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Am J Perinatol 2016; 33(08): 751-757
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1572433
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Estimating Length of Stay by Patient Type in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Henry C. Lee
1   Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California
2   California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, California
,
Mihoko V. Bennett
1   Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California
2   California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, California
,
Joseph Schulman
3   California Department of Health Care Services, Sacramento, California
,
Jeffrey B. Gould
1   Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California
2   California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, California
,
Jochen Profit
1   Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California
2   California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, California
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

29 August 2015

08 January 2016

Publication Date:
18 February 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Objective Develop length of stay prediction models for neonatal intensive care unit patients.

Study Design We used data from 2008 to 2010 to construct length of stay models for neonates admitted within 1 day of age to neonatal intensive care units and surviving to discharge home.

Results Our sample included 23,551 patients. Median length of stay was 79 days when birth weight was < 1,000 g, 46 days for 1,000 to 1,500 g, 21 days for 1,500 to 2,500 g, and 8 days for ≥2,500 g. Risk factors for longer length of stay varied by weight. Units with shorter length of stay for one weight group had shorter lengths of stay for other groups.

Conclusion Risk models for comparative assessments of length of stay need to appropriately account for weight, particularly considering the cutoff of 1,500 g. Refining prediction may benefit counseling of families and health care systems to efficiently allocate resources.

Keywords

length of stay - neonatal intensive care unit - very low birth weight - extremely low birth weight
 

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