title: Nine-year trend analysis of hospitalizations attributed to oral and oropharyngeal cancers in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines 9-year discharge patterns and changes in outcomes in oral cancer hospitalizations in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  All hospitalizations with primary diagnosis of oral and oropharyngeal cancers were selected from 2000 to 2008 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Association between outcomes (in-hospital mortality, length of stay [LOS], hospital charges, and discharge status) and independent variables was examined using multivariable regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 146,928 hospitalizations, 5310 died in hospitals. Mean LOS was 6.7 days. Mean hospitalization charges ranged from $47,331 to $62,885. After adjusting for confounders, in-hospital morality and charges did not vary while LOS decreased. Hospitalizations occurring in 2004-2008 were more likely to be discharged to long-term facilities (odds ratio = 1.24-1.59, P < .05) compared with those in 2000.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates changes in longitudinal trends in socio-demographic and hospital-related factors. Our results do not provide compelling evidence on whether hospitals are saving cost or shifting cost to another type of facility.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Graduate Education Resident, Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: minkyeong_lee@hsdm.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Min Kyeong
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Attending Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Director of Center for Applied Clinical Investigation, Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.affiliation: Interim Co-Director for Pre-Doctoral Education, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Romesh P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Nalliah
authors.affiliation: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor, Department of Periodontology, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Nadeem Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Karimbux
authors.affiliation: Cleft and Craniofacial Orthodontic Fellow, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Veerasathpurush
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Allareddy
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology