Impact of Diabetes on Inpatient Length of Stay in Adult Mental Health Services in a Community Hospital Setting: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective: Our aim in this study was to characterize the relationship between comorbid mental health diagnosis and diabetes type on inpatient length of stay (LOS). Methods: This retrospective chart review study was conducted at a community hospital in Ontario, Canada. Individuals admitted to the inpatient mental health unit with a reported diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes were included in the analysis. Relevant data related to mental health conditions at admission and LOS were collected from the electronic health record. Analyses of variance and coviariance were used to determine the impact on LOS. Results: A total of 249 encounters were included in the analyses. Overall, individuals with type 2 diabetes had a significantly longer LOS (mean, 14.70 days; standard deviation, 15.75 days) than individuals with type 1 diabetes (mean, 8.01 days; standard deviation, 7.27 days). Upon including sociodemographic factors, individuals older in age and with a most recent admission of < 1 year also had a longer LOS. There was no significant relationship between the most responsible mental health diagnosis and LOS. Conclusions: Individuals with type 2 diabetes may be more likely to have a longer LOS in inpatient mental health settings than those with type 1 diabetes. More dedicated support would be beneficial for this population. Future work should focus on in-depth exploration of the challenges that lead to the observed LOS. (c) 2022 Canadian Diabetes Association.