Up to 12% of patients with ischemic stroke get readmitted to the hospital within 30 days post-discharge period, and recanalization therapy is associated with 11% to 23% lower odds of 30-day readmission, a recent study found. Researchers conducted a weighted analysis of the 2013 Nationwide Readmission Database to represent all US hospitalizations. Adult patients with acute ischemic stroke, including those who received intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator and intra-arterial therapy, were identified. Readmissions were defined as any readmission during the 30-day post-index hospitalization discharge period for the eligible patient population. They found:

• Of the 319,317 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 12.1% were readmitted.
• Of these, 89.6% were unplanned and 12.9% were potentially preventable.
• More than 20% of all readmissions were attributable to acute cerebrovascular disease.
• Readmitted patients were older and had a higher comorbidity burden.
• After controlling for age, sex, insurance status, and comorbidities, patients who underwent recanalization therapy had significantly lower odds of 30-day readmission.