Length of hospitalization of patients with transient ischemic attacks

Objective. To investigate factors that influence length of stay (LOS) in pa tients hospitalized for transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). This may help to reduce unnecessary days of hospitalization. Design. Retrospective study. S etting. A large, non-academic general hospital. Patients. All patients hosp italized for TIAs during the years 1996-1998 were retrospectively studied. We analyzed the relationship between demographic, clinical and management f eatures and LOS. Results. We studied 157 patients. Median LOS was 8 days (r ange, 1 to 21 days). Statistical analysis showed that female sex, being hos pitalized in 1996, hospitalization from Wednesday through Saturday, and sec ond-level cardiological, neuroradiological and miscellaneous investigations significantly increased LOS. Conclusions. The LOS of patients with TIAs ma y be reduced through measures that accelerate the diagnostic work-up and by scheduling the admission to the first days of the week, when this is possi bile.