Frequency and reasons for unplanned transfer to the primary acute care service of inpatient rehabilitation glioblastoma multiforme patients

Purpose: To determine the percentage of and factors associated with unplanned transfer to the acute care service of glioblastoma multiforme acute rehabilitation inpatients. Methods: Retrospective review of glioblastoma multiforme acute rehabilitation inpatients admitted 4/1/2016–3/31/2020 at a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center. Results: One hundred thirty-nine consecutive admissions of unique glioblastoma multiforme acute rehabilitation inpatients were analyzed. Fifteen patients (10.7%, 95% confidence interval 6.5–17.1%) were transferred to the acute care service for unplanned reasons. The most common reasons for transfer back were neurosurgical complication 6/15(40%), neurologic decline due to mass effect 4/15(26.7%), and pulmonary embolism 2/15(13.3%). Older age (p = 0.010), infection prior to acute inpatient rehabilitation transfer (p = 0.020), and lower activity measure of post-acute care 6-click basic mobility scores (p = 0.048) were significantly associated with transfer to the acute care service. Patients who transferred to the acute care service had significantly lower overall survival than patients who did not transfer off (log-rank test p = 0.001). Conclusion: Acute inpatient physiatrists should closely monitor patients for neurosurgical and neurologic complications. The variables significantly associated with transfer to the acute care service may help identify patients at increased risk for medical complications who may require closer observation.