PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

The relation of body weight to length of stay and charges for hospital services for patients undergoing elective surgery: A study of two procedures

American Journal of Public Health, ISSN: 0090-0036, Vol: 77, Issue: 8, Page: 993-997
1987
  • 76
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 36
    Captures
  • 1
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

Most Recent Blog

Hello, I'm Your Doctor--Please Go Home

We need to get patients out of the hospital as quickly as possible if we want them to heal -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Article Description

We studied the relation of body weight to lengths of stay and total charges for all patients hospitalized at the Brigham and Women's Hospital for total knee replacement and total hip replacement during a 12-month period. Patients with moderate obesity (actual body weight 141-170 per cent of ideal) had lengths of stay and total charges similar to normal weight patients (body weight 100-110 per cent ideal). However, patients who were extremely overweight (body weight ≥188 per cent ideal) had mean lengths of stay 35 per cent longer (28.9 days vs 21.5) and total charges 30 per cent higher ($25,692 vs $19,576) than patients with normal weight. Those who were extremely underweight (body weight ≥75 per cent ideal) had mean lengths of stay 40 per cent longer (30.1 days vs 21.5) and total charges 35 per cent higher ($26,447 vs $19,576).

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know