Factors contributing to a longer length of stay in adults admitted to a quaternary spinal care center

Abstract

Background Longer hospital length of stay (LOS) has been associated with worse outcomes and increased resource utilization. However, diagnostic and patient-level factors associated with LOS have not been well studied on a large scale. The goal was to identify patient, surgical and organizational factors associated with longer patient LOS for adult patients at a high-volume quaternary spinal care center. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 13,493 admissions from January 2006 to December 2019. Factors analyzed included age, sex, admission status (emergent vs scheduled), ASIA grade, operative vs non-operative management, mean blood loss, operative time, and adverse events. Specific adverse events included surgical site infection (SSI), other infection (systemic or UTI), neuropathic pain, delirium, dural tear, pneumonia, and dysphagia. Diagnostic categories included trauma, oncology, deformity, degenerative, and “other”. A multivariable linear regression model was fit to log-transformed LOS to determine independent factors associated with patient LOS, with effects expressed as multipliers on mean LOS. Results Mean LOS for the population (SD) was 15.8 (34.0) days. Factors significantly ( p < 0.05) associated with longer LOS were advanced patient age [multiplier on mean LOS 1.011/year (95% CI: 1.007–1.015)], emergency admission [multiplier on mean LOS 1.615 (95% CI: 1.337–1.951)], ASIA grade [multiplier on mean LOS 1.125/grade (95% CI: 1.051–1.205)], operative management [multiplier on mean LOS 1.211 (95% CI: 1.006–1.459)], and the occurrence of one or more AEs [multiplier on mean LOS 2.613 (95% CI: 2.188–3.121)]. Significant AEs included postoperative SSI [multiplier on mean LOS 1.749 (95% CI: 1.250–2.449)], other infections (systemic infections and UTI combined) [multiplier on mean LOS 1.650 (95% CI: 1.359–2.004)], delirium [multiplier on mean LOS 1.404 (95% CI: 1.103–1.787)], and pneumonia [multiplier on mean LOS 1.883 (95% CI: 1.447–2.451)]. Among the diagnostic categories explored, degenerative patients experienced significantly shorter LOS [multiplier on mean LOS 0.672 (95%CI: 0.535–0.844), p < 0.001] compared to non-degenerative categories. Conclusion This large-scale study taking into account diagnostic categories identified several factors associated with patient LOS. Future interventions should target modifiable factors to minimize LOS and guide hospital resource allocation thereby improving patient outcomes and quality of care and decreasing healthcare-associated costs.

Length of hospital stay and associated factors among adult surgical patients admitted to a surgical ward in Amhara Regional State Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals, Ethiopia

“…However, it should be considered that patients who stay longer than necessary or shorter than is actually needed have an impact on the price and standard of care delivered [21]. Although patients who stayed for a prolonged time had poor care outcomes [22,23], they faced financial burdens [24,25], made it difficult for the hospital to run at a high level of efficiency [26,27], were at higher risk of developing complications [28,29], and had increased mortality [11]. Generally, prolonged hospital stays are not beneficial for either patients or hospitals [6,30].…”

“…Studies have revealed that factors such as older age, preoperative hypoalbuminemia, ASA class 3 or 4, duration of operation, in-hospital complications, comorbidity, and reoperation were factors independently associated with prolonged hospital stays [19,22,25,31,32]. However, there is a lack of consistency in what influences patients’ length of stay, particularly in surgical wards [33].…”