Abstract:
Background: Stroke is a major cause of long-term physical disabilities, negatively impacting an individual's quality of life. Prolonged length of stay following stroke inflates health care costs, increases risk for hospital-acquired complications, and in-hospital death and has been associated with worse outcomes. Addressing the factors that determine the hospital stay improve the treatment outcome, minimize health costs, increase bed turnover of the hospital and improve patient satisfaction
Objective: The main objective of this study is to assess the magnitude of prolonged length of hospital stay and associated factors among hospitalized stroke patients at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College from September 2021-November 2023.
Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the internal medicine department at Yekatit 12 Memorial Hospital. Descriptive analysis is presented in frequency tables, graphs, and charts. Bivariable and multivariable analysis was performed to assess the association between the independent variable and the dependent variable. The association declared at a significant level of p < 0.05.
Result: Among the total of 521 patients 29.4% (95% CI,25.1-33.4) had prolonged length of hospital stays aged between 45-65 yrs. (AOR:0.47; 95%CI: 0.25,0.86) Age 66 and above (AOR:0.39 95%CI: 0.22, 0.70), stroke-associated pneumonia (AOR: 1.82; 95%CI: 1.15, 2.87), UTI,(AOR: 2.27 95% CI: 1.12, 4.61) and electrolyte abnormality (AOR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.46, 3.65) significantly associated with prolonged length of hospital stays.
Conclusion and Recommendation: nearly one-third of the stroke patients had prolonged length of hospital stays. By anticipating and applying early prevention measures for stroke-associated pneumonia, urinary tract infection and electrolyte abnormalities we can shorten the length of stay, improve the health out come and maximize patient satisfaction
............. Thesis available at ACIPH Library