Predicting 30-day readmission using DRG-based hospitalization data: a large real-world logistic regression model from a tertiary hospital

TL;DR

This study builds a model to predict hospital readmissions within 30 days using real-world data from a large hospital in China.

Contribution

The study introduces a DRG-based logistic regression model for predicting 30-day readmission using real-world data from a tertiary hospital in China.

Findings

The 30-day readmission rate was 13.0%.

Longer hospital stays were associated with increased readmission risk.

DRG categories showed a strong association with readmission.

Abstract

Early unplanned readmission is a key quality indicator in Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG)–based payment systems. Despite China’s rapid expansion of DRG reform, evidence on hospital-wide predictors of 30-day readmission using large-scale real-world data from tertiary hospitals remains limited. This study developed and evaluated a DRG-based logistic regression model for predicting 30-day readmission.

We conducted a single-center retrospective study using administrative hospitalization data from a high-volume tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China. We extracted 65,215 inpatient episodes from the hospital (January 2023–December 2024). After excluding discharges in December 2024 due to incomplete follow-up (n = 3,109), 62,106 admissions were retained to estimate the overall readmission rate. For multivariable modeling, 21 additional cases with missing DRG variables were removed, yielding 62,085 complete observations. Predictors included age, length of stay, total cost, discharge year, and major DRG categories. Total hospital cost was modeled in its original unit (1 Chinese Yuan) to preserve the raw scale of administrative reporting; however, for interpretation, marginal effects per 1,000 CNY increase were also calculated. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC), Brier score, Hosmer–Lemeshow test, and a decile-based calibration plot.

The 30-day readmission rate was 13.0%. In unadjusted comparisons, patients who were readmitted had shorter median hospital stays (3 vs. 4 days) and lower total costs. After multivariable adjustment, longer length of stay was associated with increased readmission risk (OR 1.016 per day, p < 0.001), while total cost showed a statistically significant but small association (p = 0.003). Age and discharge year were not significant predictors. DRG major categories had a strong overall association (global p < 0.001). The model showed moderate-to-good discrimination (AUC = 0.743) and acceptable overall accuracy (Brier score = 0.098), with visually adequate calibration despite a statistically significant Hosmer–Lemeshow test.

Using comprehensive DRG-based real-world data, we developed an interpretable prediction model for 30-day readmission with moderate-to-good discrimination and acceptable calibration. Clinical case-mix captured by DRG categories and patient-level complexity reflected by longer length of stay were key determinants of early readmission. The model may support risk stratification, quality improvement, and performance monitoring in DRG payment environments. The findings may also inform policy discussions on aligning DRG efficiency incentives with patient safety outcomes.

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