Table 1 Variation terms, definitions, and timeframes in preventable readmission research

Early

Acutely decompensated heart failure

Heart failure or other cardiac cause

90 days[47]

Early

Any condition

Any condition

30 days[30, 55]

Early

Any condition

Any condition

41 days[44]

Early

Any condition

Any nonelective readmission

60 days[22]

Early

CABG

Likely to be complications of CABG surgery

30 days[27]

Early

CABG surgery

Any condition

30 days[48]

Early

CHF

CHF exacerbation admission

30 days[50]

Early

CHF

CHF

180 days[21]

Early

Elective laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery

Any condition

30 days[37]

Early

Heart failure

Heart failure

30 days[28]

Early

Heart failure and shock

Any condition or heart failure

30 days[29]

Early

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis surgery

Any emergent or elective, unplanned readmission

30 days[38]

Early

Multiple chronic illnesses

Any condition

3 to 4 months[45]

Early

Pancreatic resection

Any condition

30 days and 1 year[40]

Early

Pulmonary embolism

Any condition and complications of pulmonary embolism

30 days[23]

Early unplanned

Cardiac surgery

Any condition

30 days[46]

Late unplanned

Pneumonia

Pneumonia

30 days to 1 year[51]

Non-elective and unplanned

Congestive heart failure

Same DRG as index admission

30 days[35]

Potentially avoidable

AMI

AMI - related admissions

56 days to 3 years[25]

Potentially preventable

1⁰ diagnosis of diabetes or 2⁰ diabetes diagnosis among high risk conditions

Diabetes - related

30 and 180 days[31]

Potentially preventable

AHRQ's prevention quality indicators

AHRQ's prevention quality indicators

6 months[2]

Potentially preventable

Any condition

Clinically related to index admission

7, 15 and 30 days[26]

Readmissions due to early infection

Surgery

Infection

14 to 28 days[42]

Shortly after discharge

Heart failure

Any condition

30 days[32]

Short-term

Any surgical procedure

Venous thrombo-embolism (AHRQ PSI)

30 days[43]

Unexpected early

Intestinal operations

Any condition (excluding planned)

30 days[33]

Unplanned

Abdominal or perineal colon resection

Related to the primary surgical procedure

90 days[24]

Unplanned

Any acute, short-stay admission

Any unexpected admission

30 days[5]

Unplanned

Any condition

Any condition

Up to 39 days[54]

Unplanned

Any condition

Any condition

31 days[53]

Unplanned

Any non-maternal, substance abuse or against medical advice discharge

Emergent or urgent admissions

30 days[39]

Unplanned

Cancer

Any unplanned

7 days[52]

Unplanned

Cardiac surgery

Related to complications of cardiac surgery

30 days and 6 months[34]

Unplanned related

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis surgery

Admission resulted from a complication

30 days[36]

Unplanned, non-elective

Traumatic brain injury

Any non-elective or unplanned reason

1 and 5 years[49]

Unplanned, undesirable readmissions

Diabetes

Any non-elective

30 days[41]