This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chang, K.-C. Articles by Tan, T.-Y. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chang, K.-C. Articles by Tan, T.-Y. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Stroke Related Collections Health policy and outcome research Acute Cerebral Infarction Other Stroke Treatment - Medical Transient Ischemic Attacks

(Stroke. 2002;33:2670.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Prediction of Length of Stay of First-Ever Ischemic Stroke

Ku-Chou Chang, MD; Mei-Chiun Tseng, PhD; Hsu-Huei Weng, MD, MPH; Yin-Hui Lin, RN; Chia-Wei Liou, MD Teng-Yeow Tan, MD

From the First Department of Neurology (K-C.C., C-W.L., T-Y.T.), Department of Diagnostic Radiology (H-H.W.), and Neurological Section, Department of Nursing (Y-H.L.), Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and Department of Business Management, National Sun Yat-Sen University (M-C.T.), Taiwan.

Correspondence to Ku-Chou Chang, MD, First Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung County 833, Taiwan. E-mail changkcc{at}ms24.hinet.net

Background and Purpose— Accurate information about hospital resource utilization is necessary for management of healthcare service. The purpose of this study was to determine the demographic and clinical predictors of length of hospital stay (LOS) of acute care hospitalization for first-ever ischemic stroke patients.

Methods— A group of 330 patients who suffered from first-ever ischemic stroke and were consecutively admitted to a medical center in southern Taiwan were followed prospectively. Because our intention was to identify the major predictors of LOS from the information available at admission, we evaluated only those factors that could be assessed at the time of admission. Univariate analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to identify the main predictors of LOS.

Results— The median LOS was 7 days (mean, 11 days; range, 1 to 122 days). Among the prespecified demographic and clinical characteristics, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission, the quadratic term of the initial NIHSS score, modified Barthel Index score at admission, small-vessel occlusion stroke, sex, and smoking were the main explanatory factors for LOS. In particular, for each 1-point increase in the total score of NIHSS, LOS increased approximately 1 day for patients with mild or moderate (score 0 to 15 points) neurological impairments, while LOS decreased approximately 1 day for patients with severe (score >15 points) neurological impairments.

Conclusions— The severity of stroke, as rated by the total score on NIHSS, is an important factor that influences LOS after acute stroke hospitalization.

Key Words: costs and cost analysis • outcome • stroke, ischemic

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Saposnik, M. K. Kapral, S. B. Coutts, J. Fang, A. M. Demchuk, M. D. Hill, and on behalf of the Investigators of the Registry of Do All Age Groups Benefit From Organized Inpatient Stroke Care? Stroke, October 1, 2009; 40(10): 3321 - 3327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.E. Cipriano, M.L. Steinberg, G.S. Gazelle, and R.G. Gonzalez Comparing and Predicting the Costs and Outcomes of Patients with Major and Minor Stroke Using the Boston Acute Stroke Imaging Scale Neuroimaging Classification System AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., April 1, 2009; 30(4): 703 - 709. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Luengo-Fernandez, A. M. Gray, and P. M. Rothwell Costs of Stroke Using Patient-Level Data: A Critical Review of the Literature Stroke, February 1, 2009; 40(2): e18 - e23. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Saposnik, A. Baibergenova, N. Bayer, and V. Hachinski Weekends: A Dangerous Time for Having a Stroke? Stroke, April 1, 2007; 38(4): 1211 - 1215. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. H. H. Chiu, C.-S. Liu, T.-Y. Tan, and K.-C. Chang Venturi mask adjuvant oxygen therapy in severe acute ischemic stroke. Arch Neurol, May 1, 2006; 63(5): 741 - 744. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. S.J. Miller, M. F. Drummond, L. K. Langkilde, J. J.V. McMurray, and M. Ogren Economic factors associated with antithrombotic treatments for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation Eur. Heart J. Suppl., May 1, 2005; 7(suppl_C): C41 - C54. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. S.J. Miller, F. L. Andersson, and L. Kalra Are Cost Benefits of Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Underestimated? Stroke, February 1, 2005; 36(2): 360 - 366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Saposnik, F. Webster, C. O'Callaghan, and V. Hachinski Optimizing Discharge Planning: Clinical Predictors of Longer Stay After Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Acute Stroke Stroke, January 1, 2005; 36(1): 147 - 150. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Saposnik, B. Young, B. Silver, S. Di Legge, F. Webster, V. Beletsky, V. Jain, Y. Nilanont, and V. Hachinski Lack of Improvement in Patients With Acute Stroke After Treatment With Thrombolytic Therapy: Predictors and Association With Outcome JAMA, October 20, 2004; 292(15): 1839 - 1844. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-S. Tsai, W. B. Goggins, H.-F. Chiu, and C.-Y. Yang Evidence for an Association Between Air Pollution and Daily Stroke Admissions in Kaohsiung, Taiwan Stroke, November 1, 2003; 34(11): 2612 - 2616. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.-C. Chang and M.-C. Tseng Costs of Acute Care of First-Ever Ischemic Stroke in Taiwan Stroke, November 1, 2003; 34 (11): e219 - e221. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Johnston and J. D. Easton Are Patients With Acutely Recovered Cerebral Ischemia More Unstable? Stroke, October 1, 2003; 34(10): 2446 - 2450. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]