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Abstract
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) results in a tremendous health economic burden. Objectives: To determine if there is a significant association between: 1) hospital census region, teaching status, location, bedsize, and health outcomes for VTE, 2) mortality and race, gender, and payer status respectively. Methods: A retrospective database analysis was done using the Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project, Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2003 data of hospital discharges in the US. Multiple and logistic regression models were employed to study the possible associations. Results: Unlike previous analyses, this study found that Northeast has the highest mean charge per discharge, greater than that in the West, and hospital census region is not a significant predictor of mortality for VTE hospitalizations. Rural location, non-teaching status, small and medium size hospitals are associated with lesser total charge. Medicare and private insurance were positively associated with increased length of stay. Conclusion: Hospital characteristics influence health outcomes for VTE.