Investigating factors affecting the length of stay of hospitalized patients in hospitals in the face of emerging epidemics - Payesh (Health Monitor)
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Volume 25, Issue 2 (March-April 2026)                   Payesh 2026, 25(2): 187-200 | Back to browse issues page

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Mousavi S M, Zaboli R, Bahariniya S, Bahadori M K, Mehdizadeh P, Delavari A. Investigating factors affecting the length of stay of hospitalized patients in hospitals in the face of emerging epidemics. Payesh 2026; 25 (2) :187-200
URL: http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-2701-en.html
1- Department of Health management and economics, Health Policy and Management Research Center, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
2- Health Management Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Healthcare Services Management, School of Health Management & Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:   (70 Views)
Objective(s): Optimizing patient length of stay (LOS) in inpatient wards is a key strategy for reducing hospital costs. By analyzing the duration of hospitalization and the factors influencing it among patients affected by emerging epidemics, it is possible to anticipate and undertake proper policies regarding special care bed allocation and prepare for future infectious disease outbreaks. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the length of stay among hospitalized patients during developing epidemics
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2020–2021 using medical records of COVID-19 patients admitted to Baqiyatullah Hospital. Data were collected with a researcher-designed checklist covering 47 variables across six domains: demographic information, disease status, contact history, level of care, underlying diseases, and insurance status. The final sample included approximately 400 patients, and statistical analysis was performed using R software.
Results: The mean (SD) LOS and ICU LOS were 6.30 (4.45) and 6.63 (5.4) days, respectively. Patients who died had longer hospital stays. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed survival probabilities of 0.98, 0.90, and 0.66 at 5, 10, and 20 days, respectively. Factors positively associated with longer LOS included age, weight, ICU admission, pregnancy, admission CRP level, and histories of diabetes, hypertension, stroke, smoking, ischemic heart disease, malignancy, pulmonary diseases, and autoimmune diseases.
Conclusion: To reduce patient length of stay at the health system level, it is recommended that effective policy interventions be developed and implemented within the framework of comprehensive, efficient care packages.
 
Full-Text [PDF 1436 kb]   (42 Downloads)    
type of study: Descriptive | Subject: Helath Services Management
Received: 2024/10/22 | Accepted: 2025/09/22 | ePublished ahead of print: 2026/04/11 | Published: 2026/04/21

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