Sepsis is among the most common and costly conditions associated with readmission to the hospital within 30 days post-discharge. Survivors are at a high risk for mortality and morbidity including seizures and permanent cognitive impairment. Since sepsis is associated with an increased risk for seizures, and patients with seizures have high rates of hospitalizations, we hypothesized that patients with a primary diagnosis of sepsis who also had seizures are at an increased risk for early readmission.

Nearly one out of 15 patients discharged with a primary diagnosis of sepsis had comorbid seizures. Seizures independently increased odds of 30-day readmission by 30% among adult patients with sepsis. Additional factors associated with a significantly higher risk for hospital readmission included male sex, age 45-84 years, increased length and cost of primary admission, greater medical comorbidities, and discharge destination.