Determinants of Hospital Length of Stay among Burn Patients Using Quantile Regression

Burns is one of the most common and potentially dangerous public health problems. Burn patients' hospitalization facilitates the provision of medical services. However, prolonging the length of hospital stay can not only impose an economic burden, but also cause various infections in patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting hospitalization length in burn patients admitted to Sina Hospital as burn referral hospital in Northwest of Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, the medical records of burn patients, who were admitted to Sina Hospital in Tabriz during 2018, were included. Data collection was performed, using a goalbased researcher checklist. Data were analyzed, using Stata 16 software and through quantile regression modeling.

The total number of hospitalized burn patients was 1586 of whom 998 (62.3%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 25.5 ± 22.9 years. Burns occurred more often in summer (30.5%) and at home (n=1246, 78.6%). The median length of hospitalization was 8 days (95% CI: 7.34- 8.57). Single (P = 0.010) and illiterate patients (P = 0.022) had a longer hospitalization length. The lower the Glasgow coma score at the beginning of hospitalization, the longer hospital stay seemed to grow (P = 0.034). Patients with burns on face (P = 0.037), head and neck (P <0.001) and back of the trunk (P = 0.031) had longer hospital stays, respectively.

Glasgow coma score, burns on the face, neck and back were identified as effective clinical signs on hospitalization length of stay amongst burn patients. Considering these symptoms in the triage of burn patients, providing quality treatment and care services to manage these symptoms can reduce the length of hospital stay and ultimately lead to a reduction in social and economic costs for patients and society.