Men Have Unique Risk Factors for Postdischarge Hospital Utilization, Study Finds

Men were almost twice as likely to receive care at a hospital within 30 days of discharge than women, and several risk factors for postdischarge hospital utilization were found to be unique to men, according to the results of a study published April 18, 2012, in BMJ Open. The study, which included 737 English-speaking hospitalized patients from general medical service in participating urban, academic safety-net medical centers, found that among men, risk factors included hospital utilization within the last six months, being unmarried, having a positive depression screen, and having no primary care physician visit within 30 days.