title: The impact factors on the cost and length of stay among acute ischemic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding hospital costs and length of stay (LOS) can optimize the in-hospital management of acute stroke. We investigated cost and LOS in first-ever and recurrent stroke patients in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were examined in patients at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Chiayi County of Taiwan from April 1, 2008, to March 31, 2010 [corrected]. Predictors of hospital cost and LOS in these patients were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 1021 patients with 1084 stroke episodes. Mean age was 68.1 ± 10.8 years (range: 32-93). The average cost was NTD$45,709.30 ± NTD$66,697.40 (US$1408.70 ± US$2084.30; US$1 = NTD$32) and average LOS was 13.9 ± 14.1 days (range: 1-129). After multivariate regression analysis, the significant predictive factors for cost were LOS, smoking, and medication for secondary prevention. The significant predictive factors for LOS were diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, recurrence, and stroke subtype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age 65 and over, atrial fibrillation, stroke treatment, and subtypes were the significant predictive factors affecting hospital costs and LOS. Compared to other countries, Taiwan spent the least while Canada had the highest expense. The United States had the shortest LOS (6 days) in contrast to Canada with the longest LOS (34-47 days). Regarding mean daily cost of stroke, the United States had the highest cost per day while China spent the least.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ying-Chih
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chaur-Jong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Tsong-Hai
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jen-Tsung
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hsu-Huei
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Leng Chieh
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shiao-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics; D020521:Stroke / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D013624:Taiwan