of these participants were White, were single, had cesarean births, and were discharged with home health services. The presence of depression and/or anxiety was not significantly associated with readmission. The effect of having any psychiatric diagnosis was significantly associated with a greater risk of readmission at 7 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.51, p =.100), 30 (OR = 1.45, p =.030), 60 (OR = 1.45, p =.026), 90 (OR = 1.56, p =.004), and 180 days (OR = 1.74, p <.001) following discharge after childbirth. Conclusion: In this sample, women with a psychiatric diagnosis, but not depression and/or anxiety alone, were at increased risk for readmission after childbirth.