Readmission Patterns in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hematoma: A Retrospective Analysis

Introduction : Hospital readmissions following spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) represent a significant concern in healthcare, particularly in Ghana. The objective of this paper is to investigate the readmission rates of patients with sICH in Ghana and to identify the factors influencing these rates. Methods : A retrospective study at the University of Ghana Medical Centre analyzed sICH patient data (January 2021-June 2023), comparing readmitted and non-readmitted groups using Wilcoxon rank-sum and chi-square tests to assess differences in clinical features, treatments, and outcomes. Results : The study involved 84 non-readmitted patients and 18 re-admitted patients. Among the readmitted patients, 50.0% were females and 50.0% were males, compared to 27.4% and 72.6% in the non-readmitted group, respectively. The mean age of the non-readmitted patients was 51.5 years (SD = 12.2), while the mean age of the readmitted patients was 61.3 years (SD = 21.0). A higher proportion of readmitted patients had diabetes (22.2%) compared to non-readmitted patients (6.0%) (p = 0.049). The mean MRS 1 month and 3 months post-discharge were significantly higher in the readmitted group (p=0.004 and p=0.005, respectively). Patients who were readmitted had a lower GCS (10.9, SD = 3.4) compared with the non-readmitted group (p= 0.082). Conclusion : These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive discharge planning and post-discharge support for patients with sICH, particularly those with diabetes and higher mRS scores, to mitigate readmission risks and improve long-term outcomes.