Why the study?
Does shorter length of stay worsen outcomes in patients hospitalized for medical and surgical conditions?
Population
2484 selected patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction or to rule out acute myocardial…
Comparison
Shorter length of stay vs Longer length of stay
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
3 to 12 months after hospital discharge
Authors
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Shorter stays appear safe after adjustment; leaves open causality and needs randomized confirmation before practice change.
Does shorter length of stay worsen outcomes in patients hospitalized for medical and surgical conditions?
Variations in length of stay across institutions do not significantly impact mortality, functional status, readmission, or patient satisfaction after adjusting for case-mix.
Paul D. Cleary (1991) studied this question.