THE INFLUENCE OF ANEMIA ON MORTALITY RATES, DURATION OF HOSPITALIZATION,
AND RESOURCE UTILIZATION IN PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH A PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS
OF VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA: A NATIONWIDE ANALYSIS 2016-2020
Abstract
Background: Ventricular Tachycardia is a life threating
arrhythmia with large admission rate. In this analysis, we aim to
investigate the impact of anemia in patients admitted due to ventricular
tachycardia in terms of mortality, length of stay and total hospital
charges. Methods: This is an analysis of the National Inpatient
Sample Database of the years 2016-2020. Patients admitted with a primary
diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia, with or without a secondary
diagnosis of anemia were identified using the ICD-CM codes. The primary
outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes were length of stay and
resources utilization. Multivariate logistic analysis was performed, and
outcomes were adjusted by age, gender, race, Charlson comorbidity index,
hospital location, size, region, teaching status and insurance. Data was
considered statistically significant with p-value <0.05.
Results: Among 221720 patients who had a primary diagnosis of
ventricular tachycardia, 17.56% had anemia. Adjusted mortality was
significantly different in patients with secondary diagnosis of any
anemia with odds ratio 1.95, p value < 0.001, 95% Confidence
Interval 1.73 – 2.2. In terms of Length of Stay, patients with anemias
of any type stayed 3.09 more days in the hospital, p value <
0.001, 95% Confidence Interval 2.78 - 3.41. Patients with anemia also
had an increase on their total hospital charges by 61507.92, p value
< 0.001, 95% Confidence Interval 53771.36 - 69244.48.
Conclusion: Patients with anemia had 1.95 higher mortality
rate, stayed 3.09 more days in the hospital and had a total hospital
cost higher by 61507.92$. Anemia can be a risk marker within patients
admitted with ventricular tachycardia, more studies needed to
investigate if the treatment of anemia improves the outcome.