Table 3

Predictors of hospital length of stay (negative binomial analysis)

Potential predictorRate ratio (95% CI), p value
AGH (n=470)NRS (n=266)UHCW (n=775)
Demographic variables
Age (years)/5*1.01 (0.99 to 1.04), 0.2930.99 (0.98 to 1.01), 0.4251.06 (1.03 to 1.09),<0.001
Gender:
 Female
 Male†
0.96 (0.86 to 1.07), 0.4720.97 (0.89 to 1.06), 0.5331.15 (1.01 to 1.30), 0.029
Medical history
Number of comorbidities
 2–8
 ≤1†
1.16 (1.00 to 1.33), 0.0481.13 (1.03 to 1.23), 0.0070.97 (0.85 to 1.10), 0.617
Presenting patient characteristics
Breathlessness:
 At rest or minimal activity
 No to marked limitation†
0.98 (0.87 to 1.11), 0.7821.19 (1.07 to 1.33), 0.0021.29 (1.09 to 1.52), 0.003
Peripheral oedema:
 Severe
 Moderate
 Mild
 No†
0.81 (0.54 to 1.24), 0.333
1.05 (0.92 to 1.19), 0.495
0.96 (0.76 to 1.20), 0.716
1.13 (0.95 to 1.34), 0.157
0.89 (0.79 to 1.00), 0.047
0.88 (0.79 to 0.98), 0.019
1.79 (1.39 to 2.29), <0.001
1.20 (0.96 to 1.50), 0.101
1.02 (0.78 to 1.34), 0.874
Heart rate/5*1.02 (1.00 to 1.03), 0.0091.00 (0.99 to 1.01), 0.8931.00 (0.98 to 1.02), 0.985
Systolic blood pressure/5*0.99 (0.99 to 1.00), 0.1970.99 (0.99 to 1.00), 0.0970.98 (0.96 to 0.99), <0.001
Clinical and organisational care
Device therapy1.07 (0.92 to 1.25), 0.3570.98 (0.75 to 1.27), 0.8671.28 (1.04 to 1.57), 0.021
Main place of care:
 CCU/ICU
 ward†
1.27 (1.02 to 1.58), 0.0350.99 (0.90 to 1.09), 0.8731.15 (0.90 to 1.47), 0.275
Specialist:
 Cardiologist
 Specialist HF nurse
 Non-cardiologist†
0.79 (0.67 to 0.92), 0.002
N/A
1.03 (0.53 to 2.02), 0.924
N/A
1.35 (1.02 to 1.78), 0.035
2.15 (1.75 to 2.65), <0.001
  • *OR is per increase of five units.

  • †Reference category.

  • CCU, coronary care unit; HF, heart failure; ICU, intensive care unit; N/A, not available; UHCW, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire .