Correlation between severity, independence, time, and hospitalization costs in stroke

Introduction. The evolution in the treatment of stroke has led to a decrease in mortality rates, but the number of hospitalizations and related healthcare costs have increased over the years. Objective. To analyze the profile of patients admitted to reference or backup hospitals for stroke care in Brazil, correlating stroke severity and disability level with length and costs of hospitalization. Method. Data were extracted from a multicenter Brazilian registry from three reference or backup hospitals for stroke care in Brazil. Data on stroke severity (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale - NIHSS), disability level (modified Rankin Scale - mRS), as well as hospitalization time and costs were analyzed. The data were presented using mean, standard deviation, and median in a descriptive analysis. Correlation between NIHSS and mRS values with hospitalization time and costs was analyzed using the Spearman correlation test. Results. The sample consisted of 783 patients, predominantly men (52.20%), elderly (mean age of 70.5 years), with moderate stroke severity (NIHSS 5-15) and mild disabilities at discharge (mRS 2). The average hospitalization time was 9.9±17.8 days with an average cost of R$10,140.14±18,188.59. Conclusion. This study showed that patients with greater stroke severity and greater disability at discharge tend to have longer hospital stays and higher costs for the hospital.