Sociodemographic and Clinical Predictors of Prolonged Length of Corneal Ulcer Hospitalizations

The length of stay (LOS) of hospitalizations may be a useful indicator of the burden of disease of corneal ulcers. Identifying variables associated with longer LOS may help to enhance delivery of care for high-risk patients.

To investigate the sociodemographic, social, and clinical factors associated with LOS in hospitalizations for corneal ulcers in the US.

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of adult patients (aged >18 years) admitted with a primary diagnosis of corneal ulcer between quarter 4 of 2015 through 2020 and conducted using data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Patients were stratified into 2 even cohorts based on LOS: LOS of 4 days or less and LOS greater than 4 days. Individual-level sociodemographic, social risk factors, and medical comorbidities associated with longer LOS were examined by multivariable regression. Data were analyzed from October 2015 to December 2020.

Potential sociodemographics or medical comorbidities at hospital admission.

The primary outcome of interest was factors associated with extended length of stay. The hypothesis being tested was formulated during data collection.

A total of 1187 patients (mean [SD] age, 53.5 [20.9] years; 602 female [50.7%]) were included for analysis. The cohort with LOS greater than 4 days had higher total charges than the cohort with LOS of 4 days or less (mean [SD] charges, $79 504 [$86 719] vs $26 474 [$20 743]; P < .001). Sociodemographic variables associated with LOS greater than 4 days were Black race (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.41; 95% CI, 1.03-1.92; P = .03), Medicare insurance (aOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.09-1.85; P = .009), and housing insecurity (aOR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.29-3.06; P = .002). Medical comorbidities associated with LOS greater than 4 days were alcohol use (aOR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.00-2.26; P = .05), dementia (aOR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.36-4.07; P = .002), complicated diabetes (aOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.21-2.53; P = .003), uncomplicated diabetes (aOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.02-2.42; P = .04), drug misuse (aOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.08-2.57; P = .02), and legal blindness (aOR, 3.42; 95% CI, 1.19-9.82; P = .02). Based on NIS national estimates, corneal ulcers were estimated to have a direct annual health care expenditure of $35 819 590 in the US.

Corneal ulcer hospitalizations represent a significant burden of disease for patients and health care systems. This study highlights sociodemographic and clinical factors that may help clinicians identify high-risk patients vulnerable to complications and morbidity due to corneal ulcers.