The Burden of Facial Cellulitis Leading to Inpatient Hospitalization

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to present nationally representative estimates of hospitalizations primarily attributed to facial cellulitis and to conduct an exploratory analysis on identifying factors associated with outcomes, such as hospital charges, length of stay (LOS), disposition status, and occurrence of infectious complications. The present study is a retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 2012 and 2013. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code of "682.0" in the primary diagnosis field of NIS (reason for hospitalization) was used to identify cases with facial cellulitis. All patients at least 18years old who were hospitalized for facial cellulitis were included. Outcome variables examined in the present study were hospital charges, LOS, disposition status, and occurrence of infectious complications. Descriptive statistics and a multivariable linear regression model were used to examine association between independent variables and patient disposition and infectious complications. In 2012 and 2013, 74,480 hospitalizations involved facial cellulitis in adults at least 18years old in the United States. Most were women (mean age, 47.5yr). Most patients were routinely discharged home. Age was associated with an increase in odds of discharge to another facility. Variables associated with decreased odds of bacterial infections were age and black or Hispanic race. Women with at least 1comorbidity had higher odds of mycoses. Statistically relevant predictors of longer than average LOS were age, race, insurance, presence of sepsis, and location. This study presented nationally representative estimates of hospitalizations attributed primarily to facial cellulitis in the adult population in the United States in 2012 and 2013. The presence of a comorbid condition predicted worse outcomes. Public health efforts should focus on targeting high-risk patients and providing monitoring or early treatment of face cellulitis.