Long duration of hospital stay in a clinical service

UNLABELLED: In order to identify determining factors and complications in illness, we evaluated patients under long period hospitalization, in a Clinical Service. METHODS: retrospective and descriptive studies. Figures were evaluated by Chi-, Fisher T and Test T, thrue variables. We call long period hospitalization to a staying of 10 days or longer. RESULTS: 322 patients were evaluated. 50 (15,5%) presented (LS) and 272 < 10 days staying. Age average was 63,8 for < 10 days and 66 for (LS). Mostly of diagnosis at admission for < 10 days were respiratory dysfunction (25%) including pneumonia (10%), urinary infection and heart failure, and for LS pneumonia 20%, acute neurological disease 18 %. The 46 % of LS required surgery vs. 20,6% (p < 1,01). The LS needed parenteral nutrition 26 % vs. 12,5% (p < 0,02). The average of maximum amount of drugs/day in staying was: 5,8 for < 10 days and 8,76 for LS (p < 0,01). Hospital complications in LS were 28 % vs. 11% (p < 0,01), mainly nosocomial pneumonia (p < 0,01) and endovascular infections (p < 0,01). Staying in ICU was 54% for LS vs. 19% (p < 0,01), and average of days in intensive care unit (ICU) was 8 in LS vs. 3 (p < 0,01). There wasn't any difference in mortality. CONCLUSION: the admission's diagnosis and the ICU's staying were the main causes of LS, but not so age and co-morbilities studied. The LS patients require more complex and expensive staying. They present more hospital complications.