Limited English proficiency is not consistently associated with unplanned hospital readmissions after surgery

Narrative synthesis #

Of the review's 9 unplanned-readmission studies, most found no association between LEP and readmissions; a single gynecologic-oncology study found significantly more 30-day readmissions in patients with LEP. For the related outcome of post-discharge ED visits (4 studies), results were mixed: 2 found no association, 1 found significantly higher ED visits (proctocolectomy), and 1 found fewer ED visits among LEP patients (gastric surgery). The review groups readmissions among the clinical outcomes less frequently associated with LEP. Certainty/GRADE appraisal is left for expert review.

"Most studies found no association between LEP and readmissions. A single study identified significantly more 30-day readmissions in patients with LEP than English proficiency who underwent gynecologic oncology surgery. Of the 4 studies that addressed ED visits, 2 studies found no association between LEP and ED visits after infrainguinal bypass or oncologic surgery, 1 study reported a significantly higher rate of ED visits among patients with LEP after proctocolectomy, and 1 study demonstrated fewer ED visits among patients with LEP after gastric surgery." (Joo, 2023, p. 8)

Reviewer note (probable-merge / tension): relates to the existing corpus CLMs "Language discordance (LEP status) is not associated with higher acute-care utilization (ED visits or hospital admission)" (converging null) and "Language discordance is associated with higher hospital readmission after spine and orthopedic surgery" (subspecialty-specific positive association — tension). Human to adjudicate merge vs opposing wiring.