Differences in length of stay and costs between comparable hospitalizations of patients with spina bifida with or without pressure injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate differences in the length of stay and costs for comparable hospitalizations of patients with spina bifida (SB) with and without pressure injuries.

DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study.

SETTING: Nationwide Inpatient Sample from years 2010 to 2014.

PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalized patients with SB. Hospitalizations among patients with SB and pressure injuries (n=3888) were matched to hospitalizations among patients with SB but without pressure injuries (n=3888).

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in length of stay and total costs between the two groups.

RESULTS: After successful matching, multivariate modelling of costs and length of stay on matched sample showed that hospitalizations with pressure injuries had an increased 1.2 inpatient days and excess average costs of $1,182.

CONCLUSIONS: The estimated average cost of hospitalization increased by 10%, and the estimated average length of stay increased by 24% in the presence of pressure injuries among hospitalized patients with SB, compared with their peers without these injuries. These results highlight the substantial morbidity associated with pressure injuries, which are potentially preventable before or during hospitalizations among persons with SB.