Analytical Study of Medication-Related Hospital Readmissions at a Teaching Hospital in Kwara State

Medication-related hospital readmissions represent preventable healthcare burden and a patient safety failure attributable to suboptimal discharge planning, counselling, and follow-up. This study analytically examined the prevalence, causes, and risk factors for medication-related hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. A prospective cohort design was employed. All adult patients discharged from medical wards over a six-month period were recruited (n = 320) and followed up at 30 days by telephone and medical record review. Readmissions were classified as medication-related or non-medication-related by a panel of two pharmacists and one physician using the Hallas causality assessment tool. Logistic regression identified predictors of medication-related readmission. Results showed an overall 30-day readmission rate of 18.4 percent, of which 49.2 percent were classified as medication-related. The most common causes of medication-related readmissions were adverse drug reactions (34.2 percent), medication non-adherence (29.1 percent), and subtherapeutic dosing (21.5 percent). Independent predictors of medication-related readmission included polypharmacy above five drugs (OR 3.8), absence of discharge pharmacist counselling (OR 4.1), and heart failure diagnosis (OR 2.9). The study fills a documented evidence gap on medication-related readmissions in North Central Nigeria, demonstrating their substantial burden and identifying modifiable risk factors amenable to pharmacist-led discharge intervention.

Keywords: medication-related readmissions, discharge planning, Kwara State, clinical pharmacy, polypharmacy