Arterial Hypertension Significantly Prolongs Hospital Stay in Patients Coming for Emergency Treatment of Ureteral Calculi

A new study published in the International Urology and Nephrology suggests that arterial hypertension significantly prolongs hospital stay in patients coming for emergency treatment of ureteral calculi.

Study Overview

A study was conducted to assess differences in the length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients who present emergently versus electively for a symptomatic ureteral stone and to explore underlying risk factors.

Methodology

Billing data were analyzed from patients with symptomatic ureteral calculi at our department from 2010 to 2021. Statistical analysis (U test, logistic regression) was performed.

Results

2274 patients (72% male, 28% female) with ureteral stones were analyzed (mean age of 52.9 years). 1578 patients (69.4%) presented in an emergency setting and 696 patients (30.6%) electively. Arterial hypertension was seen in 31%, diabetes mellitus in 11%, and hyperuricemia in 5% of the whole cohort.

• 46.5% of emergency patients were desobstructed (DJ/PCN)
• 35.4% underwent emergency ureteroscopy (URS)
• 13.4% had spontaneous passage (SP)
• 4.8% underwent emergency shock wave lithotripsy (SWL)

Of the electively treated patients:

• 58.6% underwent URS
• 21.3% SWL
• 18.5% DJ/PCN
• 1.6% had SP

Emergency stone treatment was associated with a significantly longer LOS when compared to primary desobstruction for patients admitted emergently. Also, LOS was significantly longer for each intervention of stone treatment in emergency patients vs. electively treated patients. Arterial hypertension was associated with a 1.8-fold increased risk of a hospital stay longer than 3 days, irrespective of hospital admission mode, whereas metabolic disorders did not influence LOS in this cohort.

For emergency patients, in contrast to the electively treated patients, the type of procedure had a significant impact on the length of hospital stay. Arterial hypertension is an independent significant risk factor for prolonged hospital stay.

Reference

Herout, R., Putz, J., Borkowetz, A. et al. Emergency treatment of symptomatic ureteral calculi: predictors of prolonged hospital stay. Int Urol Nephrol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-023-03749-0

Keywords

Arterial, Hypertension, Significantly, Prolongs, Hospital, Stay, Patients, coming, emergency, treatment, Ureteral calculi, International Urology and Nephrology