A Study of Propensity Score on Influencing Factors of Length of Stay in Hospitalized Patients with Burns

Background: Burns are a global public health problem, which are universal and can happen to anyone. Because the physical functions in children and adults are different, the confounding factors are easy to affect the results of study. Objective: In this study, we aimed to explore influencing factors of the length of hospital stay (LOS) when the confounding factors were excluded by Propensity Score (PS) in children and adults. Methods: Patients hospitalized for burn from 2014 to 2016 were retrieved from the medical record system of a general biggest hospital in Zunyi. A database was established to analyze the influencing factors of LOS between children and adults by the PS. Results A total of 465 children (61.7% males) and 327 (69.7% males) adults were recruited. The average age was 3.61±3.57 years and 42.48±14.76 years in children and adults with burns respectively. Before PS matching, low age and skin grafting were the protective factors for LOS (Hazard Ratio [HR]=0.993 and 0.339). The risk factors of LOS were male (HR=1.234), the burn depth and total body surface area (TBSA), and burn etiology (HR=1.497). After PS matching, only skin grafting (HR=0.080) and treatment within 24 hours (HR=1.865) were the common influencing factors of LOS. Conclusion the confounding factors were excluded by the PS method, and skin grafting was still a protective factor of LOS for both children and adults. The results provide a reference for the promotion of skin grafting to reduce LOS in burn patients.