The relation of body mass index, demographic and health-related variables to length of stay for patients at an acute rehabilitation hospital after total hip arthroplasty

Karin Greenberg¹, Thilo Kroll<sup>2

1</sup>Medical Rehabilitation, Inc, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; ²National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), Washington DC, WA, USA

Abstract: Obesity is a growing public health concern world-wide. At the same time, knee and hip replacements are becoming an increasingly regular treatment for osteoarthritis. There are conflicting reports in the literature as to what extent body mass affects the length of stay (LOS) of patients undergoing total hip replacements. This chart review aims at examining the ­relationship between body mass index (BMI), demographic and health-related variables, and LOS. The retrospective chart review of one acute inpatient rehabilitation facility involved n = 119 patients. There was no significant association between LOS and body mass index (BMI), confirming earlier results. Insurance payer type (Medicare vs private) was statistically significant related to LOS. Moreover, there was a trend for the potential influence of race/ethnic patient background on LOS with Caucasians having shorter hospital stays.

Keywords: total hip arthroplasty, obesity, rehabilitation, length of stay, body mass index