Factors Predicting Length of Stay in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Parotitis

Abstract

Acute suppurative parotitis (ASP) is an acute infection of the parotid gland that necessitates hospitalization in some patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical laboratory values including hydration, nutritional status, inflammatory markers and age, and to compare them with duration of hospitalization of patients with ASP. This is a retrospective chart review in a tertiary academic center. We investigated the factors affecting length of hospitalization in patients admitted to Galilee Medical Center with a diagnosis of ASP between 2010 and 2018. Of the 60 patients with ASP included in the study, 24 were male. The average age of patients was 60, ranging from 18 to 99. We found statistically significant correlations between length of hospitalization and patient age (r=0.3), C reactive protein (r=0.3), white cell count (WCC) at presentation (r=0.3), blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio (BUN:Cr) (r=0.2), and platelet levels at discharge (r=0.4). Examination of these factors on multivariate analysis found hospitalization duration was exclusively affected by patients’ level of dehydration as represented by BUN:Cr. Patient age, WCC levels at presentation, and platelet levels were not found to be statistically significant. Treatment and interventions should be planned accordingly.

Acute Suppurative Parotitis Following Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Case Report

“…A recent retrospective study reported that an elevated blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio and elevated level of inflammatory markers, such as white cell count and C-reactive protein, are associated with a longer duration of hospitalization among patients with ASP [13]. In fact, in our case with elevated levels of all these markers, the duration of hospital stay was long.…”

“…Given that an elevated blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio was associated with a longer duration of hospital stay [13], maintaining a blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio of less than 20 in addition to monitoring for physical signs of dehydration is important to prevent or treat ASP.…”