Effect of dynamic light at the coronary care unit on the length of hospital stay and development of delirium： a retrospective cohort study

Background Disturbed circadian rhythm is a potential cause of delirium and is linked to disorganisation of the circadian rhythmicity. Dynamic light （DL） could reset the circadian rhythm by activation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus to prevent delirium. Evidence regarding the effects of light therapy is predominantly focused on psychiatric disorders and circadian rhythm sleep disorders. In this study, we investi- gated the effect of DL on the total hospital length of stay （LOS） and occurrence of delirium in patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit （CCU）. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients older than 18 years, who were hospitalized longer than 12 h at the CCU and had a total hospital LOS for at least 24 h, were included. Patients were assigned to a room with DL （n = 369） or regular lighting condi- tions （n = 379）. DL was administered at the CCU by two ceiling-mounted light panels delivering light with a colour temperature between 2700 and 6500 degrees Kelvin. Reported outcome data were： total hospital LOS, delirium incidence, consultation of a geriatrician and the amount of prescripted antipsychotics. Results Between May 2015 and May 2016, data from 748 patients were collected. Baseline charac- teristics, including risk factors provoking delirium, were equal in both groups. Median total hospital LOS in the DL group was 100.5 （70.8-186.0） and 101.0 （73.0-176.4） h in the control group （P = 0.935）. The incidence of delirium in the DL and control group was 5.4% （20/369） and 5.0% （19/379）, respectively （P = 0.802）. No significant differences between the DL and control group were observed in secon- dary endpoints. Subgroup analysis based on age and CCU LOS also showed no differences. Conclusion Our study suggests exposure to DL as an early single approach does not result in a reduction of total hospital LOS or reduced incidence of delirium. When delirium was diagnosed, it was associated with poor hospital outcome.

Did the Revision of the Japanese Medical Payment System Work Properly?—An Analysis of Averages and Variances of Length of Hospital Stay for Type 2 Diabetes Patients by Individual Hospital

We evaluated the effects of the 2010 revision of the medical payment system on the length of stay (LOS). In this analysis, we assessed not only the average length of stay (ALOS), but also variance of LOS at individual hospitals. We used a dataset of 18,641 type 2 diabetes patients collected from 51 general hospitals. The variables found to affect LOS were age, comorbidities, complications, acute hospitalization, introduced by other hospitals, winter, one-week hospitalization, specific hospitalization period, and principal diseases coded E11.5, E11.6 and E11.7. Although the effect was marginal, the 2010 revision did reduce ALOS, and the reduction was larger as ALOS became longer. On the other hand, we did not find that the variance of LOS within hospitals became smaller. The results of the study suggest that new incentives and assistance to hospitals to help them make efficient use of medical information are needed.

Malnutrition as a predictor of prolonged length of hospital stay in patients with gynecologic malignancy: A comparative analysis

Objective To explore the consistency of the Patient-generated Subjective Global Assessment(PG-SGA)and Nutritional Risk Screening-2002(NRS-2002)for nutritional evaluation of patients with gynecologic malignancy and their predictive effect on the length of hospital stay(LOS).Methods We recruited 147 hospitalized patients with gynecologic malignancy from Nanfang Hospital in 2017.Their nutritional status was assessed using the PG-SGA and NRS-2002.The consistency between the two assessments was compared via the Kappa test.The relationship between malnutrition and LOS was analyzed using crosstabs and Spearman’s correlation.Results The PG-SGA demonstrated that 66.7%and 54.4%of patients scoring≥2 and≥4 were malnourished,respectively.Furthermore,the NRS-2002 indicated that 55.8%of patients were at nutritional risk.Patients with ovarian cancer had a relatively high incidence of malnutrition.However,this was only significant for patients who scored≥4 in the PG-SGA(P=0.001 and P=0.019 for endometrial carcinoma and cervical cancer,respectively).The PG-SGA and NRS-2002 showed good consistency in evaluating the nutritional status of patients with gynecologic malignancy(0.689,0.643 for PG-SGA score≥2,score≥4 and NRS-2002,respectively).Both the scores of PG-SGA and NRS-2002 were positively correlated with LOS.Furthermore,prolonged LOS was higher in patients with malnutrition than in those with adequate nutrition.Conclusion The PG-SGA and NRS-2002 shared a good consistency in evaluating the nutritional status of patients with gynecologic malignancy.Both assessments could be used as predictors of LOS.

Comparison of Mortality, Length of Stay, and Hospitalization Costs of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients with Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Disease

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to global healthcare systems. As the pandemic unfolded, it became evident that certain groups of individuals were at an elevated risk of experiencing severe disease outcomes. Among these high-risk groups, individuals with pre-existing cardiac conditions emerged as particularly vulnerable. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the length of stay, mortality, and costs of COVID-19 patients with and without a history of cardiac disease. Design: This retrospective study was conducted in Jam Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from March 21, 2021, to March 21, 2022. All patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who were hospitalized during this period were included. Results: A total of 500 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, with 31.6% having a history of cardiac disease and 68.4% without any cardiac disease. Patients with cardiac disease were significantly older (median [range] age, 69.35 [37 - 94] years) compared to non-cardiac patients (54.95 [13 - 97] years) (p Conclusion: Patients with cardiac disease who are hospitalized with COVID-19 have a higher mortality rate, longer hospital stays, greater disease severity, ICU admission, and higher costs. Therefore, improved prevention and management strategies are crucial for these patients.

Comparison of the Length of Stay and Medical Expenditures among Japanese Hospitals for Type 2 Diabetes Treatments: The Box-Cox Transformation Model under Heteroscedasticity

In this paper, we analyzed length of stay (LOS) in hospitals and medical expenditures for type 2 diabetes patients. LOS was analyzed by the power Box-Cox transformation model when variances differed among hospitals. We proposed a new test and consistent estimator. We rejected the ho-moscedasticity of variances among hospitals, and then analyzed the LOS of 12,666 type 2 diabetes patients hospitalized for regular medical treatments collected from 60 general hospitals in Japan. The variables found to affect LOS were age, number of comorbidities and complications, introduced by another hospital, one-week hospitalization, 2010 revision, specific-hospitalization-period (SHP), and principal diseases E11.5, E11.6 and E11.7. There were surprisingly large differences in ALOS among hospitals even after eliminating the influence of characteristics and conditions of patients. We then analyzed daily medical expenditure (DME) by the ordinary least squares methods. The variables that affected DME were LOS, number of comorbidities and complications, acute hospitalization, hospital’s own outpatient, season, introduced by another hospital, one-week hospitalization, 2010 revision, SHP, time trend, and principal diseases E11.2, E11.4 and E117. The DME did not decrease after the SHP. After eliminating the influences of characteristics and conditions of patients, the differences among hospitals were relatively small, 12% of the overall average. LOS is the main determinant of medical expenditures, and new incentives to reduce LOS are needed to control Japanese medical expenditures. Since at least 99% of patients require medical care after leaving the hospital, systems that take proper care of patients for long periods of time after hospitalization are absolutely necessary for efficient treatment of diabetes.

Length of hospital stay and mortality associated with burns from assault:a retrospective study with inverse probability weighting analysis

Background:Burns resulting from assaults account for considerable morbidity and mortality among patients with burn injuries around the world.However,it is still unclear whether unfavorable clinical outcomes are associated primarily with the severity of the injuries.To elucidate the direct relationship between burns resulting from assaults and mortality and/or length of hospital stays,we performed this study with the hypothesis that burns from assault would be independently associated with fewer hospital-free days than would burns from other causes,regardless of the severity of burn injuries.Methods:We conducted a retrospective cohort study,using a city-wide burn registry(1996–2017)accounting for 14 burn centers in Tokyo,Japan.Patients who arrived within 24 hours after injury were included,and those with self-inflicted burn injuries were excluded.Patients were divided into two groups according to mechanism of burns(assault vs.accident),and the number of hospitalfree days until day 30 after injury(a composite of in-hospital death and hospital length of stay)was compared between the groups.To estimate the probability that an injury would be classified as an assault,we calculated propensity scores,using multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for known outcome predictors.We also performed an inverse probability weighting(IPW)analysis to compare adjusted numbers of hospital-free days.Results:Of 7419 patients in the registry with burn injuries during the study period,5119 patients were included in this study.Of these,113(2.2%)were injured as a result of assault;they had significantly fewer hospital-free days than did those with burns caused by accident(18[27]vs.24[20]days;coefficient=−3.4[−5.5 to−1.3]days;p=0.001).IPW analyses similarly revealed the independent association between assault burn injury and fewer hospital-free days(adjusted coefficient=−0.6[−1.0 to−0.1]days;p=0.009).Conclusions:Burn from assault was independently associated with fewer hospital-free days,regardless of the severity of burn injuries.The pathophysiological mechanism underlying the relationship should be further studied in a prospective observational study.

Safety of Overnight Hospitalization after Transurethral Resection of Prostate

Background: Monopolar transurethral resection of prostate has long been a standard method of managements of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The safe and superior efficacy of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) always argues strongly for maintaining it as the primary mode of therapy for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There is a trend toward early catheter removal after transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) even to the extent of performing it as a day case. We explored the safety and feasibility of early catheter removal and discharging the patient without catheter after TURP. Materials and methods: Forty patients who underwent monopolar TURP were included in a prospective study. The decision to remove catheters on the first morning after surgery was based on the color of the catheter effluent, absence of clots, normal vital signs and adequate urine output. Patients who voided successfully were discharged on the same day as catheter removal. Results: Among the forty patients whose catheters were removed on first postoperative day, 38 patients (95%) voided successfully, and were discharged on the same day. However, two out of forty patients (5%) were recatheterized due to urethral discomfort during micturition. The catheter was removed on the next day. Mean overall duration of catheterization was 18.36 hours, and overall length of patient hospitalization was 21.68 hours. Conclusions: Overnight hospitalization and early catheter removal after transurethral prostatectomy are an appropriate, safe and effective way of patient care with minimal morbidity.

Role of peripheral eosinophilia in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND Eosinophil counts are a promising guide to systemic steroid administration for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).AIM To study the role of peripheral eosinophilia in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of COPD(AECOPD).METHODS From January 2014 to May 2017,patients with AECOPD hospitalized in Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital were retrospectively stratified into two groups according to their peripheral eosinophil count:The EOS group(eosinophil count≥2%)and the non-EOS group(eosinophil count<2%).Demographics,comorbidities,laboratory data,steroid use,length of hospital stay,and COPD-related readmissions were compared between the groups.RESULTS A total of 625 patients were recruited,with 176 patients(28.2%)in the EOS group.The EOS group showed a lower prevalence of infection,lower cumulative doses of prednisolone equivalents,shorter length of hospital stay,and higher number of COPD-related readmissions than the non-EOS group.There were significantly linear correlations between eosinophil percentage and number of readmissions and between eosinophil percentage and length of hospital stay P<0.001,and a lower percent-predicted value of forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1)were associated with shorter time to first COPD-related readmission[adjusted hazard ratio(adj.HR)=1.488,P<0.001;adj.HR=0.985,P<0.001,respectively].CONCLUSION The study findings suggest that the EOS group had the features of a shorter length of hospital stay,and lower doses of systemic steroids,but more frequent readmissions.The EOS group and lower percent-predicted FEV1 values were risk factors for shorter time to first COPD-related readmission.

Improvement of gastric emptying by enhanced recovery after pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND： Enhanced recovery after surgery（ERAS） has improved postoperative outcomes particularly in colorectal surgery. This study aimed to assess compliance with an ERAS protocol and evaluate its effect on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS： Fifty patients who had received conventional peri operative management from 2005 to 2009（conventional group）were compared with 75 patients who had received perioperative care with an ERAS protocol（fast-track group） from 2010 to2014. Mortality, complications, readmissions and length of hospital stay were evaluated and compared in the groups.RESULTS： Compliance with each element of the ERAS pro tocol ranged from 74.7% to 100%. Uneventful patients had a significant higher adherence to the ERAS protocol（87.5% vs40.7%; P〈0.001）. There were no significant differences in de mographics and perioperative characteristics between the two groups. Patients in the fast-track group had a shorter time to remove the nasogastric tube, start liquid diet and solid food pass flatus and stools, and remove drains. No difference was found in mortality, relaparotomy, readmission rates and over all morbidity. However, delayed gastric emptying and length of hospital stay were significantly reduced in the fast-track group. The independent effect of the ERAS protocol in reduc ing delayed gastric emptying and length of hospital stay was confirmed by multivariate analysis.CONCLUSION： ERAS pathway was feasible and safe in improving gastric emptying, yielding an earlier postoperative recovery, and reducing the length of hospital stay.

Timing of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the treatment of acute cholangitis of different severity

BACKGROUND The optimal timing of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)in acute cholangitis(AC) is uncertain,especially in patients with AC of varying severity.AIM To report whether the timing of ERCP is associated with outcomes in AC patients with different severities.METHODS According to the 2018 Tokyo guidelines,683 patients who met the definite diagnostic criteria for AC were retrospectively identified.The results were first compared between patients receiving ERCP ≤ 24 h and>24 h and then between patients receiving ERCP ≤ 48 h and>48 h.Subgroup analyses were performed in patients with grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ or Ⅲ AC.The primary outcome was 30-d mortality.Secondary outcomes were intensive care unit(ICU) admission rate,length of hospital stay(LOHS) and 30-d readmission rate.RESULTS Taking 24 h as the critical value,compared with ERCP>24 h,malignant biliary obstruction as a cause of AC was significantly less common in the ERCP ≤ 24 h group(5.2% vs 11.5%).The proportion of cardiovascular dysfunction(11.2% vs 2.6%),respiratory dysfunction(14.2% vs 5.3%),and ICU admission(11.2% vs 4%)in the ERCP ≤ 24 h group was significantly higher,while the LOHS was significantly shorter(median,6 d vs 7 d).Stratified by the severity of AC,higher ICU admission was only observed in grade Ⅲ AC and shorter LOHS was only observed in grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ AC.There were no significant differences in 30-d mortality between groups,either in the overall population or in patients with grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ or Ⅲ AC.With 48 h as the critical value,compared with ERCP>48 h,the proportion of choledocholithiasis as the cause of AC was significantly higher in the ERCP ≤ 48 h group(81.5% vs 68.3%).The ERCP ≤ 48 h group had significantly lower 30-d mortality(0 vs 1.9%) and shorter LOHS(6 d vs 8 d).Stratified by AC severity,lower 30-d mortality(0 vs 6.1%) and higher ICU admission rates(22.2% vs 10.2%) were only observed in grade Ⅲ AC,and shorter LOHS was only observed in grade I and Ⅱ AC.In the multivariate analysis,cardiovascular dysfunction and time to ERCP were two independent factors associated with 30-d mortality.CONCLUSION ERCP ≤ 48 h conferred a survival benefit in patients with grade Ⅲ AC.Early ERCP shortened the LOHS in patients with grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ AC.

Time Course of Postoperative Complications in Low-Risk Women after Planned Cesarean Section

Objectives: Length of hospital stay after cesarean section is today much shorter than previously, and a stay of only 1 day is used in many departments. However, complications requiring immediate treatment must be diagnosed before leaving hospital. We assessed the time interval from planned cesarean section to diagnosis of major complications in low-risk women to estimate a safe time of discharge. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study among 5633 women undergoing planned cesarean section from 2001-2017 at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. The inclusion criterion was postoperative complication graded as Clavien-Dindo ≥ II. Exclusion criteria were preoperative comorbidity or problems during surgery indicative of need for prolonged stay. Time from cesarean section to suspicion of a postoperative complication was the primary endpoint. Results: The study population consisted of 116 women with unexpected postoperative complications, 47 classified as Clavien-Dindo II and 69 as Clavien-Dindo III-IV. In 63 of the 116, the diagnoses were suspected within 24 hours (Clavien-Dindo II: 25, Clavien-Dindo III-IV: 38). These included all cases of relaparotomy and uterine atony with immediate need of medical treatment. Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction was diagnosed within 2 days, while other complications were suspected and treated 2 to 10 days postoperatively. Conclusions: Among low-risk women with a postoperative complication, all cases requiring relaparotomy and medically treated uterine atony were suspected within 24 hours after surgery. Discharge 24 hours after planned cesarean section seems safe in low-risk patients.

Effect of early enteral nutrition on outcomes of trauma patients requiring intensive care

Purpose: To investigate the effect of early enteral nutrition on outcomes of trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).Methods: Clinical data of trauma patients in the ICU of Daping Hospital, China from January 2012 to December 2017 was retrospectively analyzed, including patient age, gender, injury mechanism, injury severity score (ISS), nutritional treatment, postoperative complications (wound infection, abdominal abscess, anastomotic rupture, pneumonia), mortality, and adverse events (nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention). Only adult trauma patients who developed bloodstream infection after surgery for damage control were included. Patients were divided into early enteral nutrition group (<48 h) and delayed enteral nutrition group (control group, >48 h). Data of all trauma patients were collected by the same investigator. Data were expressed as frequency (percentage), mean ± standard deviation (normal distribution), or median (Q1, Q3) (non-normal distribution) and analyzed by Chi-square test, Student’st-test, or rank-sum test accordingly. Multiple logistic regression analysis was further adopted to investigate the significant variables with enteral nutrition.Results: Altogether 876 patients were assessed and 110 were eligible for this study, including 93 males and 17 females, with the mean age of (50.0 ± 15.4) years. Traffic accidents (46 cases, 41.8%) and fall from height (31 cases, 28.2%) were the dominant injury mechanism. There were 68 cases in the early enteral nutrition group and 42 cases in the control group. Comparison of general variables between early enteral nutrition group and control group revealed significant difference regarding surgeries of enterectomy (1.5% vs. 19.0%,p = 0.01), ileum/transverse colon/sigmoid colostomy (4.4% vs. 16.3%,p = 0.01) and operation time (h) (3.2 (1.9, 6.1) vs. 4.2 (1.8, 8.8),p = 0.02). Other variables like ISS (p = 0.31), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation≥20 (p = 0.79), etc. had no obvious difference. Chi-square test showed a much better result in early enteral nutrition group than in control group regarding morality (0 vs. 11.9%,p = 0.03), length of hospital stay (days) (76.8 ± 41.4vs. 81.4 ± 44.7,p = 0.01) and wound infection (10.3% vs. 26.2%,p = 0.03). Logistic regression analysis showed that the incidence of wound infection was related to the duration required to achieve the enteral nutrition standard (OR = 1.095,p = 0.002). Seventy-six patients (69.1%) achieved the nutritional goal within a week and 105 patients (95.5%) in the end. Trauma patients unable to reach the enteral nutrition target within one week were often combined with abdominal infection, peritonitis, bowel resection, intestinal necrosis, intestinal fistula, or septic shock.Conclusion: Early enteral nutrition for trauma patients in the ICU is correlated with less wound infection, lower mortality, and shorter hospital stay.

Nasogastric or nasojejunal feeding in pediatric acute pancreatitis: a randomized controlled trial

Background The aim of this study was to compare nasogastric(NG)feeding with nasojejunal(NJ)feeding when treating pediatric patients with acute pancreatitis(AP)..Methods We performed a single-center,prospective,randomized,active-controlled trial involving 77 pediatric patients with AP from April 2014 to December 2017.The patients were randomized into two groups:the NG tube feeding group(34 patients)and the NJ tube feeding group(33 patients).The primary outcome measures included the enteral nutrition intoler-ance,the length of tube feeding time,the recurrent pain of pancreatitis and complications.Results A total of 62 patients with AP(31 patients for each group)came into the final analysis.No differences were found in baseline characteristics,pediatric AP score and computed tomography severity score between the lwo groups.Three(9.7%)patients in the NG group and one(3.2%)patient in the NJ group developed intolerance(relative risk=3.00,95%confidence interval 0.33-27.29,P=0.612).The tube feeding time and length of hospital stay of the NG group were significantly shorter than those of the NJ group(P=0.016 and 0.027,respectively).No patient died in the trial.No significant differences were found in recurrent pain,complications,nutrition delivery efficacy,and side effects between the two groups.Conclusions NG tube feeding appears to be effective and safe for acute pediatric pancreatitis compared with NJ tube feeding.In addition,high qualifed,large sample sized,randomized controlled trials in pediatric population are needed.