Effects of a Diagnosis-Related Group Payment Reform on Length and Costs of Hospitalization in Sichuan, China: A Synthetic Control Study.

Background: Diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment policies are increasingly recognized as crucial instruments for addressing health care overprovision and escalating health care costs. The synthetic control method (SCM) has emerged as a robust tool for evaluating the efficacy of health policies worldwide. Methods: This study focused on Panzhihua city in Sichuan Province, a pilot city for DRG payment reform implementation, serving as the treatment group. In contrast, 20 nonpilot cities within the province were utilized as potential control units. A counterfactual control group was constructed to evaluate the changes in average inpatient stay duration and health care organization costs following the DRG payment reform initiated in 2018. Results: Focusing on Panzhihua, Sichuan Province, the analysis reveals that following the reform in March 2018, the average length of hospital stay in Panzhihua decreased by 1.35 days during 2019-2021. Additionally, the average cost per hospitalization dropped by 855.48 RMB, the average cost of medication per hospitalization decreased by 68.51 RMB, and the average cost of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures per hospitalization declined by 136.37 RMB. While global evidence backs DRGs for efficiency and cost reduction, challenges persist in addressing emerging issues like new conditions. Conclusion: Since its introduction in 2018, the DRG payment reform in Sichuan Province has effectively reduced both the duration of hospital stays and the operational costs of health care facilities. However, potential drawbacks include compromised service quality and an elevated risk of patient readmission, indicating a need for further refinement in the implementation of DRG payment reforms in China.

Evaluation of the clinical relevant effect of hospital-wide blood glucose management in perioperative cholelithiasis patients with type 2 diabetes / 中华临床营养杂志

Objective:To evaluate the clinical relevant effect of hospital-wide blood glucose management in perioperative cholelithiasis patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:The subjects of the study were patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with cholelithiasis who were treated at the Baiqiu'en Hospital in Shanxi from September 2022 to October 2023. The patients were divided into hospital-wide blood sugar management group and conventional treatment group, according to different blood glucose management they received. The differences in preoperative blood glucose control, length of stay, postoperative complications, and hospitalization expenses between the two groups were compared.Results:Compare based on the median (quartiles) of the observed indicators, patients with cholelithiasis who underwent hospital-wide blood glucose management based on insulin pumps had a higher proportion of time in range [72.00(70.21, 82.90)% vs. 64.80 (61.55,70.50)%, P<0.001)], lower average blood glucose level [9.00 (8.55, 10.44) mmol/L vs. 11.50 (10.50, 12.50) mmol/L, P<0.001], and shorter hospital stay [8.00 (7.00,13.00) days vs. 10.00 (8.00, 12.00) ) days, P<0.05]. Moreover, the incidence of postoperative complications was lower [5(11.11)% vs. 15(33.33)%, P<0.05], and hospitalization expenses were lower [16 535.34 (14 271.44, 29 569.23) yuan vs. 18 633.85 (17 482.66) yuan , 22 855.02) yuan, P<0.05] in patients who received hospital-wide blood glucose management. Conclusion:Hospital-wide blood glucose management based on insulin pumps showed favorable effects in the perioperative clinical application in cholelithiasis patients with type 2 diabetes, and could contribute to shortening the average length of stay, reducing hospitalization costs, and reducing postoperative complications.

Impact of hyperkalemia on hospitalization days in advanced chronic kidney disease patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus: A prospective study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the impact of hyperkalemia at admission on hospitalization days (HDs) among advanced chronic kidney disease patients (CKD) with type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China. Methods: A total of 270 CKD patients with T2DM were prospectively selected from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021. These patients were divided into Group-A (n = 150, serum potassium ≤ 5.5 mmol/L) and B (n = 120, serum potassium > 5.5 mmol/L). The comparison method between the two groups was taken. Linear correlation analysis was performed using the Spearman correlation method, and multivariate analysis was tested using linear regression. Results: The study found statistically significant result between the two groups (Group-A vs Group-B): HDs (7.4 (5.3-11.2) vs 12.1 (8.2-16.5), p < 0.001), renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASIs) (36.2% vs 55.8%, p = 0.014), systolic blood pressure (148.35 ± 19.51 vs 162.26 ± 21.31, p < 0.05), estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) (20.35) (18.31-25.26) vs13.4 (12.50-18.50), p < 0.001, N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (2245.42 ± 61.09 vs 3163.39 ± 85.15,p < 0.001), and Hb (88.45 ± 12.35 vs 72.26 ± 14.2, p = 0.023). Correlation analysis showed that HDs were positively correlated with age, serum potassium, systolic blood pressure, and NT-proBNP, while negatively with eGFR and Hb. After adjusting for relevant confounding variables, the multivariable linear regression analysis showed that hyperkalemia was an independent risk factor for HDs. Conclusions: Hyperkalemia could be an independent risk factor increasing HDs of advanced CKD patients with T2DM.

Intrauterine Growth Restriction-Prediction and Peripartum Data on Hospital Care.

Background and Objectives: We aimed to prospectively obtain data on pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in the Prenatal Diagnosis Unit of the Emergency County Hospital of Craiova. We collected the demographic data of mothers, the prenatal ultrasound (US) features, the intrapartum data, and the immediate postnatal data of newborns. We aimed to assess the detection rates of IUGR fetuses (the performance of the US in estimating the actual neonatal birth weight), to describe the prenatal care pattern in our unit, and to establish predictors for the number of total hospitalization days needed postnatally. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from cases diagnosed with IUGR undergoing prenatal care in our hospital. We compared the percentile of estimated fetal weight (EFW) using the Hadlock 4 technique with the percentile of weight at birth. We retrospectively performed a regression analysis to correlate the variables predicting the number of hospitalization days. Results: Data on 111 women were processed during the period of 1 September 2019-1 September 2022. We confirmed the significant differences in US features between early- (Eo) and late-onset (Lo) IUGR cases. The detection rates were higher if the EFW was lower, and Eo-IUGR was associated with a higher number of US scans. We obtained a mathematical formula for estimating the total number of hospitalization days needed postnatally. Conclusion: Early- and late-onset IUGR have different US features prenatally and different postnatal outcomes. If the US EFW percentile is lower, a prenatal diagnosis is more likely to be made, and a closer follow-up is offered in our hospital. The total number of hospitalization days may be predicted using intrapartum and immediate postnatal data in both groups, having the potential to optimize the final financial costs and to organize the neonatal department efficiently.

The Effect of Warfarin Use on Postoperative Outcomes after Femoral Neck Surgery.

Introduction: Anticoagulation use in the elderly is common for patients undergoing femoral neck hip surgery. However, its use presents a challenge to balance it with associated comorbidities and benefits for the patients. As such, we attempted to compare the risk factors, perioperative outcomes, and postoperative outcomes of patients who used warfarin preoperatively and patients who used therapeutic enoxaparin. Methods: From 2003 through 2014, we queried our database to determine the cohorts of patients who used warfarin preoperatively and the patients who used therapeutic enoxaparin. Risk factors included age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI) > 30, Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Chronic Heart Failure (CHF), and Chronic Renal Failure (CRF). Postoperative outcomes were also collected at each of the patients' follow-up visits, including number of hospitalization days, delays to theatre, and mortality rate. Results: The minimum follow-up was 24 months and the average follow-up was 39 months (range: 24-60 months). In the warfarin cohort, there were 140 patients and 2055 patients in the therapeutic enoxaparin cohort. Number of hospitalization days (8.7 vs. 9.8, p = 0.02), mortality rate (58.7% vs. 71.4%, p = 0.003), and delays to theatre (1.70 vs. 2.86, p < 0.0001) were significantly longer for the anticoagulant cohort than the therapeutic enoxaparin cohort. Warfarin use best predicted number of hospitalization days (p = 0.00) and delays to theatre (p = 0.01), while CHF was the best predictor of mortality rate (p = 0.00). Postoperative complications, such as Pulmonary Embolism (PE) (p = 0.90), Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) (p = 0.31), and Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA) (p = 0.72), pain levels (p = 0.95), full weight-bearing status (p = 0.08), and rehabilitation use (p = 0.34) were similar between the cohorts. Conclusion: Warfarin use is associated with increased number of hospitalization days and delays to theatre, but does not affect the postoperative outcome, including DVT, CVA, and pain levels compared to therapeutic enoxaparin use. Warfarin use proved to be the best predictor of hospitalization days and delays to theatre while CHF predicted mortality rate.

Relapse prevention through health technology program reduces hospitalization in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric hospitalization is a major driver of cost in the treatment of schizophrenia. Here, we asked whether a technology-enhanced approach to relapse prevention could reduce days spent in a hospital after discharge. METHODS: The Improving Care and Reducing Cost (ICRC) study was a quasi-experimental clinical trial in outpatients with schizophrenia conducted between 26 February 2013 and 17 April 2015 at 10 different sites in the USA in an outpatient setting. Patients were between 18 and 60 years old with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychotic disorder not otherwise specified. Patients received usual care or a technology-enhanced relapse prevention program during a 6-month period after discharge. The health technology program included in-person, individualized relapse prevention planning with treatments delivered via smartphones and computers, as well as a web-based prescriber decision support program. The main outcome measure was days spent in a psychiatric hospital during 6 months after discharge. RESULTS: The study included 462 patients, of which 438 had complete baseline data and were thus used for propensity matching and analysis. Control participants (N = 89; 37 females) were enrolled first and received usual care for relapse prevention followed by 349 participants (128 females) who received technology-enhanced relapse prevention. During 6-month follow-up, 43% of control and 24% of intervention participants were hospitalized (χ2 = 11.76, p<0.001). Days of hospitalization were reduced by 5 days (mean days: b = -4.58, 95% CI -9.03 to -0.13, p = 0.044) in the intervention condition compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that technology-enhanced relapse prevention is an effective and feasible way to reduce rehospitalization days among patients with schizophrenia.

Characterizing social and policy determinants of hospital length of stay among paediatric inpatients with diabetes using linked population-based data.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is limited on the non-medical factors influencing hospital length of stay (LOS) among paediatric inpatients with diabetes, notably potential social and policy correlates. This study aimed to characterize the associations of socioeconomic status and health policy environment with diabetes-attributable LOS to help inform accountability monitoring of a provincial comprehensive diabetes strategy aiming to minimize time in hospital among this high-risk population. DATA AND METHODS: This retrospective population-based study drew on multiple linked administrative and geospatial databases among all children aged 18 and under with a diabetes-related hospitalization in the province of New Brunswick, Canada, during the four-year period following implementation of an insulin pump funding program. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the role of access to the public insulin pump resourcing scheme and relative neighbourhood deprivation as predictors of days spent in acute care, controlling for age, sex, and place of residence. RESULTS: Among the paediatric inpatient population (N = 386), 21% had accessed social resources made available through the insulin pump funding policy and 42% resided in the most materially deprived neighbourhoods. Diabetes-related hospital stays averaged 3.87 days. Paediatric inpatients having accessed resources through the social insurance policy spent significantly fewer days in hospital (1.34 days less [95% CI: 0.63-2.05]) than those who had not, all else being equal. Observed differences in LOS by neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation were not found to be statistically significant in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Findings from this context of universal medical coverage suggested that public policy for supplemental financing of assistive technologies among children with diabetes may be associated with reduced burden to the hospital system. The causes of socioenvironmental disparities in LOS require further investigation to inform interventions to mitigate preventable patient-level variations in hospital-based health outcomes.

Evaluation study on the appropriateness of hospitalization days at a tertiary hospital / 中华医院管理杂志

Objective To evaluate the appropriateness of hospitalization days at a tertiary hospital in 2014 by means of the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol ( AEP ) , and to analyze the causes of inappropriate stays. Methods Medical records of inpatients admitted at a tertiary hospital in 2014 were randomly selected. AEP( US version) was used to evaluate the appropriateness of every hospitalization day, while the causes of inappropriate hospitalization day were also analyzed. Results A total of 1 641 days of stay from 148 medical records were reviewed, and 129 days of stay (7. 9%) were seen as inappropriate. Two major factors for inappropriate stays were waiting for surgery and waiting for test, roughly 89. 1% of the inappropriate hospitalization days. The proportion of inappropriate hospital stays reduced to 4. 8% after adjustment of two-day weekend. Inappropriate hospital stays mostly appeared during the second day to the eighth day after admission(93. 8%). Logistic analysis results showed that with concomitant symptoms, preoperative waiting days > 5 days, high level surgery, non-emergency admission were significantly associated with appropriateness of hospital stays (P<0. 05). Conclusions The rate of inappropriate stays will be reduced and the quality of medical services will be improved if comprehensive measures could be carried out according to the causes of inappropriate stays.

Peritoneal dialysis in patients with refractory congestive heart failure: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Refractory congestive heart failure (RCHF) is associated with a high mortality rate and is a major contributor to hospital admissions. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an option to control volume overload and perhaps improve outcomes in this challenging patient population. The aim of this systematic review is to describe the relative risk-benefit ratio based on data reported regarding the use of PD in RCHF. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. An electronic search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was performed to identify relevant studies published from January 1951 to February 2014. Eligible studies selected were prospective or retrospective adult population studies on PD in the setting of RCHF. The following clinical outcomes were used to assess PD therapy: (1) hospitalization rates; (2) heart function; (3) renal function; (4) fluid overload, and (5) adverse clinical outcomes. SUMMARY: Of 864 citations, we excluded 843 citations and included 21 studies (n = 673 patients). After PD, hospitalization days declined significantly (p = 0.0001), and heart function improved significantly (left ventricular ejection fraction: p = 0.0013; New York Heart Association classification: p = 0.0000). There were no statistically significant differences in glomerular filtration rate after PD treatment in non-chronic kidney disease stage 5D patients (p = 0.1065). Among patients treated with PD, body weight decreased significantly (p = 0.0006). The yearly average peritonitis rate was 14.5%, and the average yearly mortality was 20.3%. KEY MESSAGES: This systematic review suggests that PD may be an effective and safe therapeutic tool for patients with RCHF.

Assessment application of the modified CURB-65 score for emergency community-acquired pneumonia / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical application value of modified CURB-65 score for assessing severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in emergency patients.Methods During the period from May 2011 to May 2012,198 emergency patients with CAP enrolled in this study were evaluated by CURB-65 score and modified CURB-65 score,respectively.Based on the severity of CAP,patients were divided into mild pneumonia group (Group A,n =107) and severe pneumonia group (Group B,n =91).The clinical status and biomarkers (the white blood cell count,procalcitonin,pneumonia severity index,hospitalization days,and hospitalization expenses) were recorded and compared with t test.Group B was divided into survived-subgroup (n =62) and death-subgroup (n =29).The differences in CURB-65 score and modified CURB-65 scere between the two groups were compared with t test.The correlation of CURB-65 score and modified CURB-65 score with procalcitonin,pneumonia severity index,hospitalization days,and hospitalization expenses were determined with Pearson rank correlation method.Results The procalcitonin,pneumonia severity index,hospitalization days,hospitalization expenses,modified CURB-65 score and CURB-65 score in Group B were significantly higher than those in Group A [(3.70 ± 0.83) vs.(1.27±0.24),t=28.91,P＜0.01; (121.33±16.74) vs.(73.79±9.21),t=25.23,P＜0.01;(25.79±10.13) vs.(14.85 ±6.83),t=9.02,P＜0.01; (22.71 ±3.84) vs.(9.83 ±1.24),t=32.76,P＜0.01; (3.69±1.03) vs.(3.32±1.06),t=2.48,P＜0.05; (4.21±1.13) vs.(3.41±0.96),t =5.39,P＜0.01],while no significant difference was observed in the white blood cell count between GroupA and B (17.58 ±5.99 vs.16.86±4.41,t =0.97,P＞0.05).For Group B,the modified CURB-65 score of death-subgroup was significantly higher than that of survived-subgroup [(4.75± ± 1.17) vs.(4.01 ± 1.09),t =2.95,P ＜ 0.01],whilc no significant difference was observed in the CURB-65 score between the death-subgroup and survived-subgroup (4.01 ± 1.15 vs.3.58 ±0.97,t =1.86,P ＞ 0.05).The CURB-65 score positive correlated with the procalcitonin (r =-0.803,P =0.025),and had no obvious correlation with the pneumonia severity index,hospitalization days,and hospitalization expenses (r=0.621,P=0.320; r=0.701,P=0.231; r=0.675,P=0.256); The modified CURB-65 score significantly positively correlated with the procalcitonin,pneumonia severity index,hospitalization days,and hospitalization expenses (r =0.951,P =0.003 ; r =0.965,P =0.002 ; r =0.947,P =0.004 ; r =0.961,P =0.002).Conclusions Compared with the CURB-65 score,the modified CURB-65 score is more efficient in evaluating the severity and prognoses of CAP for emergency patients.

The effect of innovative hands-poised method on delivery and neonatal outcomes and health service utility / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of the two methods of delivery,hands-on vs.handspoised,on maternal and neonatal outcomes and health service utility during vaginal delivery.Methods 218 primiparous pregnant women admitted from January to May 2013 were randomly assigned to the control group,who adopted two hands-on or traditional method (108 cases) and the intervention group who chose hand-poised method (110 cases).The delivery outcomes and medical resource utilization were compared between two groups.Results The rate of perineal trauma,postpartum hemorrhage and edema was significantly lower in the intervention group compared with that of the control group.No significant difference in neonatal outcome was observed between the two groups.The second stage duration of the intervention group was longer but the whole hospital duration and costs was significantly lower than those of the control group.Conclusions Our data suggest that a policy of hands-poised care is a safe and effective birthing alternative and could improve delivery outcome and reduce hospitalization days and costs.

A case-control study about multi-disciplinary management for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage treated with clipping surgery / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To explore the effect of multi-disciplinary management for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage treated with clipping surgery. Methods 123 subjects admitted to hospital in April 2005 to March 2007 and received traditional management were named as the control group.62 subjects in the control group who admitted to neurology department first and then transferred to neurosurgery when diagnosed as aSAH by DSA were named as the transfer group. 61 subjects who admitted to neurosurgery directly and diagnosed as aSAH by DSA were named as the surgery group. 101 subjects who received multidisciplinary management from April 2007 to March 2009 were named as the experimental group. The waiting time before DSA, waiting time before surgery, hospital stay and hospitalization costs were compared between the three groups. Results Compared with the transfer group and the surgery group, the experimental group was lower in waiting time before DSA, waiting time before surgery, hospital stay and hospitalization costs, but there is no significant difference between the three groups in postoperative neurological function score and incidence rate of complications. The mortality rate was not significantly higher in the experimental group than the transfer group, but was significantly lower than the surgery group. Conclusions Multi-disciplinary management can reduce the "inappropriate hospital stay" of aSAH patients for early surgery. It can reduce the average hospital stay, hospital cost, in order to reduce the burden on families and society.