Table 3 Period of hospitalization for subgroups of patients. For comparison, results for the non-transferred patients are repeated from Table 2. Median values and quartiles (in parentheses) are given. n = respective number of patients. In the subgroups of transferred patients shown ECMO patients (n = 8) were excluded from the count, as they represented a special category and their data is given separately. In addition, one patient in whom the reason for transfer could not be identified was excluded from this table. Tests were performed with the Mann–Whitney U-test or the Kruskal–Wallis-test, depending on the number of categories to be compared (2 versus 3). *tested against the complementary group. **Hospitalization times were different (Mann–Whitney U-test with Bonferroni correction, p < 0.05) when comparing “upgrade” with “downgrade”. ***Hospitalization times were different (p < 0.05) when comparing “same” with “downgrade” and “upgrade” with “downgrade”.
Period of hospitalization (days) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|
Transfer for ECMO therapy (n = 8) | 40.5 (27.8–77.5) | < 0.001* |
Non-transferred patients with available data (n = 558) | 8.0 (4.0–13.0) | < 0.001 |
All transferred patients with available data (n = 176) | 19.0 (13.0–30.0) | < 0.001 |
Reason of transfer | 0.001 | |
Medical (n = 53) | 14.0 (7.0–25.5) | |
Capacity (n = 123) | 21.0 (15.0–32.0) | |
Level of care of receiving hospital | 0.001** | |
Higher (n = 57) | 14.0 (8.0–24.0) | |
Same (n = 11) | 14.0 (5.0–31.0) | |
Lower (n = 108) | 21.5 (15.0–32.0) | |
Without ICU stay at any time | ||
Non-transferred (n = 458) | 7.0 (4.0–11.0) | < 0.001* |
Transferred (n = 81) | 18.0 (11.0–29.0) | 0.068* |
Reason for transfer | < 0.001 | |
Medical (n = 32) | 11.0 (6.0–20.0) | |
Capacity (n = 49) | 21.0 (15.0–32.0) | |
Level of care of receiving hospital | < 0.001*** | |
Higher (n = 33) | 13.0 (8.0–22.0) | |
Same (n = 5) | 5.0 (3.0–10.5) | |
Lower (n = 43) | 22.0 (16.0–32.0) | |
With ICU stay at any time (w/o ECMO patients) | ||
Non-transferred (n = 100) | 12.0 (8.3–18.0) | < 0.001* |
Transferred (n = 95) | 21.0 (14.0–31.0) | 0.068* |
Reason for transfer | 0.396 | |
Medical (n = 21) | 17.0 (12.0–33.5) | |
Capacity (n = 74) | 21.0 (15.0–31.3) | |
Level of care of receiving hospital | 0.208 | |
Higher (n = 24) | 16.0 (11.0–26.3) | |
Same (n = 6) | 26.0 (14.8–34.0) | |
Lower (n = 65) | 21.0 (15.0–32.0) | |
ICU to ICU transfers (n = 45) | 24.0 (15.5–33.5) | 0.161* |
General ward to ICU transfers (n = 32) | 20.0 (13.3–33.5) | 0.909* |
