Objective: To investigate factors that influence length of stay (LOS) in patients hospitalized for transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). This may help to reduce unnecessary days of hospitalization.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: A large, non-academic general hospital.
Patients: All patients hospitalized for TIAs during the years 1996-1998 were retrospectively studied. We analyzed the relationship between demographic, clinical and management features and LOS.
Results: We studied 157 patients. Median LOS was 8 days (range, 1 to 21 days). Statistical analysis showed that female sex, being hospitalized in 1996, hospitalization from Wednesday through Saturday, and second-level cardiological, neuroradiological and miscellaneous investigations significantly increased LOS.
Conclusions: The LOS of patients with TIAs may 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 possibile.