Alcohol use disorders have been associated with an increased risk of frequent readmissions. This study aimed to examine factors that contribute to the risk for readmission within one year after discharge from an alcohol rehabilitation program.

Rehospitalization status was assessed for all patients with an alcohol use disorder as primary diagnosis (n = 468) admitted to our inpatient unit between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2014. All patients were followed up for one year after their first hospitalization (index hospitalization) within this period. Time to readmission within one year after discharge was measured using the Kaplan–Meier method. Risk factors for readmission were examined using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Three set of variables were selected to be included in the analyses:

– demographic features at time of admission of index hospitalization;

– comorbid conditions at time of admission of index hospitalization;

– treatment-related variables in relation to the index hospitalization including observer-rated outcome measures.

Readmissions within one year after discharge from an alcohol rehabilitation program as well as the corresponding time to readmission were linked to higher numbers of previous hospitalizations and the presence of comorbid opioid use disorders.

Higher numbers of past treatments for AUD are indicators for a chronic course of the disorder, which, in turn, increase the risk of further relapses. Our findings further confirmed previous findings suggesting high rates of comorbidity among alcohol and opioid use disorders, and their link with poorer clinical outcomes.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.