Predictive model for the length of hospital stay of children with hematologic malignancies, neutropenia, and presumed infection.

ABSTRACT

Few studies have assessed the predictive factors for the length of hospital stay for children with malignancies admitted with a diagnosis of presumed infection. We performed an observational prospective study of children 13 years old or younger with hematologic malignancies and neutropenia admitted for presumed infection to set up a predictive model for the length of stay using variables available at admission. Episodes in which children were on induction chemotherapy were excluded from the study. In a multivariate linear regression model, age 6 years or older, an ill appearance, relapse of the hematologic malignancy, and the presence of a central venous catheter were the factors associated with longer lengths of stay for these children.