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Hospital charges and length of stay associated with septicemia among children hospitalized for leukemia treatment in the United States

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Abstract

Background

This study examines hospital charges and length of stay (LOS) associated with septicemia during hospitalization for leukemia treatment among children aged ≤18 years.

Methods

Nationwide Inpatient Sample (year 2008) was used. All hospitalizations (regardless of their discharge status following hospitalization) among children aged ≤18 years with a primary diagnosis of leukemia were selected. Leukemia was identified using ICD-9-CM codes in the primary diagnosis field. The presence of septicemia during hospitalization was identified using ICD-9-CM codes in the secondary diagnosis fi eld. Multivariable linear regression analyses were made to examine the effect of septicemia on hospitalization charges and LOS.

Results

Totally 6220 hospitalizations were attributed to leukemia treatment. Among these, 787 had septicemia. The mean hospitalization charge for those with septicemia was $279 137 and for those without septicemia was $113 530. The average LOS for those with septicemia was 33.18 days while the LOS for those without septicemia was 13.79 days. Septicemia was associated with increased hospitalization charges and a prolonged duration of stay in hospital after adjustments for confounders (P<0.0001).

Conclusions

Septicemia is associated with adverse outcomes among children hospitalized for leukemia treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Critical Care and Pharmacology, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Cleveland, USA

    Veerajalandhar Allareddy

  2. Nance College of Business Administration, Cleveland State University, Ohio, USA

    Sankeerth Rampa

  3. Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, USA

    Veerasathpurush Allareddy

  4. Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Veerasathpurush Allareddy

Authors
  1. Veerajalandhar Allareddy
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  2. Sankeerth Rampa
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  3. Veerasathpurush Allareddy
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Correspondence to Veerasathpurush Allareddy.

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Allareddy, V., Rampa, S. & Allareddy, V. Hospital charges and length of stay associated with septicemia among children hospitalized for leukemia treatment in the United States. World J Pediatr 8, 222–228 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-012-0361-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-012-0361-5

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