Hospital and Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay for Injury Admissions: A Pan-Canadian Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the variation in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) for injury admissions across Canadian provinces and to evaluate the relative contribution of patient case mix and treatment-related factors (intensity of care, complications, and discharge delays) to explaining observed variations. BACKGROUND: Identifying unjustified interprovider variations in resource use and the determinants of such variations is an important step towards optimizing health care. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study on admissions for major trauma (injury severity score >12) to level I and II trauma centers across Canada (2006-2012). We used data from the Canadian National Trauma Registry linked to hospital discharge data to compare risk-adjusted hospital and ICU LOS across provinces. RESULTS: Risk-adjusted hospital LOS was shortest in Ontario (10.0 days) and longest in Newfoundland and Labrador (16.1 days; P < 0.001). Risk-adjusted ICU LOS was shortest in Québec (4.4 days) and longest in Alberta (6.1 days; P < 0.001). Patient case-mix explained 32% and 8% of interhospital variations in hospital and ICU LOS, respectively, whereas treatment-related factors explained 63% and 22%. CONCLUSIONS: We observed significant variation in risk-adjusted hospital and ICU LOS across trauma systems in Canada. Provider ranks on hospital LOS were not related to those observed for ICU LOS. Treatment-related factors explained more interhospital variation in LOS than patient case-mix. Results suggest that interventions targeting reductions in low-value procedures, prevention of adverse events, and better discharge planning may be most effective for optimizing LOS for injury admissions.

Trends in Injury Outcomes Across Canadian Trauma Systems.

Importance: In response to the burden of injury, the structure of injury care has changed considerably across Canada in the past decade. However, little is known about how patient outcomes have evolved. Objective: To evaluate trends in mortality, hospital length of stay, and unplanned readmission in Canadian trauma systems between 2006 and 2012. Design, Setting, and Participants: A pan-Canadian retrospective cohort study was conducted among adults admitted for major injury to a Canadian level I or II trauma center between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2012. Data analysis was conducted from April 15 to December 3, 2015. Exposures: Trauma centers and systems. Main Outcomes and Measures: Multilevel generalized linear models were used to evaluate trends in the risk-adjusted incidence of mortality and readmission and risk-adjusted mean length of stay. Trend analyses were conducted globally and by province. Results: Among 78 807 patients (mean [SD] age, 50.7 [22.0] years; 22 540 women and 56 267 men) admitted for major injury during the study period, risk-adjusted mortality decreased from 12.1% (95% CI, 9%-16.1%) to 9.9% (95% CI, 7.4%-13.3%; P < .001) and mean length of hospital stay decreased from 11.6 (95% CI, 9.9-13.6) to 10.6 (95% CI, 9.1-12.5) days (P < .001). Statistically significant reductions in mortality were observed for Ontario (12% [95% CI, 10.7%-13.6%] to 8% [95% CI, 6.9%-9.2%]; P < .001), Alberta (12% [95% CI, 10%-14.3%] to 9.1% [95% CI, 7.7%-10.8%]; P = .02), and Manitoba (13% [95% CI, 9.1%-18.4%] to 11.1% [95% CI, 8.3%-14.7%]; P = .04). Risk-adjusted hospital stay decreased significantly in Québec (11.6 [95% CI, 11.1-12] to 9.1 [95% CI, 8.9-9.5] days; P < .001), British Columbia (12.5 [95% CI, 12-13.1] to 11.4 [10.9-11.9] days; P < .001), and Ontario (10.1 [95% CI, 9.8-10.4] to 9.8 [95% CI, 9.5-10.1] days; P < .001). No change in the incidence of readmission was observed. Conclusions and Relevance: We observed an 18.2% relative decrease in risk-adjusted mortality in Canadian trauma centers during the study period, representing 248 additional lives saved in 2012 vs 2006. Risk-adjusted mean hospital stay decreased by 8.6%, representing nearly 10 000 hospital days saved. A better understanding of the structures and processes behind observed improvements is needed to further reduce the burden of injury in Canada.