Purpose

To assess whether health-related quality of life (HRQOL) status, using the European Quality of life-5 dimensions (EQ5D), in acutely admitted older medical patients was associated with a combined end-point including first unplanned readmission or death without prior readmission within 6 months. Secondly, to assess if HRQOL was associated with death regardless of previous readmissions.

Methods

Patients from seven medical and two acute medical units were included and the EQ5D was obtained at discharge. Associations were assessed using Cox regression. Harrell’s C-statistics indicated the predictive performance.

Results

1328 patients were included, 50% (n = 664) were readmitted (n = 635) or had died without prior readmission (n = 29) within 6 months. In total, 15.2% (n = 202) died within 6 months. In the gender- and age-adjusted analysis, a lower EQ5D index score was associated with a higher hazard ratio (HR) of unplanned readmission or death without prior readmission for all categories of scores below 1 (< 1 to 0.741, < 0.741 to 0.438 and < 0.438 to − 0.40), HR 1.60, 1.93 and 2.02. Likewise, a lower EQ5D score was associated with a higher HR of death, HR 1.72, 2.54 and 3.79. Harrell’s C values were 0.56 and 0.63.

Conclusion

HRQOL measured at discharge may identify acutely admitted older medical patients at especially high risk of readmission or death up to 6 months after discharge. Incorporating assessment of HRQOL should be considered when risk stratifying a heterogeneous population of acutely admitted older medical patients.