Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of 8-to-30-day vs. 7-day readmissions

 Age in years^b

 Widow^a

 Medicaid^a

 ≥ 1 ED visit in past year^a

 ≥ 1 hospitalization in past year^a

 Nonelective admission^a

 Charlson Comorbidity Index^b

  Albumin < 2 g/dL^a

  Albumin 2–3 g/dL^a

  Aspartate aminotransferase > 40 U/L^a

  Creatine phosphokinase < 60 mcg/L^a

  Mean corpuscular volume > 100 fL/red cell^a

  Platelets < 90 × 10³/μL^a

  Platelets > 350 × 10³/μL^a

  Prothrombin time > 35 s^a

 Discharge to hospice^a

  Clostridium difficile infection^a

  Pressure ulcer^a

  Venous thromboembolism^a

  Blood urea nitrogen > 20 mg/dL^a

  Sodium < 135 mEq/L^a

  Hematocrit <= 27%^a

 ≥1 vital sign instability at discharge^a

 Length of stay^b