title: Impact of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea on acute care length of stay, hospital costs, and readmission: A multicenter retrospective study of inpatients, 2009-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The recent epidemiologic changes of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) have resulted in substantial economic burden to U.S. acute care hospitals. Past studies evaluating CDAD-attributable costs have been geographically and demographically limited. Here, we describe CDAD-attributable burden in inpatients, overall, and in vulnerable subpopulations from the Premier hospital database, a large, diverse cohort with a wide range of high-risk subgroups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Discharges from the Premier database were retrospectively analyzed to assess length of stay (LOS), total inpatient costs, readmission, and inpatient mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with CDAD had significantly worse outcomes than matched controls in terms of total LOS, rates of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and inpatient mortality. After adjustment for risk factors, patients with CDAD had increased odds of inpatient mortality, total and ICU LOS, costs, and odds of 30-, 60- and 90-day all-cause readmission versus non-CDAD patients. CDAD-attributable costs were higher in all studied vulnerable subpopulations, which also had increased odds of 30-, 60- and 90-day all-cause readmission than those without CDAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the significant economic impact CDAD has on hospitals, prevention of initial episodes and targeted therapy to prevent recurrences in vulnerable patients are essential to decrease the overall burden to hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Premier Research Services, Charlotte, NC. Electronic address: glenn_magee@premierinc.com.
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.affiliation: Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Jersey City, NJ.
authors.forename: Marcie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Jersey City, NJ.
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Premier Research Services, Charlotte, NC.
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Premier Research Services, Charlotte, NC.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baumer
authors.affiliation: Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ.
authors.forename: Kelly C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Broderick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Clostridium difficile; Clostridium difficile infection; Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea; Cost; Length of stay; Readmission