Characteristics, length of stay, and hospital bills associated with severe odontogenic infections in Houston, TX

Background There were 2 main purposes of this retrospective chart review study. The first was to describe the demographic, social, and financial characteristics of patients with severe odontogenic infections. The second was to assess the relationships among several demographic, social, and treatment variables and length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and hospital bill (charges). Methods The authors conducted a retrospective chart review for patients admitted to the hospital and taken to the operating room for treatment of severe odontogenic infections at 3 hospitals in Houston, TX (Ben Taub, Memorial Hermann Hospital, and Lyndon B. Johnson) from January 2010 through January 2015. Results The authors included data from severe odontogenic infections in 298 patients (55% male; mean age, 38.9 years) in this study. In this population, 45% required admission to the intensive care unit, and the mean LOS was 5.5 days. Most patients (66.6%) were uninsured. The average cost of hospitalization for this patient population was $13,058, and the average hospital bill was $48,351. At multivariable analysis, age (P =.011), preadmission antibiotic use (P =.012), diabetes mellitus (P =.004), and higher odontogenic infection severity score (P <.001) were associated with increased LOS. Higher odontogenic infection severity score, diabetes mellitus, and an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3 or more were associated with an increased charge of hospitalization. Conclusions Severe odontogenic infections were associated with substantial morbidity and cost in this largely unsponsored patient population. The authors identified variables associated with increased LOS and charge of hospitalization. Practical Implications Clinicians should consider these findings in their decision-making processes and prioritize early treatment of odontogenic infections potentially to decrease the number of patients admitted to the hospital, LOS, and overall costs of treatment for these infections.