title: Determinants of aggregate length of hospital stay in the last year of life in Switzerland.
abstract: In contrast to individual preferences, most people in developed countries die in health care institutions, with a considerable impact on health care resource use and costs. However, evidence about determinants of aggregate length of hospital stay in the last year preceding death is scant.
  
  
  
  Nationwide individual patient data from Swiss hospital discharge statistics were linked with census and mortality records from the Swiss National Cohort. We explored determinants of aggregate length of hospital stay in the last year of life in N = 35,598 inpatients ≥65 years who deceased in 2007 or 2008.
  
  
  
  The average aggregate length of hospital stay in the last year of life was substantially longer in the German speaking region compared to the French (IRR 1.36 [95 % CI 1.32-1.40]) and Italian (IRR 1.22 [95 % CI 1.16-1.29]) speaking region of the country. Increasing age, female sex, multimorbidity, being divorced, foreign nationality, and high educational level prolonged, whereas home ownership shortened the aggregate length of hospital stay. Individuals with complementary private health insurance plans had longer stays than those with compulsory health insurance plans (IRR 1.04 [95 % CI 1.01-1.07]).
  
  
  
  The aggregate length of hospital stay during the last year of life was substantially determined by regional and socio-demographic characteristics, and only partially explained by differential health conditions. Therefore, more detailed studies need to evaluate, whether these differences are based on patients' health care needs and preferences, or whether they are supply-driven.
authors: Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, CH-8001, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Damian
authors: D
authors: Hedinger
authors: Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, CH-8001, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Braun
authors: Hospital of Muri, Muri, Switzerland.
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Kaplan
authors: Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, CH-8001, Zürich, Switzerland. Matthias.Bopp@uzh.ch.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Bopp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013557:Switzerland; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: End-of-life; ICU; Inpatient care; Length of hospital stay; Regional variation; Socio-demographic determinants