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Factors Associated With Length of Stay for Patients With Stroke in Malaysia
Aniza Ismail1, Muhammad Alimin Mat Reffien1, Norlinah Mohamed Ibrahim2
1Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Insights
Stroke severity significantly impacts length of stay (LOS) in Malaysian teaching hospitals. This study analyzed 162 stroke patients, finding illness severity, but not age or comorbidities, associated with longer hospital stays.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Stroke is a major global health concern, causing significant morbidity and mortality.
- Understanding patient characteristics and factors influencing hospital stay is crucial for resource management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the characteristics of stroke patients admitted to a Malaysian teaching hospital.
- To identify factors associated with the length of stay (LOS) for stroke patients.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, cross-sectional study utilizing inpatient data from 2016-2017.
- Inclusion criteria: patients with ICD-10 code 164 (stroke).
- Statistical analysis employed nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis).
Main Results:
- 162 stroke patients were analyzed, with ages ranging from 31 to 97 years.
- Length of stay (LOS) varied from 1 to 17 days.
- Higher illness severity was significantly associated with longer LOS (p < 0.001); age, sex, and comorbidities were not significant factors.
Conclusions:
- Illness severity is a key determinant of LOS for stroke patients in this Malaysian cohort.
- This study provides foundational data for further research into stroke patient management and resource allocation.
Introduction:
Globally, stroke continues to become a significant public health issue contributing to one of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to describe the characteristics of patients with stroke who were admitted to a teaching hospital in Malaysia and to determine the factors associated with length of stay (LOS).
Methods:
This is a single-center, cross-sectional study using in-patient data maintained by the Case-Mix Unit of a teaching hospital in Malaysia from 2016 to 2017. The study included all patients with International Classification of Disease (ICD) code 164 (stroke, not specified as hemorrhage or infarct). The significance of association was determined using nonparametric tests in the form of the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results:
A total of 162 stroke patients from 2016 to 2017 from Case-Mix database were included in the study. The age ranged from 31 to 97 years old. The minimum and maximum LOS for patients with stroke ranged from 1 to 17 days. The severity of illness was found to be significantly associated with longer LOS (p < 0.001); however, age, sex, and presence of co-morbidities did not show any significant association.
Conclusion:
Despite its limitations, this study is an essential first step to examine the characteristics of patients with stroke and to determine the factors associated with LOS.
