Length of hospitalization in intensive care units: A cross-sectional study

Prolonged hospitalizations in intensive care units (ICUs) due to critical conditions are a significant challenge to the healthcare system. The primary objective within the ICU is to reduce the length of stay (LOS), which ultimately could enhance the quality of healthcare, minimize complications, and reduce healthcare-associated costs. This study aims to identify factors affecting the LOS in ICUs. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study that utilized electronic records from a tertiary hospital, analyzing data from 7628 ICU admissions between 2012 and 2022. A total of 7628 ICU patients were included, with a mean stay of 4.3 ± 7.3 days, 33.7% remained ≥ 3 days. The majority of the included patients were males (59.12%) and aged above 60 years (53.03%). Several factors were significantly associated with prolonged ICU stay including sepsis (odds ratio [OR] = 5.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.42-9.04, P < .001), receiving nutrition via a nasogastric (NG) tube (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.88-3.13, P < .001), and receiving antibiotics (OR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.81-2.38, P < .001). In generalized linear model analysis, tracheostomy, sepsis and mechanical ventilation were strongest predictors of prolonged ICU stay (Exp(B) = 3.33, 1.63, 1.60), respectively, P < .001). This study identified several factors significantly associated with LOS in the ICU. Illness severity, intensity of supportive care, and patterns of clinical management were the main contributors to prolonged ICU stay. Identifying these factors can help optimize patient care, minimize complications, and alleviate healthcare costs within critical care settings, thereby informing the efficient allocation of resources.