Randomized Intervention and Outpatient Follow-up Lowers 30-d Readmissions for Patients with Hepatic Encephalopathy, Decompensated Cirrhosis

Background: We previously reported national 30-d readmission rates of 27% in patients with decompensated cirrhosis (DC).

Aim: To study prospective interventions to reduce early readmissions in DC at our tertiary center.

Methods: Adults with DC admitted July 2019 to December 2020 were enrolled and randomized into the intervention (INT) or standard of care (SOC) arms. Weekly phone calls for a month were completed. In the INT arm, case managers ensured outpatient follow-up, paracentesis, and medication compliance. Thirty-day readmission rates and reasons were compared.

Results: Calculated sample size was not achieved due to coronavirus disease 2019; 240 patients were randomized into INT and SOC arms. 30-d readmission rate was 33.75%, 35.83% in the INT 31.67% in the SOC arm ( = 0.59). The top reason for 30-d readmission was hepatic encephalopathy (HE, 32.10%). There was a lower rate of 30-d readmissions for HE in the INT (21%) SOC arm (45%, = 0.03). There were fewer 30-d readmissions in patients who attended early outpatient follow-up ( = 17, 23.61% = 55, 76.39%, = 0.04).

Conclusion: Our 30-d readmission rate was higher than the national rate but reduced by interventions in patients with DC with HE and early outpatient follow-up. Development of interventions to reduce early readmission in patients with DC is needed.