Gender-related differences in acute rehabilitation lengths of stay, charges, and functional outcomes for a matched sample with spinal cord injury: a multicenter investigation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of gender on length of stay (LOS), treatment costs, and outcomes by using a matched sample of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
A 2 x (15 x 3) mixed, block design was used retrospectively to analyze the impact of gender on subjects matched for age, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor impairment classification, and level of neurologic injury.


METHODS
Twenty medical centers in the federally sponsored Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems project.


METHODS
One thousand seventy-four adult patients with SCI admitted between 1988 and 1998 were assessed at acute-care admission, inpatient rehabilitation admission, and inpatient rehabilitation discharge.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
ASIA motor index and FIM instrument admission, discharge, and efficiency scores; rehabilitation LOS and medical care charges; and discharge disposition.


RESULTS
Analysis revealed no gender-related differences in FIM motor scores on admission and discharge. No differences in FIM motor efficiencies or daily change were observed. No significant differences were found for ASIA motor scores on acute-care admission and rehabilitation discharge. No differences in acute rehabilitation LOS and charges were observed. No gender-related differences were seen in the likelihood of discharge to an institutional setting.


CONCLUSIONS
Gender was not a significant factor in functional outcome of SCI patients after acute rehabilitation.
Greenwald
B D
BD
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. greenwbd@umdnj.edu
Seel
R T
RT
Cifu
D X
DX
Shah
A N
AN
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000145:classification; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States