Article
Comorbidities and Length of Stay in COPD Patients
Respiratory Care
(2018)
Abstract
Background: COPD has a significant burden on patients and the healthcare system. There is a link between COPD and comorbidities such as congestive heart failure (CHF), fluid and electrolyte disorders, and renal failure. This adds to the complexity of healthcare in these patients. The objective of this study is to determine if certain comorbidities affect length of stay.
Methods: A sample of 3,399 patients with COPD were assessed from the Premier healthcare database. The cohort had a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 68.41 (10.85) y. The average number of comorbidities was 24.83 (10.46) with a mean length of stay (SD) of 11.64 (9. 40) d. A negative binomial regression model was used to evaluate the impact that comorbidities have on the length of hospital stay.
Results: A moderate positive correlation showed that as the number of comorbidities increases the length of stay increases (r = . 4634, P< .0001). Having at least one comorbidity was associated with a 13% greater length of stay (IRR= 1.13, 95%CI 1.11-1.15, P< 0.0001). CHF was associated with a 28% greater length of stay (IRR = 1.28, 95%CI 1.24-1.31, P< 0.0001). Fluid and electrolyte disorders were associated with a 2-fold greater length of stay (IRR=2.57, 95%CI 2.52-2.62, P< 0.0001).
Conclusions: Renal failure was associated with a 50% greater length of stay (IRR = 1.50, 95%CI 1.45-1.55, P< 0.0001). However, uncomplicated diabetes was associated with 13% shorter length of stay than not having uncomplicated diabetes (IRR=.87, 95%CI .82-.91, P< .0001). This study demonstrated that specific comorbidities have an impact on length of stay.
Disciplines
Publication Date
October, 2018
Citation Information
Lanny Inabnit, Christopher Blanchette and Cynthiya Ruban. "Comorbidities and Length of Stay in COPD Patients" Respiratory Care Vol. 63 Iss. Suppl 10 (2018) p. 3012314 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lanny-inabnit/6/