The impact of global budgeting in Taiwan on inpatients with unexplained fever

Liu, Keh-Sen; Yu, Tsung-Fu; Wu, Hsing-Ju; Lin, Chun-Yi

Unexplained fever imposes additional burden on both the NHI system and patients. However, studies on hospitalization costs for patients with unexplained fever are limited. In this study, we investigated the impact of the GB system for patients with unexplained fever in Taiwan. The GB system was associated with significantly longer LOS of the patients with unexplained fever. After adjustments for other covariates, age and Charlson comorbidity index were independent LOS predictors. GB did not significantly affect LOS in patients with unexplained fever. Patients with unexplained fever in regional hospitals had a significantly shorter LOS than patients in medical centers. FUO is diagnosed less frequently in adults than in children; however, adult patients are more likely to be admitted and have longer LOSs. [39] The mean age of patients with unexplained fever in medical centers was 21.53 ± 2.50 years, whereas that of patients with idiopathic fever in regional hospitals was 16.63 ± 2.44 years. The mean Charlson comorbidity indexes in medical centers and regional hospitals were 0.37 ± 0.095 and 0.30 ± 0.093, respectively. Thus, the younger the age and the fewer the comorbidities, the shorter may be the LOSs in patients with unexplained fever in the regional hospitals.