The relationship between hospital volume and mortality in mechanical ventilation: an instrumental variable analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the relationship between hospital volume and mortality for nonsurgical patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Data sources

Pennsylvania state discharge records from July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2006, linked to the Pennsylvania Department of Health death records and the 2000 United States Census.

Study design

We categorized all general acute care hospitals in Pennsylvania (n=169) by the annual number of nonsurgical, mechanically ventilated discharges according to previous criteria. To estimate the relationship between annual volume and 30-day mortality, we fit linear probability models using administrative risk adjustment, clinical risk adjustment, and an instrumental variable approach.

Principle findings

Using a clinical measure of risk ad

SUBMITTER: Kahn JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2699912 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature