Child-Pugh score and ascites for predicting economic outcomes in adult patients with acute hepatitis
Journal
Journal of Medical Ultrasound
Journal Volume
22
Journal Issue
2
Pages
88-91
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to determine whether clinical findings and abdominal ultrasound could be used simultaneously to predict medical resource utilization in patients of acute hepatitis. Materials and methods: A retrospective study with chart review was conducted from January 2003 to June 2007 on all patients admitted to the Emergency Department of the National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan with a diagnosis of acute hepatitis. Patients with liver cirrhosis were excluded. Medical resource utilization is defined as the length of hospital stay and the total medical fee. Analysis of variance, Chi-square test, and t test were adopted in the data analysis. Results: A total of 117 patients met the inclusion criteria. The Child-Pugh score and mild ascites have positive impacts significant differences of medical on both the length of hospital stay and the total hospital charges. Our results showed a high correlation between the length of hospital stay and medical costs (r = 0.762). Conclusion: The Child-Pugh score and sonographic findings can be used to predict medical resource utilization in patients with acute hepatitis in the emergency department. ? 2014.
Other Subjects
acute hepatitis; adult; article; ascites; Child Pugh score; controlled study; disease severity; echography; economic evaluation; female; health care cost; health care utilization; hospital charge; hospitalization; human; length of stay; liver cirrhosis; major clinical study; male; medical record review; middle aged; prediction; Taiwan; young adult
Publisher
Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Type
journal article