The length of stay for hospitalized patients with dementia in Fukuoka Prefecture:A cross-sectional study

Abstract

The lengths of stay for hospitalized patients with dementia are long and have increased remarkably. However, the lengths of stay of hospitalized patients with dementia have not been quantified by types of beds or districts. The purpose of the study was to identify differences in the length of hospitalization of patients with dementia by secondary healthcare area according to types of hospital beds in Fukuoka Prefecture. We analyzed electronic medical claim data of the Fukuoka National Health Insurance Organization on hospitalized patients diagnosed with dementia from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010. We examined the total length of hospitalization by secondary healthcare area according to types of hospital beds including general beds, psychiatric beds and long-term care beds. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship of the total length of hospital stay with sex, age and secondary healthcare area using multiple regression analyses. There were significant differences in the total length of hospitalization of patients with dementia by secondary healthcare area according to types of hospital beds. Among secondary healthcare areas, both psychiatric beds and long-term care beds had longer lengths of stay, although there was no significant difference in lengths of stay for general beds. Significantly longer lengths of hospitalization occurred for the Iizuka and Kitakyushu areas in psychiatric beds, and for the Iizuka, Kurume, and Keichiku areas in long-term care beds. A comprehensive district care system should be created to care for patients with dementia where they have had long lengths of hospitalization.