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Rehospitalization

Rehospitalization has been studied in 3 papers since 2016: 3 observational studies in people; 1 in the past year. The newest story, Nov 9, 2026: “Readmissions did not explain delirium’s link to cognitive decline”.

Exposure

3 papers study it4 findingsUpdated

See all 3 papers on rehospitalization

At a glance

The findings reach people, from one lab or study. 3 independent labs in 3 countries.

“Each rehospitalization was associated with a decline of -0.19 (95% CI, -0.31 to -0.09) GCP units per year.”
Rehospitalization and the Association of Postoperative Delirium With Cognitive Decline in Older AdultsJAMA internal medicine2026doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2026.1910

None of its findings points the other way.

Humans: a single group. Cells, worms or flies and mice: nothing yet.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

  • 3 independent labs in 3 countries
  • Funders: National Institute on Aging and 4 more
  • Humans3

What did studies of rehospitalization find?

2

Studies of rehospitalization measured 2 outcomes: cognitive function and physical function.

Cognitive function

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Rehospitalization is linked with worse cognitive function in humans (-0.19 (95% CI, -0.31 to -0.09) GCP units per year).

    “Each rehospitalization was associated with a decline of -0.19 (95% CI, -0.31 to -0.09) GCP units per year.”

    Humansn = 560

    Readmissions did not explain delirium’s link to cognitive decline

    JAMA internal medicine

Physical function

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Rehospitalization is linked with worse physical function in humans (rehospitalization) (92 % (67-100 %) of that at the first discharge, P = 0.009).

    “SPPB scores were significantly lower at the second discharge than at the first discharge (P = 0.009).”

    Humansrehospitalizationn = 57

    Physical function decline due to rehospitalization in older patients with heart failure and its contributing factors

    American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice

What is rehospitalization linked with?

2

Studies link rehospitalization with 2 measures: delirium and IADL dependency.

Delirium

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Delirium is associated with rehospitalization in humans (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.17 to 1.72]).

    “Rehospitalizations were more common among patients who developed delirium (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.17 to 1.72]).”

    Humansn = 560

    Readmissions did not explain delirium’s link to cognitive decline

    JAMA internal medicine

More on Delirium

IADL dependency

upin humans1OR 2.65

1 study

  1. Rehospitalization is associated with IADL dependency in humans (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.25-5.62).

    “The odds of new IADL dependency were also significantly higher in participants who were rehospitalised within the previous month (odds ratio = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.25-5.62).”

    Humanswithin the previous monthn = 272

    Even a small change can make a big difference: the case of in-hospital cognitive decline and new IADL dependency

    Age and ageing

Latest

Dec 2025: 0Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 1Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 0Sep 2026: 0Oct 2026: 0Nov 2026: 01 paper in 12 months
JAMA Internal Medicine

Readmissions did not explain delirium’s link to cognitive decline

After elective surgery, delirium was linked to a 0.33-unit faster yearly decline on a combined thinking-test score than in people without delirium.After elective surgery, delirium was linked to a 0.33-unit faster yearly decline on a combined thinking-test score than in people without delirium.

Cohort · 560 peopleDelirium
Paper

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