title: Effect of Hospital Length of Stay on Functional Independence Measure Score in Trauma Patients.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether prolonged hospital length of stay (HLOS) and rehabilitation facility length of stay (RLOS) lead to poor functional outcomes, defined as a Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score of less than 76 (LFIM) at rehabilitation facility (RF) discharge.
  
  
  
  This study analyzed retrospective data collected between 2002 and 2009 on 326 patients in a trauma center and affiliated RF. Factors predicting LFIM at RF discharge were determined using multivariate logistic regression, χ tests, and t tests.
  
  
  
  Significant multivariate predictors of LFIM included age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.07; P < 0.0001), spinal cord injury (OR, 7.22; 95% CI, 2.73-19.02; P = 0.000), female sex (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.17-4.65; P = 0.01), and RF admission FIM (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.91-0.95; P < 0.001). An increased risk of LFIM (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.41-3.45; P = 0.001) was observed with an increased ratio of HLOS/RLOS after adjusting for injury severity score.
  
  
  
  An increased ratio of HLOS/RLOS increases the risk of LFIM more than 2-fold after adjusting for injury severity score, spinal cord injury, and FIM upon RF admission. Delays in transfer to an RF negatively affect patient functional outcomes. Studies to identify factors affecting delays in transfer from hospitals to RF should be conducted.
authors.affiliation: From the Akron General Medical Center (AGMC), Akron, Ohio (FFM, RAM, KLB, AS, AH); Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, Ohio (MM); and Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio (SH, ZY).
authors.forename: Farid F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Muakkassa
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Marley
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Billue
authors.forename: Mackenzie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marley
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horattas
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yetmar
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvator
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayek
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation