Mean Hospital Length Of Stay Research Articles

The Optimized Use of a Contact-Free Continuous Monitoring System on Clinical Outcomes During COVID-19.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a contact-free continuous monitoring system on clinical outcomes including unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) transfer (primary), length of stay (LOS), code blue, and mortality. A secondary aim was to evaluate the return on investment associated with implementing the contact-free continuous monitoring program during the COVID public health emergency. An interrupted time series evaluation was conducted to examine the association between the use of contact-free continuous monitoring and clinical outcomes. A cost-benefit analysis was planned to evaluate the return on investment. Use of contact-free continuous monitoring was not significantly associated with unplanned ICU transfers, deaths, ICU LOS, and or rapid response team calls. However, there were significant increases in code blue events (P = 0.02) and mean hospital LOS (P = 0.01) in the postimplementation period when compared with the preimplementation period. Due to the lack of improvement, costs were calculated but a cost-benefit analysis was not conducted. Contact-free continuous monitoring bed use during the COVID-19 public health emergency was not associated with improvements in clinical outcomes, although there was substantial confounding. Future studies should include large randomized controlled trials to control for factors not under direct experimental control including unit staffing, staff turnover, and differences in the patient population related to surges in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using shock index, pediatric age adjusted (SIPA) to predict prolonged length of stay in perforated appendicitis: a retrospective review.

Hospital length of stay (LOS) following admission for appendicitis is difficult to predict. Shock index, pediatric age adjusted (SIPA) accurately identifies severely injured trauma patients and predicts mortality among children admitted to the ICU. Our aim was to determine if elevated SIPA at presentation, and time to normalization of SIPA, can identify children with perforated appendicitis and predict hospital LOS. This was a retrospective cohort study of children 1-17years admitted to a quaternary care referral center with appendicitis after appendectomy in 2021. The primary outcomes were presence of perforated appendicitis and hospital LOS. Generalized linear regressions were performed. Covariates included in all models were age, sex, fecalith, initial temperature, and time from diagnosis to OR. We included 169 patients; 53 (31.4%) had perforated appendicitis. After adjustment, elevated SIPA was associated with presence of perforated appendicitis (p = 0.0002) and longer LOS (p < 0.0001). A patient presenting with appendicitis and elevated SIPA had 5.447 times higher odds of having perforated appendicitis (95% CI: 2.262, 13.826), a mean hospital LOS 2.047 times longer (95% CI: 1.564, 2.683), a mean time to toleration of regular diet 4.995 times longer (95% CI: 2.914, 8.918), and a mean duration of antibiotics that is 1.761 times longer (95% CI: 1.383, 2.243) than a patient with normal SIPA. In children with appendicitis, elevated SIPA at presentation is associated with higher risk of perforation. These findings support the incorporation of SIPA during triage of patients with appendicitis and counseling families after surgery. Level 3.

Impact of preoperative nutritional status on morbidity and mortality in elderly patients undergoing subdural hematoma evacuation: the role of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index.

Nutritional status has been shown to impact patient outcomes across several neurosurgical procedures. However, few prior studies have assessed associations between preoperative nutritional status and outcomes in elderly patients undergoing subdural hematoma evacuations. The aim of this study was to identify associations between preoperative nutritional status and short-term outcomes in patients aged 65 years and older undergoing subdural hematoma evacuation. A retrospective cohort study was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Geriatric patients (≥ 65 years of age) were categorized into three groups based on the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI): normal, malnourished, and severely malnourished. Patient demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and adverse events (AEs) were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of 30-day postoperative AEs, extended length of hospital stay (LOS), 30-day mortality, and nonroutine discharge. Of 2026 study patients, 908 (44.8%) had normal GNRI status, 564 (27.8%) had malnourished GNRI status, and 554 (27.3%) had severely malnourished GNRI status. The proportions of patients who experienced minor AEs (normal 12.7% vs malnourished 13.3% vs severely malnourished 19.0%, p = 0.003) and severe AEs (normal 25.3% vs malnourished 20.7% vs severely malnourished 35.7%, p ≤ 0.001) were greatest in the severely malnourished cohort. Mean LOS significantly increased along with increasing malnourishment (normal 9.1 ± 6.9 days vs malnourished 9.7 ± 7.0 days vs severely malnourished 11.3 ± 7.6 days, p ≤ 0.001), whereas the proportions of patients with 30-day mortality (normal 15.5% vs malnourished 15.6% vs severely malnourished 24.0%, p ≤ 0.001) and nonroutine discharge (normal 59.4% vs malnourished 66.1% vs severely malnourished 69.9%, p ≤ 0.001) similarly increased with increasing malnourishment. On multivariate analyses, severe malnourished status was significantly associated with increased odds of developing any AE (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.72, CI 1.33-2.23, p ≤ 0.001) and extended LOS (aOR 1.47, CI 1.11-1.95, p = 0.007), whereas malnourished status but not severely malnourished status was associated with increased odds of nonroutine discharge (aOR 1.46, CI 1.12-1.92, p = 0.006). Neither malnourished (p = 0.474) nor severely malnourished status (p = 0.367) was associated with increased odds of 30-day mortality. The authors' findings suggest that preoperative nutritional status may have implications for short-term outcomes after subdural hematoma evacuation in patients aged 65 years and older. Further studies are necessary to better optimize nutritional status perioperatively in this patient population.

Variation in care in individuals hospitalised with abdominal aortic aneurysm in nine high-income countries: a cross-sectional cohort study

Abstract Background Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) can be safely repaired using either endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open repair when intact, but after rupture morbidity and mortality are extremely high. Treatment patterns and outcomes for intact AAA are likely to differ between countries due to differences in AAA screening policies, health system capacity and payment approaches, and other factors, such as demographics and lifestyle, but are poorly studied. Methods We conducted a retrospective serial cross-sectional cohort study of adults aged ≥66 years hospitalised for with an intact AAA and repair procedure in the same admission between 2011 and 2019 in nine countries (US, Canada, England, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Taiwan, South Korea and Israel) using population-representative administrative data. We investigated age-sex standardised (to the 2019 US population) repair rates (open repair or EVAR) and health system performance measures, including hospital length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission, and all-cause mortality (30 days and 1 year). Results The number of intact AAA hospital admissions between 2011 and 2019 ranged from 1,290 in Israel to 199,764 in the US. The rates of intact AAA repair per 1000 population varied between countries and over time, from 0.11 per 1000 (South Korea) to 0.69 per 1000 (US) in 2011 and from 0.14 per 1000 (Taiwan) to 0.57 per 1000 (the Netherlands) in 2019. Most countries saw a decline in the rate of AAA repair over the study period. The proportion repaired using open repair vs EVAR also varied widely across the countries. In the US, Israel and Taiwan open repair was used in 11% or fewer cases whereas in the remaining countries we observed open repair in 25.1 % (South Korea) to 56.7% (Denmark) of cases. (Figure 1) Mortality was generally higher following open repairs compared to EVAR in all countries. In 2019, following EVAR, 30-day mortality varied from 0.6% (8.1% at 1 year) in South Korea to 2.3% (11.7% at 1 year) in Israel and following open repair varied from 2.9 (4.4% at 1 year) in England to 7.6% (15.1% at 1 year) in the US. (Figure 2) Mean hospital LOS in 2019 ranged from 2.5 days (US) to 12.2 days (South Korea), following EVAR and from 9.1 days (Taiwan) to 21.5 days (South Korea) following open repair. The 30-day readmission rate in 2019 ranged from 8.1% (US) to 31.8% in Israel following EVAR and from 11.4% (US) to 22.2% (South Korea) following open repair. Conclusions We observed substantial between-country variation in surgical approaches, mortality, and health system performance measures for AAA. Further research is needed to understand and plan optimal, evidence-based AAA screening and treatment strategies.Rates of EVAR and open repairAdjusted 30-day all-cause mortality

Impact of Malnutrition on the Length of Stay for Hospitalized Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) Therapy Patients in the United States (2020).

Background Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy offers a promising treatment for certain malignancies but can be associated with complications. Malnutrition and cachexia are common in cancer patients and may worsen outcomes. This study investigated the impact of malnutrition on the length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing CAR-T therapy. The analysis focused on different subpopulations, including those with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), multiple myeloma (MM), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) excluding DLBCL. Methods Utilizing the 2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, we performed survey-based mean estimation analyses for LOS across various subpopulations of CAR-T therapy patients. These subpopulations were defined by specific diagnoses: ALL, myeloma, DLBCL, and NHL excluding DLBCL. We compared the LOS between patients with and without malnutrition using STATA accounting for the complex survey design. Cachexia was included as disease-induced malnutrition. Results The total CAR-T population used for analyses included 439 patients, and malnutrition was present in 50 (11.39%). The overall CAR-T population demonstrated a significantly longer LOS for patients with malnutrition (30.92 days, 95% CI: 24.30 to 37.54) compared to those without malnutrition (17.97 days, 95% CI: 15.48 to 20.46, p = 0.0002). This trend held true across subgroups. Specifically, the ALL population had a significantly longer LOS with malnutrition (45.25 days, 95% CI: 35.46 to 55.04) compared to non-malnourished patients (27.58 days, 95% CI: 16.74 to 38.42, p = 0.0279). For the DLBCL population, the mean LOS was 24.47 days (95% CI: 19.22 to 29.71) with malnutrition and 17.17 days (95% CI: 13.29 to 21.04, p = 0.0161) without malnutrition. The NHL population excluding DLBCL exhibited a mean LOS of 33.86 days (95% CI: 22.66 to 45.07) for malnourished patients and 17.44 days (95% CI: 14.76 to 20.11, p = 0.0055) for non-malnourished patients. The myeloma population showed a similar trend although not statistically significant, with a mean LOS of 39.00 days (95% CI: -3.54 to 81.54) for malnourished patients and 18.03 days (95% CI: 15.02 to 21.03, p = 0.3337) for non-malnourished patients. These findings highlight significant variations in LOS across different CAR-T-treated cancer subtypes, emphasizing the impact of malnutrition on healthcare resource utilization in oncology. Conclusion Malnutrition is associated with a significantly longer hospital stay among patients undergoing CAR-T therapy. This trend is consistent across various subpopulations, including those with ALL, DLBCL, and NHL (excluding DLBCL). While the impact of malnutrition on LOS was not statistically significant in the myeloma population, this could potentially be attributed to the smaller sample size in this group. Overall, these findings underscore the critical role of nutritional status in managing patients undergoing CAR-T therapy. Future studies should investigate the most effective methods for identifying and treating malnutrition in this patient population to reduce hospital stays and optimize overall patient care.

Implementing a Bedside Percutaneous Tracheostomy and Ultrasound Gastrostomy Team Reduces Length of Stay and Hospital Costs Across Multiple Critical Care Units in a 1500 Bed Tertiary Care Center.

Thousands of critically ill patients every year in the United States receive tracheostomy and gastrostomy procedures. Recent research has investigated the benefits of a combined team approach to these procedures, with associated decreases in length of stay (LOS) and hospital costs. This study's objective was to determine if implementing a bedside percutaneous tracheostomy and percutaneous ultrasound gastrostomy (PUG) team would reduce LOS and hospital costs. Design and Methods: This retrospective chart review compares the impact of implementing an ICU bedside percutaneous tracheostomy and PUG service team to the hospital's previous workflow (ie, pre-implementation). Inclusion criteria were adult patients with Ventilator Dependent Respiratory Failure (VDRF), a clinical indication for both procedures while admitted to the ICU and received both tracheostomy and gastrostomy procedures while admitted to the hospital. Pre- and post-implementation groups were compared across patients' demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. ICU LOS, hospital LOS and total hospital costs were the primary outcome measures. Results: A total of 101 adult critically ill patients were included in the analysis; 49 patients were in the pre-implementation group and 52 patients in the post-implementation group (ie, PUG group). Patients in the PUG group had a significantly shorter mean ICU LOS and hospital LOS, 10.9- and 14.7-day reductions respectively (p = 0.010, p = 0.006). PUG group patients also had a significant reduction in total hospital costs, a per patient cost savings of $34 778 (p = 0.043). Conclusions: This study supports implementing a bedside percutaneous tracheostomy and PUG team to reduce LOS and total hospital costs in patients with VDRF.

Retrospective review: Factors impacting length of stay in Bipolar Disorder at a tertiary hospital.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic, disabling mental illness that may require recurrent hospitalisation. The length of hospital stay (LOS) for BD patients is variable, and literature suggests that this is because of clinical and socio-demographic factors. To determine the average LOS for patients admitted for BD at a hospital and its relation to clinical and socio-demographic factors. A public tertiary hospital in South Africa. Clinical and socio-demographic data were obtained from a retrospective record review of patient admissions at a hospital over 1 year. Length of hospital stay, defined as the duration between admission and discharge date, and other variables were retrieved. A total of 215 patients were admitted during the study period. The mean LOS was 30 days. The mean age of the patients was 35.9 years (standard deviation [s.d.] = 12.4, range 18-72 years). There were similar numbers of males and females admitted. Significantly more patients were not married (p < 0.001), unemployed (p < 0.001), and had a history of substance use (p < 0.001). Employed patients were 2.5 times more likely to have a short stay than those unemployed (p = 0.03). There was a statistically significant association between the number of comorbidities and LOS. The study findings align with the literature's results. The median length of stay was 25 days and was impacted by socio-demographic but not clinical factors. The study provided insight into the impact of variable factors in LOS for BD patients.

8189 Demographics and Healthcare Utilization of Diabetic Versus Non-Diabetic Gastroparesis hospitalization in the United States Using the National Inpatient Sample database

Abstract Disclosure: S. Khan: None. L. Zia: None. M. Khan: None. M. Amin: None. M. Khan: None. F. Sattar: None. Background: Gastroparesis is commonly associated with neuropathy secondary to Diabetes and Non-Diabetic causes such as Idiopathic, Post-Viral and Surgical with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations impairing quality of life, worsening morbidity, and mortality. The purpose of this study is to assess Demographic disparities and utilization of healthcare services between Diabetic (DG) Versus Non-Diabetic Gastroparesis (NDG) admissions. Methods: Data were extracted from the National Inpatient Sample Database for the year 2020. It comprises discharge data obtained from a 20% stratified sample of community hospitals across the country. We conducted a retrospective cohort study focusing on admissions of patients aged 18 years and above with diagnosis of DG and NDG were identified using ICD-10 codes. Multivariate regression analysis was used to estimate the Mean difference of the Average length of hospital stay (LOS), and total hospital charges (THC). Multivariate logistic and linear regression was used accordingly to adjust for confounders. Analysis was performed using STATA 18. Results: Our study identified 10330 patients hospitalized due to gastroparesis, among them 1446 (14%) had DG. Hospitalizations with DG in comparison with NDG had lower number of women (65% Vs 80.7%, P≤0.05), a higher proportion of black adults (36.5% Vs 17%), a lower proportion of white adults (46.4% Vs 70%), and a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index. In DG, 104(7.19%) patients had EGD and non-diabetic gastroparesis, 977 (11%) had EGD during admission. The mean LOS in hospital was 4.72 days and mean total hospital charges were 51327 USD. Comparing both cohorts, there was statistically significant decrease in the mean LOS in DG, Adjusted Mean difference of 1.27 days (P = 0.006). In addition, there was significant decrease in the total cost of hospitalization with an adjusted Mean difference of 13832 (P=0.001). Thirty patients with NDG died during hospital course and none with Diabetic gastroparesis. Conclusion: According to our findings, majority of admissions with gastroparesis are related with non-diabetic causes with higher healthcare utilization and mortality rate. Gastroparesis is a relatively frequent and poorly understood condition which needs considerate effort to have a better understanding of disease. Presentation: 6/2/2024

12469 Impact Of Covid-19 Infection On Diabetic Ketoacidosis Severity And Outcomes In Adult Population- A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract Disclosure: E.M. Niedzialkowska: None. K. Childers: None. L. Qu: None. L. Misra: None. M.R. Brennan: Consulting Fee; Self; Insulet Corporation, Bayer, Inc., Novo Nordisk. Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) that can be precipitated by SARS-CoV2 infection. We analyzed clinical and demographic characteristics of patients admitted with DKA to investigate if SARS-CoV2 infection affects DKA severity on admission and outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included adult patients admitted with a diagnosis of DKA between March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2023. Patients' demographic data including age, sex, race, ethnicity, laboratory test results on admission, ICU admissions and length of hospital stay (LOS) were compared. Patient characteristics and outcomes of interest were stratified by COVID-19 test results and compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. DKA severity was classified based on HCO3 values: mild 15-18 mEq/L, moderate 10-14 mEq/L, severe &amp;lt;10 mEq/L. Results: The study included 902 patients, of which 734 tested negative (COVID-) and 168 tested positive (COVID+) for SARS-CoV2. The mean age was significantly higher (54.09) in COVID-19+ group compared to COVID-19- group (48.25) (p&amp;lt;0.001). The cohort included 49.1% females, 51.7% Whites, 43.3% Blacks, 89.8% Non-Hispanic/Latino, 2.7% Hispanic/Latino. We did not find statistically significant differences in sex (p= 0.608), race (p =0.277), ethnicity (p=0.072) anion gap (p=0.783), glucose (p=0.140), hemoglobin a1c (ha1c) values on admission (p=0.876) and ICU admissions (p=0.266) between both groups. The majority (55.3%) of the patients presented with severe DKA, followed by moderate DKA in 26.6% and mild disease in 18.1% of patients without statistically significant differences between groups (p= 0.128). The mean LOS in COVID + group (11.94 days) was longer than COVID- (6.85) group (p&amp;lt;0.001). Mean venous pH was significantly lower in COVID-19- (7.14) compared to COVID+ (7.17) group (p= 0.016). Betahydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels on admission were higher in COVID- group (7.98 mmol/L, N 0.02-0.27 mmol/L) compared to COVID + (7.10mmol/L) cohort. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and DKA on admission did not present with more severe disease compared to patients that tested negative. COVID+ patients were older (54.09 vs 48.2) and had significantly longer LOS (11.94 vs 6.85 days). We did not identify statistically significant differences between race, ethnicity, sex, glucose, anion gap, Ha1c on admission and ICU admission rate. BHB levels on admission were higher in patients that tested negative. Interestingly, mean pH was higher in COVID-19 positive group possibly due to respiratory disorders. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Postoperative Antibiotics May Be Unnecessary in Pediatric Patients Hospitalized With Minor Odontogenic Infections

BackgroundAntibiotic overuse is a growing concern in healthcare. For pediatric odontogenic infections, the necessity of post-operative antibiotics lacks clear, evidence-based guidelines. PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare treatment outcomes between pediatric patients hospitalized with vestibular space odontogenic infections who received post-operative antibiotics and those who did not. Study design, setting, sampleThis ambispective cohort study was conducted at the Baruch Padeh "Tzafon" Medical Center, Poriya, Israel (January 2010-December 2015 for retrospective and November 2018-December 2019 for prospective). The sample included 522 pediatric patients (<15 years) hospitalized for odontogenic infections requiring surgical intervention. Patients with non-odontogenic infections, compromised immune systems, or infections involving deeper spaces were excluded. Predictor/independent variableThe primary predictor was post-operative antibiotic management (administration vs. no administration), decided at hospital admission. Main outcome variable(s)The primary outcome variable was length of hospital stay (LOS), categorized as short (1-2 days) or extended (≥3 days). LOS was chosen as a proxy for recovery time and symptom resolution, reflecting the overall efficacy of the treatment approach. Covariates: Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. AnalysesDescriptive statistics, Student t-tests, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used (P < .05). ResultsOf 522 patients (411 control, 111 study), mean LOS was similar between groups: 1.7 ± 0.91 days (control) vs 1.67 ± 0.9 days (study) (P = .76). Short stays were not significantly different (90.99% vs 87.10%, P = .32). Multivariable analysis showed no association between withholding antibiotics and extended stay (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.45-1.89, P = 0.82), but identified age (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.21, P = 0.02) and initial WBC count (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.15, P = 0.03) as predictors of extended stay. Conclusions and RelevanceWithholding routine post-operative antibiotics in pediatric patients with odontogenic infections does not significantly impact length of hospital stay. While length of stay is not a direct measure of clinical outcome, it serves as a proxy for recovery. This approach may contribute to antibiotic stewardship efforts without compromising patient care, though future studies with direct clinical outcome measures are needed to confirm these findings.

Length of stay and cost of care differences between postoperative patients who board in PACU and those that proceed directly to inpatient bed

BackgroundBottlenecks in PACU throughput are frequently encountered challenges that OR managers must face. This study seeks to examine the impact of extended PACU stay (e.g. boarding) on both total hospital length of stay and overall cost of care. MethodsA total of 4,740 patients were studied having same-day admit surgeries for seven procedure types including: arthroplasty total knee, arthroplasty total hip, fusion spine transforaminal interbody lumbar, revision arthroplasty total knee, revision arthroplasty total hip, posterior cervical fusion, and anterior cervical fusion. 4,471 were identified as non-PACU boarders and 269 as PACU boarders (>6 h in PACU). Included in the analysis were demographics, date of admission, surgical procedure, PACU and hospital length of stay (HLOS), hospital direct costs, case mix index (CMI), and ASA status. ResultsThe median (IQR) PACU times in minutes were 57.00 (80) and 488.00 (453.50) minutes for PACU non-boarders and boarders (p < 0.001). HLOS was significantly (p < 0.001) more elevated in PACU Boarders compared to PACU Non-boarders: median (IQR) 2.00 (2.00) and 2.00 (3.00), (mean HLOS 3.16±2.83 vs 2.60±2.71 days). Median direct costs were ≈14.36% higher (p = 0.008) for the PACU boarders compared to Non-boarders. Direct costs were also not significantly different when using a 4-hour criteria for PACU boarders (14.39% higher median direct costs, p = 0.004). ConclusionsPACU boarding (>4 h) is associated with a statistically significant increased length of stay as well as direct costs compared with non-boarders across a variety of elective orthopedic and spine procedures. Thus, when frequent PACU boarding occurs, OR managers should consider the potential impact to patient care and hospital margins.

Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant-led Cardiovascular Surgery Postoperative Intensive Care Unit Staffing Model.

To determine whether a nurse practitioner and physician assistant (NP/PA)-led rapid staffing. Model in the cardiac surgical intensive care unit (ICU) can optimize resource utilization without compromising safety or increasing hospital length of stay (LoS). Retrospective observational cohort study comparing before-and-after implementation of an NP/PA-led rapid recovery pathway. A large tertiary referral academic cardiac surgery ICU. There were 116 patients in the prerapid recovery cohort and 153 in the postimplementation rapid recovery phase. Low-risk cardiac surgery patients were selected for postoperative care by an NP/PA-led ICU staffing model. Mean hospital LoS in the prerapid recovery cohort was 5.7 days compared to 5.2 days in the rapid recovery pathway cohort (P = .02). Thirty-day hospital readmission in the prerapid recovery pathway cohort was 7.8% compared with 2.0% in the rapid recovery cohort (P = .04). The ICU readmission rate for prerapid recovery cohort was 4.3%, while the rapid recovery percentage was 2.0% (P = .30). Overall, implementation of an NP/PA-led postcardiac surgical ICU team (rapid recovery pathway) was associated with similar ICU LoS, hospital LoS, ICU readmission rates, 30-day readmission rates, and no significant signal of increased adverse events or safety concerns.

Impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis on Hospitalized Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: Study of Demographics, Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes.

Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising ulcerative colitisand Crohn's disease gives rise to chronic intestinal inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by joint and systemic inflammation.IBD is often linked with various autoimmune diseases, with RA being one of the most common. The coexistence of IBD and RA results in an increased inflammatory state, significantly compromising quality of life. Understanding the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of IBD patients with RA is essential for optimizing their management and improving outcomes. Methodology This retrospective observational study utilized data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016 to 2020. Patients aged 18 years and older with a primary discharge diagnosis of IBD were included. This population was subdivided into two groups based on the presence and absence of RA. The primary objective was to compare outcomes between hospitalized IBD patients with and without RA. Key outcomes assessed included mortality rates, hospital length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges. Secondary outcomes included the prevalence of comorbidities and IBD-related complications. Results From 2016 to 2020, a total of 455,655 hospitalized IBD patients were identified, among whom 10,590 (2.32%) had an underlying diagnosis of RA. Patients with both IBD and RA were significantly older than those without RA (mean age 52.21 vs. 45.72 years, p < 0.001) and had a higher proportion of females (72.51% vs. 53.27%, p < 0.01). RA patients exhibited a greater risk of cardiovascular risk factors compared to non-RA patients, including diabetes [adjusted odd ratio (aOR ) 1.12 (1.09-1.16)], hypertension [aOR 1.19 (1.07-1.33)], hyperlipidemia [aOR 1.61 (1.60-1.63)], chronic kidney disease stage 1-4 [aOR 1.35 (1.29-1.41)], coronary artery disease [aOR 1.67 (1.65-1.69)], andheart failure [aOR 1.45 (1.43-1.48)]. However, there were no significant differences in the rates of IBD-related complications or in-hospital mortality between the two groups. The mean hospital LOS was 5.15 days for RA patients and 4.95 days for non-RA patients (p = 0.08), with similar total hospital charges ($48,442.7 vs. $48,720.3, p = 0.88). Conclusion This study shows hospitalized IBD patients with and without RA have similar hospitalization outcomes, however, patients with RA have a higher cardiovascular risk. The findings emphasize the importance of integrated, multidisciplinary management approaches for these patients, addressing not only their gastrointestinal and rheumatologic conditions but also their associated comorbidities.

Effect of psoas muscle index on early postoperative outcomes in surgically treated spinal tumours in an Asian population

BackgroundSarcopenia has been purported to be a pre-operative risk factor that affects patient outcomes in oncological surgery, but no study as of yet has investigated the effect of sarcopenia in patients with spinal tumours. Psoas muscle measurements, including the psoas muscle index (PMI), are an objective way to determine sarcopenia. ObjectivesWe investigated if PMI could predict post-operative outcomes (length of hospital stay and post-operative complications) in surgically treated spinal tumour patients in a multi-ethnic Asian population. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with spinal tumours who underwent surgery at our tertiary institution from January 2016 to January 2020. PMI was measured on T2-weighted MRI sequences, at the middle of the L3 vertebral body and measurements were collected by 2 independent raters. The primary outcome was length of hospital stay (LOS), and the secondary outcome was post-operative complications. ROC curve was used to attain the cut-off value for PMI and the population was then stratified into 2 groups; sarcopenic if PMI was less than 1.22 and non-sarcopenic if the PMI value was more than or equal to 1.22. Multivariable linear regression was used for LOS, while multivariate logistic regression was used for complications. Results57 patients were included with a mean length of stay of 17.8 days (SD 25.1) and the total number of patients with complications were 20 (35.1 %). Mean LOS was significantly higher in the sarcopenic group compared to the non-sarcopenic group. Univariate analysis confirmed the association of lower psoas muscle index corresponding with longer lengths of stay and this was corroborated in a multivariable linear regression model. There were no significant associations between PMI and postoperative complications. ConclusionsLower PMI values were significantly associated with a longer LOS. PMI may be warranted for risk stratifying Asian spinal tumour patients undergoing surgery.

Area deprivation index and social vulnerability index in Milwaukee County: Impact on hospital outcomes after traumatic injuries

BackgroundPredisposing factors for traumatic injuries are complex and variable. Neighborhood environments may influence injury mechanism or outcomes. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) identifies areas at risk for emergencies; Area Deprivation Index (ADI) measures socioeconomic disadvantage. The objective was to assess the impact of SVI or ADI on hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality for injured patients to determine whether SVI or ADI indicated areas where injury prevention may be most impactful. MethodsAdult patients who resided in Milwaukee County and were treated for injuries from 2015 to 2022 at a level I trauma center were included. Patients’ addresses were geocoded and merged with 2020 state-level SVI and ADI measures. SVI ranks census tracts 0–100 from least to most vulnerable. ADI ranks census block groups 1–10 from least to most disadvantaged. ADI and SVI rankings were converted to deciles. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and regression models for LOS and in-hospital mortality, adjusted for either SVI or ADI within separate models, age, sex, race or ethnicity, mechanism of injury (MOI), injury severity score (ISS). Results14,542 patients were included; 63 % were male. Mean total hospital LOS was 6.4 ± 9.8 days, and in-hospital mortalities occurred in 5.2 % of patients. Based on SVI and ADI, 5,280 (36 %) patients resided in high vulnerability areas and 5,576 (39 %) lived in highly disadvantaged areas, respectively. After adjusting for patient factors, SVI deciles #6, 9, 10 were associated with increased hospital LOS, and SVI decile #5 was associated with in-hospital mortality (OR = 2.22, 95 %CI:1.06–4.63; p = 0.034). When adjusted for ADI, the 7th-10th deciles were associated with increased hospital LOS. Greater age and ISS were associated with increased hospital LOS and mortality when adjusted for SVI and ADI. ConclusionsSVI and ADI identified a similar proportion of patients in high vulnerability or disadvantaged areas. Higher SVI and ADI deciles were associated with longer hospital LOS, and only the 5th SVI decile was associated with in-hospital mortality. Highly disadvantaged or vulnerable areas may have a longer LOS, but SVI and ADI have limited influence on trauma mortality. Continued research on neighborhood and community factors and trauma outcomes is needed.

Patients With Spina Bifida Have Longer Length of Hospital Stay: Statewide Health Care Utilization in California From 1995 to 2017.

Our goal was to better understand the health care utilization of patients with spina bifida (SB) by evaluating length of hospital stay (LOS) as well as identifying what characteristics within the SB population are contributing to shorter or longer LOS. By querying the Department of Health Care Access and Information database of all encounters at California-licensed hospitals from January 1995 through December 2017, this study analyzed LOS as a measure of health care utilization. Patients with SB were identified using the International Classification of Diseases-9 and -10 coding system, and the data collected for both SB and control cohorts were compared using linear and logistic regression models. Patients with SB spent a mean LOS of 7.3 days compared to 4.7 days among the control cohort (P < .001). In multivariable analysis, SB was found to be an independent predictor of longer LOS. Within the SB encounters, increasing comorbidities and nonprivate insurance were associated with longer LOS, while being female and Hispanic were associated with a shorter LOS. SB is an independent predictor of longer LOS when compared to the control cohort. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the preventive health care access and needs of the vulnerable SB population to decrease hospital utilization rates.

Bio-electrical impedance phase angle and impedance ratio as predictors of disease severity among critically ill children

ObjectiveTo find out the predictive ability of bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) phase angle and impedance ratio for disease severity/mortality among critically ill children. MethodsA prospective observational study, among eighty-one children admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) was undertaken. Using bioelectrical impedance analyzer, phase angle (PA) and impedance ratio (IR) were recorded. Pediatric index mortality score (PIM3) was used to assess disease severity and mortality. Length of hospital stay (LOS), 30-day mortality, demographic and anthropometric measurements were recorded. ResultsMean age of the patients was 4.11 ± 4.60 years, majority were males (54.32 %). Mortality was 6.2 %. IR was significantly lower among survivor group than non-survivor group, while rest of the variables were comparable. The mean PIM3 score was lower (12.71 ± 7.39) among survivors than non-survivors (14.56 ± 5.56). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed a cutoff of 3.9° PA predicted the mortality with sensitivity of 93 % and specificity of 86.8 %. At a cutoff of 0.879, IR predicted the mortality with sensitivity and specificity of 93 %. The LOS increased with disease severity, and this difference was statistically significant. Although the mean LOS among survivors was less in comparison to the non-survivors; this difference was not statistically significant. ConclusionsBio-electric impedance PA and IR at the time of PICU admission can be used as an independent predictor of disease severity and 30-day mortality and can be a prognostic marker. Further multicentric studies with large sample size can strengthen our study findings.

Retrospective Analysis of Risk Factors in Geriatric Hip Fracture Patients Predictive of Surgical Intensive Care Unit Admission.

Although numerous risk factors and prediction models affecting morbidity and mortality in geriatric hip fracture patients have been previously identified, there are scant published data on predictors for perioperative Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) admission in this patient population. Determining if a patient will need an SICU admission would not only allow for the appropriate allocation of resources and personnel but also permit targeted clinical management of these patients with the goal of improving morbidity and mortality outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify specific risk factors predictive of SICU admission in a population of geriatric hip fracture patients. Unlike previous studies which have investigated predominantly demographic, comorbidity, and laboratory data, the present study also considered a frailty index and length of time from injury to presentation in the Emergency Department (ED). A total of 501 geriatric hip fracture patients admitted to a Level 1 trauma center were included in this retrospective, single-center, quantitative study from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022. Using a logistical regression analysis, more than 25 different variables were included in the regression model to identify values predictive of SICU admission. Predictive models of planned versus unplanned SICU admissions were also estimated. The discriminative ability of variables in the final models to predict SICU admission was assessed with receiver operating characteristic curves' area under the curve estimates. Frailty,serum lactate > 2, andpresentation to the ED > 12 hours after injurywere significant predictors of SICU admission overall (P = 0.03, 0.038, and 0.05 respectively). Additionally, the predictive model for planned SICU admission had no common significant predictors with unplanned SICU admission. Planned SICU admission significant predictors included an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 15 and greater, a higher total serum protein, serum sodium <135, systolic blood pressure (BP) under 100, increased heart rate on admission to ED, thrombocytopenia (<120), and higher Anesthesia Society Association physical status classification (ASA) score (P = 0.007, 0.04, 0.05, 0.002, 0.041, 0.05, and 0.005 respectively). Each SICU prediction model (overall, planned, and unplanned) demonstrated sufficient discriminative ability with the area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.869, 0.601, and 0.866 respectively.Finally, mean hospital Length of Stay (LOS) and mortality were increased in SICU admissions when compared to non-SICU admissions. Of the three risk factors predictive of SICU admission identified in this study, two have not been extensively studied previously in this patient population. Frailty has been associated with increased mortality and postoperative complications in hip fracture patients, but this is the first study to date to use a novel frailty index specifically designed and validated for use in hip fracture patients. The other risk factor, time from injury to presentation to the ED serves as an indicator for time a hip fracture patient spent without receiving medical attention. This risk factor has not been investigated heavily in the past as a predictor of SICU admissions in this patient population.

Hospital Length of Stay and Associated Factors in Patients with Osteoarthritis from Germany: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: There is a scarcity of data on hospital length of stay (LOS) in the osteoarthritis population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate hospital LOS and associated factors in patients with osteoarthritis from Germany. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included patients hospitalized for osteoarthritis in one of fourteen hospitals in Germany between 2018 and 2023 (hospital database; IQVIA). The study outcome was the duration of hospital stay in days. Study covariables included age, sex, hospital department, osteoarthritis type, co-diagnosis, and hospitalization-related procedure. Associations between covariables and hospital LOS were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression models. Results: There were 8770 patients included in the study (mean [standard deviation] age 68.7 [10.8] years; 60.2% women). The mean (standard deviation) hospital LOS was 8.5 (5.0) days. Factors positively and significantly associated with hospital LOS were older age, female sex, orthopedic surgery and other medical specialty departments (compared with other surgery departments), knee and other and unspecified osteoarthritis (compared with hip osteoarthritis), multiple co-diagnoses (e.g., acute posthemorrhagic anemia, other disorders of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance, and disorders of purine and pyrimidine metabolism), and several hospitalization-related procedures (i.e., geriatric rehabilitation, hip arthroplasty, and knee arthroplasty). Conclusions: The mean hospital LOS was higher than eight days in this osteoarthritis population from Germany, with a spectrum of demographic, clinical, and hospitalization-related factors associated with this hospital LOS. In this context, interventions are needed to reduce the LOS of hospitalizations for osteoarthritis in Germany.

Length of hospital stay in involuntary admissions in Greece: a 10-year retrospective observational study

PurposeThe treatment of mental disorders has shifted from inpatient wards to community-based settings in recent years, but some patients may still have to be admitted to inpatient wards, sometimes involuntarily. It is important to maintain the length of hospital stay (LoS) as short as possible while still providing adequate care. The present study aimed to explore the factors associated with the LoS in involuntarily admitted psychiatric patients.MethodsA ten-year retrospective chart review of 332 patients admitted involuntarily to the inpatient psychiatric ward of the General University Hospital of Ioannina, Northwestern Greece, between 2008 and 2017 was conducted.ResultsThe mean LoS was 23.8 (SD = 33.7) days and was relatively stable over the years. Longer-stay hospitalization was associated with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder diagnosis, previous hospitalizations and the use of mechanical restraint, whereas patients in residential care experienced significantly longer LoS (52.6 days) than those living with a caregiver (23.5 days) or alone (19.4 days). Older age at disease onset was associated with shorter LoS, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed with regard to gender.ConclusionWhile some of our findings were in line with recent findings from other countries, others could not be replicated. It seems that multiple factors influence LoS and the identification of these factors could help clinicians and policy makers to design more targeted and cost-effective interventions. The optimization of LoS in involuntary admissions could improve patients’ outcomes and lead to more efficient use of resources.