Research Paper : Evaluating the Duration of Hospitalization and Its Related Factors Among Stroke Patients

Background: Prolong hospitalization after a stroke is associated with increased cost, higher risk of complications, and adverse effects.  Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the length of stay and its related factors among stroke patients admitted to one of the educational and therapeutic centers in the north of Iran. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, 253 stroke patients admitted to an academic hospital affiliated to Guilan University of Medical Sciences were enrolled during 2016-2017. Their socio-demographic characteristics and medical records associated with their admission were collected. A linear regression model was used to estimate the adjusted risk factors in predicting the duration of hospitalization in SPSS 21. Results: The Mean±SD duration of hospitalization in stroke patients was 5.6±2.1 days (range 2-12 days). The multivariate regression model indicated that the unemployed versus the self-employed subjects (β=0.74), hemorrhagic versus the ischemic stroke (β=0.84), strokes with moderate volume (β=0.61) and large volume (β=1.22) compared to small volume, infectious complications, and certain physicians had an independent and significant association with increased duration of hospital stay. Conclusion: Assessing the duration of hospitalization and identifying its potential predictors can be useful in the proper use of the resources and discharge of patients with stroke.