http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23570664

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2013 Apr 6. pii: S2212-4403(13)00047-3. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2013.01.019. [Epub ahead of print]

Nine-year trend analysis of hospitalizations attributed to oral and oropharyngeal cancers in the United States.

Lee MK, Dodson TB, Nalliah RP, Karimbux NY, Allareddy V.

Source

Advanced Graduate Education Resident, Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Electronic address: minkyeong_lee@hsdm.harvard.edu.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

This study examines 9-year discharge patterns and changes in outcomes in oral cancer hospitalizations in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN:

All hospitalizations with primary diagnosis of oral and oropharyngeal cancers were selected from 2000 to 2008 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Association between outcomes (in-hospital mortality, length of stay [LOS], hospital charges, and discharge status) and independent variables was examined using multivariable regression analyses.

RESULTS:

Of 146,928 hospitalizations, 5310 died in hospitals. Mean LOS was 6.7 days. Mean hospitalization charges ranged from $47,331 to $62,885. After adjusting for confounders, in-hospital morality and charges did not vary while LOS decreased. Hospitalizations occurring in 2004-2008 were more likely to be discharged to long-term facilities (odds ratio = 1.24-1.59, P < .05) compared with those in 2000.

CONCLUSION:

Our study demonstrates changes in longitudinal trends in socio-demographic and hospital-related factors. Our results do not provide compelling evidence on whether hospitals are saving cost or shifting cost to another type of facility.