Effect of Early Follow-Up After Hospital Discharge on Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review.

Transitions in care can increase patients' vulnerability to adverse events. In particular, patients admitted for heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) have high rates of readmission and return emergency department visits. Heart failure patients have the highest 30-day readmission rates in Canada, and COPD patients comprise the highest volume of readmissions. Combined, these two conditions account for the largest number of emergency department returns. Prompt follow-up of discharged patients has been linked with reduced rates of readmission, emergency department use, and death. This systematic review evaluated the clinical effectiveness of early follow-up, within either 7 days or 30 days after hospital discharge, compared with usual care or a different time to follow-up, in reducing readmissions, emergency department visits, and mortality in patients with heart failure or COPD.