K.J. Harjai, A.C. Cameron, M. Shah and D. Stapleton

"Length of Hospital Stay in Patients with Decompensated Heart Failure from Moderate to Severe Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction "

American Journal of Cardiology, 2001, Vol. 88(8), pp.909-911.

This paper applies Poisson and negative binomial models for number of days in hospital to data on 155 subjects with left ventricular ejection fraction (<= 30%) hospitalized for heart failure. An initial BUN >30 mg/dl, use of intravenous inotropic therapy during hospitalization, and presence of AFIB on the initial electrocardiogram are incrementally associated with increased length of hospitalization. These findings may help to prospectively identify patients at risk for prolonged hospitalizations.