Variations in length of stay by temporal and geographical factors
| Variable | Number of admissions (%) | Median LOS (95% CI) | Mean LOS (95% CI) | Unadjusted HR (95% CI) | p | p For PH test | Adjusted HR* (95% CI) | p | p For PH test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial year | |||||||||
| 2005/2006 | 454 (18.8%) | 7 (6 to 7) | 11.54 (9.72 to 13.37) | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – |
| 2006/2007 | 447 (18.5%) | 6 (5 to 6) | 9.36 (8.13 to 10.60) | 1.15 (1 to 1.33) | 0.0570 | 0.8820 | 1.20 (1.04 to 1.39) | 0.0130 | 0.1484 |
| 2007/2008 | 535 (22.2%) | 6 (5 to 6) | 9.46 (7.98 to 10.93) | 1.18 (1.02 to 1.36) | 0.0220 | 0.8234 | 1.20 (1.04 to 1.39) | 0.0120 | 0.0933 |
| 2008/2009 | 522 (21.7%) | 6 (5 to 6) | 8.86 (7.79 to 9.92) | 1.20 (1.04 to 1.38) | 0.0100 | 0.8428 | 1.21 (1.05 to 1.39) | 0.0100 | 0.1602 |
| 2009/2010 | 452 (18.8%) | 6 (5 to 6) | 9.31 (7.96 to 10.66) | 1.19 (1.03 to 1.38) | 0.0210 | 0.7388 | 1.22 (1.05 to 1.42) | 0.0100 | 0.2928 |
| Total | 2410 (100%) | 6 (6 to 6) | 9.79 (9.09 to 10.50) | – | – | 0.9826 | – | – | – |
| Season | |||||||||
| April–July | 759 (31.5%) | 6 (5 to 6) | 9.98 (8.84 to 11.13) | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
| August–November | 733 (30.4%) | 6 (5 to 6) | 9.70 (8.54 to 10.85) | 1.01 (0.91 to 1.12) | 0.8330 | 0.6532 | 1.02 (0.91 to 1.13) | 0.7450 | 0.9698 |
| December–March | 918 (38.1%) | 6 (6 to 6) | 9.49 (8.44 to 10.55) | 1.02 (0.92 to 1.13) | 0.7040 | 0.3421 | 1.02 (0.93 to 1.13) | 0.6580 | 0.8366 |
| Total | 2410 (100%) | 6 (6 to 6) | 9.79 (9.09 to 10.50) | – | – | 0.6359 | – | – | – |
| Distance from hospital | |||||||||
| Distance quintile 1 (0.32–1.8 km) | 482 (20%) | 6 (5 to 6) | 10 (8.67 to 11.33) | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – |
| Distance quintile 2 (>1.8–2.5 km) | 484 (20.1%) | 5 (5 to 6) | 9.61 (7.66 to 11.56) | 1.09 (0.93 to 1.29) | 0.2940 | 0.1692 | 1.14 (0.98 to 1.33) | 0.0880 | 0.4950 |
| Distance quintile 3 (>2.5–3.1 km) | 488 (20.2%) | 6 (5 to 6) | 8.05 (7.29 to 8.82) | 1.10 (0.93 to 1.30) | 0.2520 | 0.4196 | 1.07 (0.90 to 1.26) | 0.4530 | 0.3241 |
| Distance quintile 4 (>3.1–4.2 km) | 476 (19.8%) | 7 (6 to 7) | 11.37 (9.90 to 12.84) | 0.88 (0.75 to 1.02) | 0.0870 | 0.4279 | 0.86 (0.73 to 1.01) | 0.0610 | 0.5286 |
| Distance quintile 5 (>4.2–6.3 km) | 480 (19.9%) | 6 (5 to 6) | 9.38 (7.87 to 10.88) | 1.07 (0.89 to 1.30) | 0.4630 | 0.1119 | 1.06 (0.83 to 1.35) | 0.6490 | 0.6220 |
| Total | 2410 (100%) | 6 (6 to 6) | 9.79 (9.09 to 10.50) | – | – | 0.0332 | – | – | – |
LOS, length of stay; PH test, proportional hazard test.
*HR adjusted for all the main variables.