A retrospective analysis of
meningioma patients discharged postcraniotomy between 1998 and 2007 was conducted. Univariate and multivariate analysis evaluated in-hospital mortality, complications,
length of stay (LOS), and cost.
RESULTS: According to the nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) database, an estimated 72,257 adult
meningioma patients underwent a
craniotomy in US hospitals during the study period. Female and male
weight loss rates were 0.7% and 1.2%, respectively;
obesity rates were 5.2% and 3.7%. Males had higher rates of malignant
tumors than females (6.2% vs. 3.5%, P < 0.0001), and malignant
tumors were more common in patients with
weight loss (6.4% vs. 4.3%, P = 0.03).
Weight loss was associated with higher mortality in men (OR 6.66, P < 0.0001) and women (OR 3.92, P = 0.04) as well as higher rates of postoperative complications in both men (OR 6.13, P < 0.0001) and women (OR 8.37, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, patients suffering
weight loss had longer LOS and higher overall hospital cost when compared with all patients. In contrast,
obesity seemed to reduce mortality (OR 0.47, P = 0.0006) and complications (OR 0.8, P = 0.0007) among women.
CONCLUSIONS: In summary,
weight loss seems to be the single most critical factor present in patients experiencing higher mortality, complications, hospital charges, and longer LOS. However, further studies aimed to assess the inter-relation of potential preexisting comorbidities and
weight loss are needed to establish causation.