Introduction:

Hospitalized people with diabetes (PWD) are known to have longer length of stay (LOS). This study assessed whether non-critically ill PWD have greater LOS compared to patients without diabetes and explored LOS differences based on CMS-monitored comorbidities identified from their readmission reduction program. (CMS – Centers for Medicare and Mediaid Services via CMS.gov)

Methods:

• Population: Adults admitted to non-ICU units (June 2022–October 2024)
• Classification: Diabetes status via ICD-10 codes
• Comorbidities assessed (CMS readmission reduction program):
  1. Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
  2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD)
  3. Heart Failure (HF)
  4. Pneumonia (PN)
  5. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery
  6. Hip/Knee replacement surgery
• Statistical analysis: Independent t-test (SPSS25)

Results:

• Overall sample:
  1. Patients with diabetes: 18,473
     • Mean age: 67.16 ± 15.49 years
     • Mean weight: 89.13 ± 21.12
     • Mean HbA1c: 7.1 ± 1.7
     • Mean LOS: 5.93 ± 7.31 days
  2. Patients without diabetes: 34,896
     • Mean age: 58.90 ± 16.85 years
     • Mean weight: 79.46 ± 20.31
     • Mean HbA1c: 5.6 ± 0.6
     • Mean LOS: 5.10 ± 7.29 days
  3. LOS difference significant (t=12.322, p<0.01)
• Comorbidity-specific LOS (Diabetes vs Non-diabetes)

Key findings:

• PWD had significantly longer LOS overall
• HF subgroup showed significantly greater LOS for PWD

Conclusion:

PWD had significantly longer LOS compared to non-diabetes patients. In subgroup analyses of CMS-monitored comorbidities, heart failure showed a significant LOS difference whereas differences in LOS for other comorbidities including AMI, COPD, PN, CABG and Hip/Knee Replacement were not significant. Future studies will evaluate correlation between involvement of diabetes management an LOS.

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