Risk Factors for a Prolonged Length of Stay in Women Hospitalized for Preeclampsia in Texas

Abstract

Objectives. To identify correlates of a prolonged length of stay (PLOS) in women hospitalized for preeclampsia/eclampsia in Texas, USA. Methods: Statewide hospital data were obtained, and the records of women who were discharged in 2004 and/or 2005 with a principal discharge diagnosis of preeclampsia or eclampsia were extracted using ICD-9-CM codes. PLOS was defined as a stay greater than 5 days. Odds ratios (OR) for PLOS were calculated. Generalized estimating equations were used to account for a small group of women who were hospitalized multiple times during the study period for preeclampsia. A total of 21,203 records were analyzed. Results: The crude incidence of PLOS was 17.5%. Advancing maternal age was positively associated with PLOS: for every 10-year increase, there was a 20% increase in the odds of PLOS (adjusted OR = 1.20,95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13, 1.28). The strongest risk factor for PLOS was the presence of renal disease: adjusted OR 5.81 (95% CI: 3.97, 8.50). Protective factors included Medicaid beneficiary status, and being admitted from the emergency department. Conclusions: The strongest correlate of PLOS in a large cohort of women hospitalized for preeclampsia was the presence of renal disease.

Keywords:

• Preeclampsia
• Hospitalization
• Length of stay
• Kidney diseases
• Medicaid
• Hypertension

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Texas Hospital Inpatient Discharge Public Use and Research Use Data Files, years 2004 and 2005, from the Texas Department of State Health Services, Center for Health Statistics-THCIC, Austin, Texas, USA, were used in our analyses. This study was funded by a grant from the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Amarillo. The authors thank Ana Jimenez for her assistance in identifying relevant ICD-9-CM codes and Javier Palomino for his data management expertise.

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.