MELD score and antibiotics use are predictors of length of stay in patients hospitalized with hepatic encephalopathy.

Link to article at PubMed

MELD score and antibiotics use are predictors of length of stay in patients hospitalized with hepatic encephalopathy.

BMC Gastroenterol. 2014 Oct 17;14(1):185

Authors: Martel-Laferrière V, Homberger C, Bichoupan K, Dieterich DT

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) represents a significant burden to the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing the hospital length of stay among patients hospitalized with HE.
METHODS: A data warehouse query was performed to identify 316 patients with a first hospitalization during which HE occurred, between April 2010 and February 2012. Baseline and hospitalization characteristics were collected with IRB approval. A negative binomial multivariable model was used to control for potential confounders on the length of hospitalization.
RESULTS: Median age was 59 years, and 60.4% of admitted patients were male. The median MELD score was 22 (IQR: 17-28). Median length of stay was 8 days (IQR: 3.25-14.25). After controlling for MELD score, female gender (2.2 days; p = 0.04), being initially admitted for a reason other than HE (liver-related: 7.6 days; p < 0.01 and non liver-related 10.7 days; p < 0.01) and receiving antibiotics other than rifaximin (10.5 days; p < 0.01) were associated with longer length of stay whereas hepatitis C (-3.1 days; p < 0.01) was associated with a shorter length of stay.
CONCLUSIONS: MELD score, gender, use of antibiotics other than rifaximin, reason for admission and hepatitis C are predictors readily available in clinic that can help identify patients at risk for longer length of stay.

PMID: 25326084 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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