Socio-Demographic and Behavioral Predictors of Ophthalmic Readmissions in Northwest Indiana

Abstract

Background: With aging populations and increasing life expectancy, the global disease burden of visual impairment is expected to rise. Timely care is essential for the prevention and treatment of vision loss, yet disparities in eye care access persist. This study investigates the social, demographic, and behavioral characteristics associated with ophthalmic readmissions as part of a participatory research partnership between Indiana University School of Medicine–Northwest and an urban health system in Northwest Indiana (NWI).

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data collected from social determinants of health (SDOH) screenings in Epic using the Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patients’ Assets, Risks, and Experiences (PRAPARE) for all inpatient admissions across 3 NWI urban hospitals from January 2021 to April 2024. Data analysis included descriptive, bivariate (Chi-Square; p<0.05), and multivariate (binary logistic regression; p<0.05) analyses using SPSS 29.0. The study was exempted by the Indiana University Human Research Protection Program (IRB #14040).

Results: The study sample consisted of 338 ophthalmic patients who were predominantly White (59.5%) and older adults (79 ± 18). The bivariate analysis found a statistically significant association between ophthalmic readmissions with age (p=0.026), sex (p=0.031), hospital (p=0.014), and length of stay (p<0.001). After controlling for all covariates in the multivariate analysis, increased age (OR=1.016; p=0.033), Hospital C (small hospital in a medically underserved area) (OR=2.396; p=0.006), and prolonged hospital stay (OR=1.091; p=0.002) remained significantly associated with higher odds of ophthalmic readmissions.

Conclusion: These findings indicate a significant association between ophthalmic readmissions and several social determinants of health. Understanding predictors of ophthalmic readmissions is a key step towards developing more effective eye care delivery interventions.