Latest news with #HSS
CNA
15 hours ago
- General
- CNA
To the rescue: These women save and rehome hamsters that have been abused, dumped or neglected by their owners
They are small, furry and cute, but like any other pet, hamsters need a lot of love and care. And sadly, they are often neglected or abandoned by owners who don't understand them. The volunteers of Hamster Society Singapore (HSS) know this too well. The non-profit society is led by a core team of five women: President Cheryl (who declined to give her full name and photo for this story), 32, vice-president Gladys Lam, 30, and board members Chen Soong Fee, 37, Kwa Li Ying, 29 and Sim Jia Yi, 27. The team, said Sim, comes from diverse professional backgrounds, from design to healthcare. Lam, for example, is a professional race car driver. 'This diversity strengthens our ability to approach animal welfare from multiple perspectives,' she added. All are passionate about hamsters and are involved in fostering. A VOICE FOR HAMSTERS Chen told CNA Women that, 'despite being one of the most common pets, hamsters are often misunderstood and overlooked in the broader animal welfare landscape'. HSS started in 2019, and currently has 35 volunteers, including the core team. It was founded as there was no dedicated rescue group for hamsters, and due to the glaring lack of education and proper standards for hamster husbandry in Singapore. 'Many people underestimate the level of care hamsters require, often leading to their poor welfare,' said Kwa. 'Through outreach and accessible resources, we aim to raise awareness about proper hamster husbandry and advocate for more informed, responsible pet ownership.' A common misconception is that hamsters make good starter pets for children. The truth is hamsters are fragile, nocturnal, easily stressed, and not ideal for young children who may mishandle them. While small, hamsters are very active and need large enclosures. Most cages people buy from pet shops are too small, leading to stress or behavioural issues in hamsters. Then there are owners who think that hamsters don't require veterinary care, assuming that the rodents are too small to treat and not worth the cost. In reality, vet care for hamsters can be just as expensive as treating cats or dogs. A consultation can cost hundreds of dollars and go into the thousands for hamsters with chronic illnesses. Surgeries such as tumour removals or spaying can cost about S$2,000. HSS noted that owners are often unprepared for these expenses, leading to delayed treatment or them surrendering their pet to HSS. EDUCATION ON HAMSTER CARE AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH 'As a volunteer-run non-profit, we rescue, foster, and rehome hamsters that are abandoned, neglected, or in need of medical care. Equally important is our mission to educate,' said Lam. On the HSS website are hamster care articles including information such as creating the ideal cage for these pets and recipes to make them delicious snacks. The team also has visited schools to give talks on proper care for hamsters. The team said many adopters and members of the public have found the articles useful in helping them better understand proper hamster care, especially as pet shops and online sources may provide outdated or inaccurate information. For example, the hamster's cage needs to be cleaned every one to two days, and while they may initially look docile and cute, hamsters can suddenly fight, leading to severe injuries. Another misconception is that hamsters stop growing their teeth in adulthood. The reality is, without proper items to chew on, their teeth can become overgrown, leading to dental issues and difficulty eating. 'We're extremely happy that our resources have helped raise the standard of care in Singapore, and we've seen more adopters coming in already equipped with suitable enclosures and proper knowledge – something that wasn't common just a few years ago,' said Cheryl. CASES OF NEGLECT AND ABANDONMENT STILL HIGH But more needs to be done. HSS said cases of neglect and abandonment remain common. In 2024, the society rescued 74 hamsters, including cases of abandonment, surrenders, and referrals from the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS). 'Unfortunately, we continue to receive a high number of surrender requests (85 surrender applications for 128 hamsters in 2024) citing reasons that reflect a deeper issue of underestimation and misunderstanding of the responsibilities involved in pet ownership,' said Sim. Reasons for owners surrendering their hamsters include relocating overseas, allergies, a lack of time, school or work commitments, and even cases of owners surrendering sick or aggressive hamsters they feel unequipped to care for. Sim noted that in some instances, hamsters are surrendered because the families' domestic helpers are returning home, or because the pet is 'no longer manageable' or 'not tame'. 'While some are genuinely unavoidable situations, many stem from impulse purchases or misconceptions that hamsters are easy, low-maintenance pets ideal for young children,' she added. Most of the rescue cases by HSS begin with tip-offs on Facebook Messenger or their website from concerned members of the public, and some are referred by the AVS. Recent cases of abuse include two hamsters abandoned in a stairwell, another hamster was found in a plastic bag, while a third was dumped in a park. The rescued hamsters are often found in poor health, such as bacterial infections, paralysis, broken legs, and even cancer. As with other cases of pet abandonment, HSS sees noticeable spikes during the year-end school holidays and festive season, particularly from December to January. Some realise only after the holidays that they aren't able to commit to the pet gifted or bought impulsively during the festive period. In addition, illegal backyard breeders and pet shops failing to educate buyers on proper care, also lead to increased cases of hamster neglect. 'The reality is that caring for these animals isn't just emotionally intensive – it's financially demanding. Many of these medical cases cost us hundreds to thousands of dollars in vet care, medication, and long-term housing. And yet, we continue to take them in, because every life matters,' said Sim. Despite their size, these hamsters feel pain and fear just like any other animal. Sim added: 'Our hope is that by sharing these stories, more people will come to understand the weight of pet ownership and the responsibility it entails.' GIVING RESCUED HAMSTERS A FOREVER HOME Sim, together with about 22 HSS fosterers, nurse the rescued hamsters back to health, before they are put up for adoption. Hamsters with known pre-existing medical conditions will always be declared. HSS has strict guidelines – such as a cage that is at least 90 cm by 90 cm by 50 cm and with a lid, a wheel that is at least 27 cm in diameter, and unscented bedding – to create the right environment for the hamsters before allowing anyone to adopt them. Adopters must also be committed to responsible pet care, which includes bringing the hamsters for medical treatments when necessary. Each month, about four to six hamsters find a loving forever home. The society cautions people from rushing to adopt a hamster if they're not ready. Instead, they can help by donating to HSS to fund veterinary care, rescue operations, and daily supplies. A big part of preventing neglect starts with awareness. Many hamsters suffer in silence due to a lack of understanding, such as how hamsters prefer to be housed individually rather than as a pair, and that not every hamster enjoys being handled. 'By learning and sharing correct hamster care information, you help dismantle harmful myths and promote responsible pet ownership,' said Sim. HSS recommends calling out poor husbandry when you see it, direct interested buyers to proper resources, such as its website, which includes a list of recommended vets that have knowledge caring for exotic pets, and share its articles and rescue stories. 'Advocacy doesn't always mean doing big things. It can start with one conversation that changes a pet's life,' said Sim. 'Together, these actions – no matter how small – create real, lasting impact for hamster welfare in Singapore.'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Jayson Tatum gives first update on Achilles tear rehab
Jayson Tatum has a grueling road ahead after undergoing surgery for an Achilles tear last month. However, the Celtics star gave a brief optimistic update on his recovery in a post on X Saturday. 'Day 25…days starting to get a little easier,' Tatum wrote in a X post. Advertisement Tatum underwent surgery for his right Achilles tear on May 13 after suffering the injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks. His only other public comment since the injury has been an Instagram post on May 14 thanking everyone for their support following the injury. Tatum underwent surgery on his torn Achilles less than 24 hours after suffering the Achilles tear. However, the fast turnaround with the surgery may end up proving to be beneficial according to Brad Stevens. 'Super hard for Jayson, more than anybody,' Stevens said last month about the aftermath of the injury. 'As has been well documented, he loves to play, and I think even missing two games has been grueling for him. So we know that there is a long road ahead and that there's going to be several steps that he'll have to take before he ultimately gets back out on the court, but the positive was we were 15 minutes away from Dr. O'Malley, who is a terrific surgeon, who has done a number of these. '[Team doctor] Dr. Schena was on the phone with him before we left the building on Monday night, and he was out of the MRI and consultation and done with surgery by the time we had an injury report the next day, because there was real benefit to doing it early. So as tough as that injury is and as tough as that was that night, just an amazing set of circumstances, and an amazing thank you from our organization to Dr. O'Malley, the nurses at HSS and everybody there, the hotel that we were staying in and the accommodations they made Jayson feel comfortable in. I thought it was about as good of a transition in about as bleak of a feeling as you could have.' Advertisement In a follow up interview with Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston last month, Stevens elaborated on the potential impact of Tatum's quick surgery on his recovery. 'Blood supply and different swelling benefits early on in those first 72 hours was the timeframe we were talking about,' Stevens said. 'We were fortunate to be there at HSS. I thought they did a great job. Our team doc did a great job of helping organize it. We were there with Brandy and Jayson and Jeff Wexler, his agent and everyone was quick to make that call. I think there's real benefit to that.' The Celtics have not commented on a timetable for Tatum's recovery but Tatum's father indicated to Marc Spears of ESPN that the Celtics All-Star expects to return in 8-9 months. Players who have returned from an Achilles tear in the NBA in the past year have need anywhere from 8-18 months for their recovery before returning to the floor. The Celtics will try to retool their roster around Tatum this summer in the aftermath of a disappointing second round exit this past season. Advertisement 'I mean, I think anytime you're talking about an injury like that,' Stevens said. 'It's another piece of information that you have to ingest and figure out how that affects you moving forward for next year and into the future.' More Celtics content Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
HSS Study at EULAR 2025 Congress Uses an AI Model to Predict Readmissions of Pregnant Women with Lupus Based on Social Determinants of Health
BARCELONA, Spain, June 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) presented a research study at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) Annual Meeting showing that an artificial intelligence (AI)-based model can predict readmissions of pregnant women with lupus by looking at patients' social factors and clinical comorbidities. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the individual's own healthy tissue, causing pain, inflammation, and eventually damage to various organs. It commonly affects young women, and pregnancy is a particularly vulnerable period for this high-risk population. Although lupus-related medical complications affect pregnancy outcomes, social determinants and economic conditions, known as social determinants of health (SDOH), may also be important in shaping maternal health outcomes. "Pregnant women with lupus have five times higher maternal mortality compared to those without lupus," said Sandhya Shri Kannayiram, MBBS, MD, rheumatology fellow at HSS and principal author of the study. "There is little data on how social factors, including Income, Insurance, housing stability, access to transportation, availability of utilities, and literacy, along with clinical comorbidities, affect pregnancy outcomes in individuals with lupus." To better understand how SDOH impact readmissions for pregnant patients with SLE, the team used ten-year data (from 2011 to 2021) from the National Readmissions Database of the US, encompassing approximately 66,000 hospitalizations in the United States, and counted the number of readmissions within 30 days of discharge during pregnancy and delivery. "We found that approximately 2,500 [pregnant women with lupus] were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days," said Dr. Kannayiram. "We used a supervised 'glass box' machine learning model called the Explainable Boosting Machine (EBM), which helped predict who is likely to return to the hospital within 30 days," said Dr. Kannayiram. She explained that EBM is a form of machine learning with a type of AI that learns from data to make predictions. "It's an AI model that can be trained on the dataset to predict outcomes with transparency and accuracy compared to traditional statistical models," she added. The team specifically examined the major social determinants from the database that may influence readmissions during pregnancy in SLE, including Income and insurance status (public, private, or self-pay). Dr. Kannayiram explained that the results obtained showed patients living in lower-income neighborhoods were nearly twice as likely to be readmitted compared to those from wealthier areas, and those with Medicaid or Medicare insurance were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days. Patients discharged to locations other than home, such as rehabilitation facilities or nursing homes, were also more likely to return. However, they also found unexpected correlations. "We found that the size of hospitals was highly related to readmissions, rather than the location, such as cities or rural areas," said Dr. Kannayiram, with large hospitals being the ones with more readmissions. Additionally, unlike most pregnancy studies, where older mothers are usually at higher risk, this study found that younger women with lupus were more likely to be readmitted. Dr. Kannayiram said that this result may be related to severe lupus in younger individuals since about half of the readmitted patients had Medicare coverage, which may suggest a high prevalence of disability or kidney disease within that younger population. By using the predictive AI model, the team also discovered that income and insurance status were among the top five predictors of 30-day readmission during pregnancy and delivery-related hospitalizations, explained Bella Mehta, MBBS, MS, MD, rheumatologist at HSS and lead author of the study. She noted that these results could inform targeted interventions, such as policy actions to advocate for improved Medicaid and Medicare coverage, as well as post-discharge care coordination. "Integrating SDOH screening into prenatal care for SLE patients, and incorporating a multidisciplinary team of social workers, could reduce preventable readmissions and improve maternal outcomes," added Dr. Mehta. According to Dr. Mehta, in future studies, the team plans to analyze in detail how individual-level social factors, such as housing instability, food insecurity, education, mental health, transportation access, and patient demographics, interact with clinical comorbidities to determine pregnancy outcomes for women with SLE. "This study underscores the vital intersection between clinical care and structural inequality," said Dr. Mehta. "The lupus community and broader maternal health initiatives must not only consider disease management but also address the social factors that influence outcomes." Poster details Title: Predictors of 30-Day Readmissions in Pregnant Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Role of Social Determinants of HealthAuthors: Sandhya Shri Kannayiram, Yiyuan Wu, Lisa Sammaritano, Michael Lockshin, Rich Caruna, D. Ware Branch, Jane E. Salmon, Bella n°: 2325Presentation: June 14th, 2025. 10:00 AM CEST About HSS HSS is the world's leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 15th consecutive year), No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2024-2025), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report "Best Children's Hospitals" list (2024-2025). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fifth consecutive year (2025). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. View source version on Contacts Tracy Hickenbottom/Rachael Rennich212-606-1197mediarelations@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
HSS Study at EULAR 2025 Congress Uses an AI Model to Predict Readmissions of Pregnant Women with Lupus Based on Social Determinants of Health
BARCELONA, Spain, June 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) presented a research study at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) Annual Meeting showing that an artificial intelligence (AI)-based model can predict readmissions of pregnant women with lupus by looking at patients' social factors and clinical comorbidities. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the individual's own healthy tissue, causing pain, inflammation, and eventually damage to various organs. It commonly affects young women, and pregnancy is a particularly vulnerable period for this high-risk population. Although lupus-related medical complications affect pregnancy outcomes, social determinants and economic conditions, known as social determinants of health (SDOH), may also be important in shaping maternal health outcomes. "Pregnant women with lupus have five times higher maternal mortality compared to those without lupus," said Sandhya Shri Kannayiram, MBBS, MD, rheumatology fellow at HSS and principal author of the study. "There is little data on how social factors, including Income, Insurance, housing stability, access to transportation, availability of utilities, and literacy, along with clinical comorbidities, affect pregnancy outcomes in individuals with lupus." To better understand how SDOH impact readmissions for pregnant patients with SLE, the team used ten-year data (from 2011 to 2021) from the National Readmissions Database of the US, encompassing approximately 66,000 hospitalizations in the United States, and counted the number of readmissions within 30 days of discharge during pregnancy and delivery. "We found that approximately 2,500 [pregnant women with lupus] were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days," said Dr. Kannayiram. "We used a supervised 'glass box' machine learning model called the Explainable Boosting Machine (EBM), which helped predict who is likely to return to the hospital within 30 days," said Dr. Kannayiram. She explained that EBM is a form of machine learning with a type of AI that learns from data to make predictions. "It's an AI model that can be trained on the dataset to predict outcomes with transparency and accuracy compared to traditional statistical models," she added. The team specifically examined the major social determinants from the database that may influence readmissions during pregnancy in SLE, including Income and insurance status (public, private, or self-pay). Dr. Kannayiram explained that the results obtained showed patients living in lower-income neighborhoods were nearly twice as likely to be readmitted compared to those from wealthier areas, and those with Medicaid or Medicare insurance were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days. Patients discharged to locations other than home, such as rehabilitation facilities or nursing homes, were also more likely to return. However, they also found unexpected correlations. "We found that the size of hospitals was highly related to readmissions, rather than the location, such as cities or rural areas," said Dr. Kannayiram, with large hospitals being the ones with more readmissions. Additionally, unlike most pregnancy studies, where older mothers are usually at higher risk, this study found that younger women with lupus were more likely to be readmitted. Dr. Kannayiram said that this result may be related to severe lupus in younger individuals since about half of the readmitted patients had Medicare coverage, which may suggest a high prevalence of disability or kidney disease within that younger population. By using the predictive AI model, the team also discovered that income and insurance status were among the top five predictors of 30-day readmission during pregnancy and delivery-related hospitalizations, explained Bella Mehta, MBBS, MS, MD, rheumatologist at HSS and lead author of the study. She noted that these results could inform targeted interventions, such as policy actions to advocate for improved Medicaid and Medicare coverage, as well as post-discharge care coordination. "Integrating SDOH screening into prenatal care for SLE patients, and incorporating a multidisciplinary team of social workers, could reduce preventable readmissions and improve maternal outcomes," added Dr. Mehta. According to Dr. Mehta, in future studies, the team plans to analyze in detail how individual-level social factors, such as housing instability, food insecurity, education, mental health, transportation access, and patient demographics, interact with clinical comorbidities to determine pregnancy outcomes for women with SLE. "This study underscores the vital intersection between clinical care and structural inequality," said Dr. Mehta. "The lupus community and broader maternal health initiatives must not only consider disease management but also address the social factors that influence outcomes." Poster details Title: Predictors of 30-Day Readmissions in Pregnant Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Role of Social Determinants of HealthAuthors: Sandhya Shri Kannayiram, Yiyuan Wu, Lisa Sammaritano, Michael Lockshin, Rich Caruna, D. Ware Branch, Jane E. Salmon, Bella n°: 2325Presentation: June 14th, 2025. 10:00 AM CEST About HSS HSS is the world's leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 15th consecutive year), No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2024-2025), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report "Best Children's Hospitals" list (2024-2025). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fifth consecutive year (2025). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. View source version on Contacts Tracy Hickenbottom/Rachael Rennich212-606-1197mediarelations@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
14-06-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
HSS Study at EULAR 2025 Congress Uses an AI Model to Predict Readmissions of Pregnant Women with Lupus Based on Social Determinants of Health
BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) presented a research study at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) Annual Meeting showing that an artificial intelligence (AI)-based model can predict readmissions of pregnant women with lupus by looking at patients' social factors and clinical comorbidities. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the individual's own healthy tissue, causing pain, inflammation, and eventually damage to various organs. It commonly affects young women, and pregnancy is a particularly vulnerable period for this high-risk population. Although lupus-related medical complications affect pregnancy outcomes, social determinants and economic conditions, known as social determinants of health (SDOH), may also be important in shaping maternal health outcomes. 'Pregnant women with lupus have five times higher maternal mortality compared to those without lupus,' said Sandhya Shri Kannayiram, MBBS, MD, rheumatology fellow at HSS and principal author of the study. 'There is little data on how social factors, including Income, Insurance, housing stability, access to transportation, availability of utilities, and literacy, along with clinical comorbidities, affect pregnancy outcomes in individuals with lupus.' To better understand how SDOH impact readmissions for pregnant patients with SLE, the team used ten-year data (from 2011 to 2021) from the National Readmissions Database of the US, encompassing approximately 66,000 hospitalizations in the United States, and counted the number of readmissions within 30 days of discharge during pregnancy and delivery. 'We found that approximately 2,500 [pregnant women with lupus] were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days,' said Dr. Kannayiram. 'We used a supervised 'glass box' machine learning model called the Explainable Boosting Machine (EBM), which helped predict who is likely to return to the hospital within 30 days,' said Dr. Kannayiram. She explained that EBM is a form of machine learning with a type of AI that learns from data to make predictions. 'It's an AI model that can be trained on the dataset to predict outcomes with transparency and accuracy compared to traditional statistical models,' she added. The team specifically examined the major social determinants from the database that may influence readmissions during pregnancy in SLE, including Income and insurance status (public, private, or self-pay). Dr. Kannayiram explained that the results obtained showed patients living in lower-income neighborhoods were nearly twice as likely to be readmitted compared to those from wealthier areas, and those with Medicaid or Medicare insurance were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days. Patients discharged to locations other than home, such as rehabilitation facilities or nursing homes, were also more likely to return. However, they also found unexpected correlations. 'We found that the size of hospitals was highly related to readmissions, rather than the location, such as cities or rural areas,' said Dr. Kannayiram, with large hospitals being the ones with more readmissions. Additionally, unlike most pregnancy studies, where older mothers are usually at higher risk, this study found that younger women with lupus were more likely to be readmitted. Dr. Kannayiram said that this result may be related to severe lupus in younger individuals since about half of the readmitted patients had Medicare coverage, which may suggest a high prevalence of disability or kidney disease within that younger population. By using the predictive AI model, the team also discovered that income and insurance status were among the top five predictors of 30-day readmission during pregnancy and delivery-related hospitalizations, explained Bella Mehta, MBBS, MS, MD, rheumatologist at HSS and lead author of the study. She noted that these results could inform targeted interventions, such as policy actions to advocate for improved Medicaid and Medicare coverage, as well as post-discharge care coordination. 'Integrating SDOH screening into prenatal care for SLE patients, and incorporating a multidisciplinary team of social workers, could reduce preventable readmissions and improve maternal outcomes,' added Dr. Mehta. According to Dr. Mehta, in future studies, the team plans to analyze in detail how individual-level social factors, such as housing instability, food insecurity, education, mental health, transportation access, and patient demographics, interact with clinical comorbidities to determine pregnancy outcomes for women with SLE. 'This study underscores the vital intersection between clinical care and structural inequality,' said Dr. Mehta. 'The lupus community and broader maternal health initiatives must not only consider disease management but also address the social factors that influence outcomes.' Poster details Title: Predictors of 30-Day Readmissions in Pregnant Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Role of Social Determinants of Health Authors: Sandhya Shri Kannayiram, Yiyuan Wu, Lisa Sammaritano, Michael Lockshin, Rich Caruna, D. Ware Branch, Jane E. Salmon, Bella Mehta. Abstract n°: 2325 Presentation: June 14 th About HSS HSS is the world's leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 15th consecutive year), No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2024-2025), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report 'Best Children's Hospitals' list (2024-2025). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fifth consecutive year (2025). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally.
