Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Knowledge regarding the inpatient burden of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is limited.

To provide nationally representative estimates for hospitalization characteristics due to cSCC and determine predictors for increased length of stay (LOS) and cost of care.

A retrospective cohort study of the 2009 to 2015 National Inpatient Sample. Weighted multivariate logistic/linear regression models were created to evaluate sociodemographic factors associated with cSCC hospitalization and to assess characteristics associated with cost of care and LOS.

This study included 15,784 cSCC and 255,244,626 non-SCC inpatients (prevalence = 6.2/100,000 inpatients). On average, cSCC hospitalizations lasted 5.8 days and cost $66,841.00. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma most often occurred on the scalp (30.57%), face (21.08%), and lower limb (11.93%). Controlling for all other factors, cSCC inpatients presented to larger/urban/teaching hospitals and were most often older non-Hispanic white women. More chronic conditions/diagnoses/procedures and nonwhite race were associated with greater cost of care and LOS. Cost of care and LOS significantly differed between cSCCs of different anatomical sites. The most common procedures performed were skin grafts (27.96%), excisions (25.83%), and lymph node biopsies (11.39%).

This study highlights the substantial burden of inpatient cSCC in the United States. Further research is necessary to prevent cSCC hospitalizations and improve inpatient dermatologic care for cSCC.