Factors associated with prolonged hospital stay in a geriatric care acute unit

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the factors associated with prolonged hospital stay in a Geriatric Unit of Acute of a general hospital.

Materials and methods: the study included 2,014 patients ?60 years old who were hospitalized between January 2012 and September 2015. The dependent variable was prolonged hospital stay (>10 days vs ?10 days). The independent variables included sociodemographic, laboratory, comorbidity, and functional and mental status variables. The Chi2 test for categorical variables and the non-parametric two-sample Wilcoxon test for quantitative variables were employed for bivariate analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model was run .

Results: 51.1% of the study subjects were women and the average age was 82.3 ± 7.2 years. The average length of stay was 14.7 ± 14 days, and the median was 10.6 days. Altogether, 50.6% had a prolonged stay. Those with prolonged hospital stay were characterized by having functional dependence, anemia, comorbidity (Charlson Index ?4), hypoalbuminemia, high levels of acute phase reactants (CRP), and pressure sores. Women had fewer inpatient days. Prolonged length of stay was not related to the social variables .

Conclusion: the main independent factors increasing hospital stay are pressure sores, functional dependence, hypoalbuminemia, comorbidity and elevated CRP levels.