Variation in hospitalizations and hospital length of stay in children with vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell disease.
OBJECTIVE
As a measure of morbidity of vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) in sickle cell disease, we used a national hospital discharge database, the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), to determine the number of hospitalizations and hospital length of stay (LOS) by age.


METHODS
Nationally weighted hospital discharges for VOC in children with sickle cell disease were analyzed using data from 2,500 hospitals in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) KID. Number of discharges and hospital LOS by age group were analyzed. Multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the effect of age on hospital LOS.


RESULTS
There were 20,271 hospital discharges for children with sickle cell disease and VOC. Mean age (SD) at time of admission was 10.6 (5.38) years with 49% being males. The overall average LOS was 4.4 days. There were differences in the number of hospital discharges by age group (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a difference in LOS by age group (P < 0.0001). After controlling for potential confounders, older age was associated with a longer LOS (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Older children with sickle cell disease and VOC have increased hospitalizations and longer LOS. This age effect should be considered when measuring the effect of an intervention on hospital utilization in these children.
Panepinto
Julie A
JA
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Hematology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. jpanepin@mcw.edu
Brousseau
David C
DC
Hillery
Cheryl A
CA
Scott
J Paul
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy*