THE INFLUENCE OF ANEMIA ON MORTALITY RATES, DURATION OF HOSPITALIZATION, AND RESOURCE UTILIZATION IN PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH A PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS OF VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA: A NATIONWIDE ANALYSIS 2016-2020

Background: : Ventricular Tachycardia is a life threating arrhythmia with large admission rate. In this analysis, we aim to investigate the impact of anemia in patients admitted due to ventricular tachycardia in terms of mortality, length of stay and total hospital charges. Methods: : This is an analysis of the National Inpatient Sample Database of the years 2016-2020. Patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia, with or without a secondary diagnosis of anemia were identified using the ICD-CM codes. The primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes were length of stay and resources utilization. Multivariate logistic analysis was performed, and outcomes were adjusted by age, gender, race, Charlson comorbidity index, hospital location, size, region, teaching status and insurance. Data was considered statistically significant with p-value <0.05. Results: : Among 221720 patients who had a primary diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia, 17.56% had anemia. Adjusted mortality was significantly different in patients with secondary diagnosis of any anemia with odds ratio 1.95, p value < 0.001, 95% Confidence Interval 1.73 – 2.2. In terms of Length of Stay, patients with anemias of any type stayed 3.09 more days in the hospital, p value < 0.001, 95% Confidence Interval 2.78 - 3.41. Patients with anemia also had an increase on their total hospital charges by 61507.92, p value < 0.001, 95% Confidence Interval 53771.36 - 69244.48. Conclusion: Patients with anemia had 1.95 higher mortality rate, stayed 3.09 more days in the hospital and had a total hospital cost higher by 61507.92$. Anemia can be a risk marker within patients admitted with ventricular tachycardia, more studies needed to investigate if the treatment of anemia improves the outcome.