Researchers used the 2009 Nationwide Inpatient Sample to study patient characteristics, in-hospital adverse events and discharge disposition for 1.39 million transfer patients and 31.69 million nontransfer patients.
The study shows transfer patients had higher risk-adjusted inpatient mortality, longer length of stay and fewer routine disposition discharges as compared to nontransfer patients. Additionally, in-hospital adverse events were significantly higher in transfer patients. Researchers found age, sex, race and payer were significant factors associated with odds of transfer.
More articles on healthcare quality:
Study: Flu increases risk of heart attack sixfold
Mysterious polio-like illness likely caused by enterovirus strain, study finds
Flu outbreak forces Illinois high school to close — 24% of staff sickened
