Length of hospitalization of patients with transient ischemic attacks
B Censori1, L Casto, T Partziguian
1Neurologia 2, Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo, Italy.
Objective:
To investigate factors that influence length of stay (LOS) in patients hospitalized for transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). This may help to reduce unnecessary days of hospitalization.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
A large, non-academic general hospital.
Patients:
All patients hospitalized for TIAs during the years 1996-1998 were retrospectively studied. We analyzed the relationship between demographic, clinical and management features and LOS.
Results:
We studied 157 patients. Median LOS was 8 days (range, 1 to 21 days). Statistical analysis showed that female sex, being hospitalized in 1996, hospitalization from Wednesday through Saturday, and second-level cardiological, neuroradiological and miscellaneous investigations significantly increased LOS.
Conclusions:
The LOS of patients with TIAs may be reduced through measures that accelerate the diagnostic work-up and by scheduling the admission to the first days of the week, when this is possibile.
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