National trends and outcomes of hospitalizations for pulmonary hypertension in Spain (2001–2014)

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess changes in incidence, diagnostic procedures, comorbidity profiles, length of hospital stay (LOHS), costs, and in-hospital mortality (IHM) for patients hospitalized with pulmonary hypertension (PH). MethodsWe included patients hospitalized with PH in Spain from 2001 to 2014. The data were collected from the National Hospital Discharge Database. ResultsWe included 644,436 discharges (43.31% males and 56.09% females) admitted for primary PH (8.34%) or secondary PH (91.66%). The crude incidence rate increased from 58.67 to 148.32 hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants between 2001 and 2002 and 2013–2014 (p < 0.001). The percentage of patients with a Charlson comorbidity index ≥2 was 27.87% in 2001–2002, increasing to 47.02% in 2013–2014 (p < 0.001). IHM was 8.77%, with a reduction in the value yielded by the multivariable analysis between 2009 and 2010 and 2013–2014. Median LOHS was 9 ± 9 days in 2001–2002, which decreased to 7 ± 8 days in 2013–2014 (p < 0.001). The mean cost per patient increased from €3352.4 ± €1495 in the period 2001–2002 to €4198.94 ± €1287.96 in 2013–2014 (p < 0.001). ConclusionsDespite the increase over time in hospital admissions for PH, associated comorbidity, and costs, LOHS and IHM decreased, suggesting that the management of PH-related hospitalizations improved in Spain during the study period.