Objective:

to analyze the factors associated with prolonged hospital stay in the Acute Geriatric Unit of a general hospital.

Materials and methods:

the study included 2,014 patients ≥60 years old who were hospital ized between January 2012 and September 2015. The dependent variable was prolonged hospital stay (>10 days vs ≤10 days). The independent variables included sociodemographic, laboratory, comorbidity, and functional and mental status variables. The Chi2 test for categorical variables and the non-parametric two-sample Wilcoxon test for quantitative variables were employed for bivariate analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model was run.

Results:

51.1% of the study subjects were women and the average age was 82.3 ± 7.2 years. The average length of stay was 14.7 ± 14 days, and the median was 10.6 days. Altogether, 50.6% had a prolonged stay. Those with prolonged hospital stay were characterized by having functional dependence, anemia, comorbidity (Charlson Index ≥4), hypoalbuminemia, high levels of acute phase reactants (CRP), and pressure sores. Women had fewer inpatient days. Prolonged length of stay was not related to the social variables.

Conclusion:

the main independent factors increasing hospital stay are pressure sores, functional dependence, hypoalbuminemia, comorbidity and elevated CRP levels.

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