Data from the Series 13 

NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEY Number 50 

Averagelength of Stay in 

Short-StayHospitals: 

Demographic,Diagnostic,and 

SurgicalStatistics 

UnitedStates,1977 

Statistics are presented on the utilization of short-stay hospitals 

based on data collected by means of the National Hospital Discharge Survey from a national sample of hospital records of discharged patients. Average length of stay is presented by patient 

characteristics of age, sex, marital status, color, and diagnostic and 

surgical status in conjunction with hospital characteristics of size, 

ownership or control, and geographic region in which located. 

DHEW Publication No. (PHS) 81-1711 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

Public Health Service 

Office of Health Research, Statistics, and Technology 

National Center for Health Statistics 

Hyattsville, Md. January 1981 
library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data 

Lewis, W. Frank 

Average length of stay in short-stay hospitals, United States, 1977. 

(Vital and health statistics : Series 13, Data from the National Health Survey ;no. 50) 

(DHHS pyblicatioy<(PHS) 81-1711) 

Includes bibliographical references. 

.l: H&pit&I ,ufiliiation-United States-Length of stay--Statistics. 2. United StatesStatistics, Medical. I. Title. II. Series: United States. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital and health statistics : Series 13, Data from the National Health Survey, Data from 

the hospital discharge survey ; no. 50. III. Series: United States. Dept. of Health and 

Human Services. DHHS publication ; no. (PHS) 81-1711. 

RA407.3.A349 no. 50 [RA981.A2] 362.1’1’0973s 

ISBN 0-8406-0198-O [362.1’1’0973] 80-29464 
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS 

DOROTHY P. RICE, Director 

ROBERT A. ISRAEL, Deputy Director 

JACOB J. FELDMAN, Ph.D., Acting Associate Director for Analysis andkpidemiology 

GAIL F. FISHER, Ph.D., Acting Associate Director for the Cooperative Health Statistics System 

GARRlE J. LOSEE, Acting Associate Director for Data Processing and Services 

ALVAN 0. ZARATE, Assistant Director for International Statistics 

E. EARL BRYANT, Acting Associate Director for interview and Examination Statistics 

ROBERT C. HUBER, Acting Associate Director for Management 

MONROE G. SIRKEN, Ph.D., Acting Associate Director for Research and Methodo_logy 

PETER L. HURLEY, Acting Associate Director for Vital and He&h Cure Statistics 

ALICE HAYWOOD, Information Officer 

DlVlslON OF HEALTH CARE STATISTICS 

W. EDWARD BACON, Ph.D., Acting Director 

W. EDWARD BACON, Ph.D., Acting Chief, Hospital Cure Statistics Brunch 

JAMES E. DELOZIER, Chief Ambulatory Cure Statistics Brunch 

MANOOCHEHR K. NOZARY, Chief Technica Services Brunch 

STEWART C. RICE, Chief, Family Planning Stutistics Brunch 

JOSEPH P. BARBANO, ChieJ Health Professions Statistics Brunch 

EVELYN S. MATHIS, Chief, Long-Term Care Statistics Branch 

COOPERATION OF THE U.S. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS 

Under the legislation establishing the National Health Survey, the Public Health Service is 

authorized to use, insofar as possible, the services or facilities of other Federal, State, or private 

agencies. 

In accordance with specifications established by the National Center for Health Statistics, 

the Bureau of the Census, under a contractual arrangement, participated in planning the survey 

and collecting the data. 

Vital and Health Statistics-Series 13-No. 50 

DHEW Publication No. (PHS) 81-1711 

Library of Congress Catalog Curd Number 80-29464 
CONTENTS 

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 

Background of Study ........................................................................................................................ 1 

Scope and Plan of Report ................................................................................................................. 1 

Average Length of Stay .......................................................................................................................... 2 

Age, Sex, and Color .......................................................................................................................... 2 

Bed Size of Hospital and Hospital Ownership ................................................................................... 5 

Marital Status .................................................................................................................................... 7 

Average Length of Stay by Geographic Region ...................................................................................... 7 

Age and Sex ...................................................................................................................................... 7 

Bed Size of Hospital and Hospital Ownership ................................................................................... 7 

Ratio Comparison by Selected Characteristics ........................................................................................ 9 

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 10 

References .............................................................................................................................................. 11 

List of Detailed Tables ........................................................................................................................... 12 

Appendixes 

I. Technical Notes on Methods .... .. .. ... .... . .... .. .. ... .... . .... ... . .... ... ... ... ... . ..... . .. ... .. ... .... ... . ..... . ... ... ... .. ... . .. 35 

II. Definitions of Certain Terms Used in This Report ... . ... ... ... .. .... .. ... ... ... . .... .. ... ... ... .. .... .. . .. .... . .. .... .. . 42 

LIST OF TEXT FIGURES 

1. Percent distribution of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with first-listed diagnoses, 

single-listed diagnoses, and single-listed surgery, by age, color, and sex: United States, 1977 . .. ... 4 

2. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with first-listed diagnoses, 

single-listed diagnoses, and single-listed surgery, by age, color, and sex: United States, 1977 . ..... 6 

3. Percent of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals, by type of ownership of hospital and 

geographic region: United States, 1977 .... ... . ..... .. . .. .. ... .. .... .. .. ...... . .. .... .. . ...... . . .... ... . ..... .. .. .... . .. .... .. 8 

LIST OF TEXT TABLES 

A. Number of discharges and average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals 

with first-listed diagnoses, single-listed diagnoses, and single-listed surgery, by sex and age: 

United States, 1977 . .. ..... .. .. .... .. . .... ... .. .... . .. .... .. ... ..... . .. ... ... ... .... .. ... .. .. .. . .... . ... .... .. . .. ... ... . ..... . .. ... ... . . 3 

B. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with first-listed diagnoses, 

single-listed diagnoses, and single-listed surgery, by geographic region, bed size of hospital, age, 

and sex: United States, 1977 . .. . ..... . .. ... .... . ... .. .. .... .. .. ..... . ... .... .. . .. .... .. .. .... ... ..... .. ... ... .. .... ... .. .. .... .. . .. 8 

C. Percent distribution of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with first-listed diagnoses, 

single-listed diagnoses, and single-listed surgery, by geographic region, bed size of hospital, age, 

and sex: United States, 1977 ... .... .. .. .... . ... ... .. .. ..... .. .. .... .. . .. .... .. .. .... . ... ... ... . ...... .. .. .... .. ... ... ... ...... ... .. 9 

iii 
D. Ratios of averagelength of stay in the Northeast Region to stays in the North Central, South, and 

West Regions, by selected characteristics: United States, 1977 ................................. ................... 10 

SYMBOLS 

Data not available------------ - - -

Category not ,applicable------- . . . 

Quantity zero------

Quantity more than 0 but less than 0.05-- 0.0 

Figure does not meet standards of * reliability or precision 

iv 
AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN SHORT-STAY HOSPITALS: 

DEMOGRAPHIC, DIAGNOSTIC, AND 

SURGICAL STATISTICS 

W. Frank Lewis, M.A., Division of Health Care Statistics 

INTRODUCTION 

Background of Study 

This report presents a special analysis of the 

average length of stay in short-stay hospitals by 

using data collected in the National Hospital 

Discharge Survey, a continuous nationwide survey conducted by the National Center for 

Health Statistics. Data were abstracted from approximately 224,000 hospital records of inpatients discharged from the 423 hospitals that 

participated in the survey in 1977. 

Data from this survey provide input for 

three basic types of reports-nonmedical, diagnostic, and surgical-that are published both in 

Series 13 of Vital and Health Statistics and as selected supplements of Monthly Vital Statistics 

Reports. Nonmedical data have been published 

for 1965-78; diagnostic data for 1965-68 and 

1971-78; and surgical data on operations performed in 1965, 1968, and 1971-78. In addition, one report has been published on a study 

of charges of care in short-stay hospitals that 

was based on data collected by the National 

Hospital Discharge Survey in 1968-70. 

Information on hospitalization is collected 

by means of the National Health Interview Survey, another program of the National Center for 

Health Statistics. The estimates provided by the 

National Health Interview Survey are usually 

lower for the number of discharges and greater 

for the average length of stay than the National 

Hospital Discharge Survey estimates because of 

differences in collection procedures, definitions, 

and population sampled. The National Health 

Interview Survey data are published in Series 10 

reports. Data used in this report include a classification of discharges by age, sex, race, marital 

status, bed size of hospital and hospital ownership, and geographic region. Diagnostic and surgical data include only those discharges with 

first-listed diagnosis (all patients), single-listed 

diagnosis, and single-listed surgery. 

Definitions of the terms used in this report 

relathrg to hospitalization and characteristics of 

the inpatients are given in appendix II. Because 

several terms used in this report have specialized 

meanings, familiarity with these definitions will 

be useful in interpreting the data. Appendix I 

provides a description of the survey design, data 

collection procedures, and the estimation process. A detailed report on the design of the National Hospital Discharge Survey has previously 

been published.’ 

Scope and Plan of Report 

Average length of stay is an important means 

by which comparisons can be made in hospital 

utilization. Differences in length of stay between 

hospitals can be related to their size, ownership, 

or geographical location because these variables 

reflect differences in availability of services. In 

addition to these factors, differences among 

hospitals can be related to the characteristics of 
the patients who are discharged from them. Finally, length-of-stay differences among hospitals 

can be related to the number and kinds of diagnoses and to the surgical procedures that these 

hospitals employ. 

Prior studies by the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) have shown that the 

average length of stay is influenced by these factors in a predictable and consistent manner. 

Specifically, NHDS data have indicated the following about length of stay: 

1. Length of stay is lowest for patients under 15 years of age and increases steadily 

with age. 

2. Length of stay for males, overall, is 

higher than that for females, except for 

patients 65 years of age and over where 

it is higher for females. 

3. White patients have a shorter average 

length of stay than patients in the category classified as “all other” have. 

4. Patients discharged from small hospitals 

generally have the shortest length of stay, 

and patients discharged from the largest 

hospitals have the longest length of stay. 

5. Voluntary nonprofit hospitals have the 

longest average length of stay, and proprietary hospitals have the shortest. 

6. Unmarried patients over 15 years of age 

have longer lengths of stay than married 

patients have. 

7. Average length of stay is consistently 

highest in the Northeast Region and 

lowest in the West Region. 

8. Patients discharged with single-listed surgery have shorter length of stays than 

those with multiple surgery. 

9. Patients discharged with a single-listed 

diagnosis have shorter stays than those 

with multiple diagnoses. 

Interviews conducted during the National 

Health Interview Survey (NHIS) have shown 

similar length of stay patterns for age, sex, color, 

type of hospital, marital status, and region. No 

satisfactory answer has been given as to why the 

average length of stay in the West Region is always lower than that in the Northeast, North 

Central, or South Regions. This report describes 

the singular effects of patient, hospital, diagnostic, and surgical characteristics on the length 

of stay and analyzes their cumulative effect on 

length of stay, especially as they may affect 

‘regional differences. 

AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY 

: 

Age, Sex, and Color 

The average length of stay for the 35.9 million patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis during 1977 was 

7.3 days. Average length of stay increased with 

each successive age group from a low of 4.2 days 

for patients under 15 years of age to a high of 

11.1 days for patients 65 years and over 

(table A). Males had an average length of stay of 

7.8 days and females, including deliveries, had 

an average length of stay of 7.0 days. This difference is primarily due to the longer length of 

stay for males in the age group 15-44 years (6.3 

days for males and 4.9 for females). Excluding 

deliveries, the length of stay for females increased to 7.6 days for all ages and 5.4 days for 

the age group 15-44 years. This increase is 

caused by the removal of relatively short stays 

associated with deliveries, 99 percent of which 

occur in the age group 15-44 years. 

There was no significant overall difference in 

the average length of stay by color, with white 

patients averaging 7.3 days and all other patients 

averaging 7.6 days per stay (table 1). The 

average length of stay for the total of both color 

groups was about the same because the white 

discharged patients included a larger percent of 

older patients with longer hospital stays than the 

all other group did (figure 1). However, for 

every age and sex group, except females aged 

15-44 years, the average stay for white patients 

was shorter than the average stay for all other 

patients. Regardless of color, males overall had 

longer stays than females had. 

All other males in the age group 45-64 years 

had an average length of stay that was 3.1 days 

2 
Table A. Number of discharges and average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with first-listed diagnoses, 

single-listed diagnoses, and single-listed surgery, by sex and age: United States, 1977 

Type of diagnosis or surgery and age 

First-listed diagnosis Number of discharges in thousands 

All ages.. ........................................................................................................... 

Under, 15 years.. ............................................................................................................... 

15-44 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

45-64 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

65 years and over ............................................................................................................. 

Average length of stay in days 

All ages.. ........................................................................ .;. ................................ 

Under 15 years ................................................................................................................. 

15-44 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

45-64 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................................... 

Single-listed diagnosis 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................................... 

15-44 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

45-64 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................................... 

All ages ............................................................................................................. 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................................... 

15-44 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

45-64 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

65 years and over ............................................................................................................. 

Single-listed surgery 

All ages.. ........................................................................................................... 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................................... 

15-44 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

46-64 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................................... 

All ages.. ........................................................................................................... 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................................... 

15-44 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

45-64 years.. ..................................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................................... 

Number of discharges in thousands 

Average length of stay in days 

Number of discharges in thousands 

Average length of stay in days 
--------- 

AGE 

Under 15 years . . . 

65 years and over _..,... 23.2 

I 

Total : White 

males 

Under 15 years 

15.44 years 

White 

males 

15.44 years ... ......... .... . 

45.64 years . . . 

65 yean and over ._..__. 

White 

males 

Figure. 1. Percent distribution of patients discharged 

single-listed surgery, 

FIRST-LISTED DIAGNOSIS 

White All other All other 

females males females 

SINGLE.LISTED DIAGNOSIS 

-\. ‘-.. -\ ‘-. 

----..-______ 

White All other All other 

females males females 

SINGLE-LISTED SURGERY 

White All other All other 

females males females 

COLOR AND SEX 

from short-stay hospitals with first-listed diagnoses, single-listed diagnoses, and 

by age, color, and sex: United States, 1977 

4 
longer than that for white males in the same age 

group. The difference between the length of stay 

of. all other females arid’white females “m&is 

age group was only 1.3 days. 

The percent distribution of white males discharged in the age groups over 14 years was almost evenly distributed among the age groups 

15-44 years, 45-64 years, and 6.5years and over30.8, 28.8, and 26.2 percent, respectively (figure 1). The proportion of male discharges in the 

all other group was largest for ages 15-44 (37.9 

percent), followed by 23.8 for ages 15-64 and 

18.2 for ages 65 and over. Females in the all 

other group accounted for proportionately more 

discharges at ages 15-44 than white females of 

the same ages (64.0 compared with 47.0 percent) and proportionately less at ages over 44. 

Patients discharged with only a single-listed 

diagnosis totaled 18.6 million and had an average length of stay of 5.4 days. The average 

length of stay for males was longer than that for 

females at all ages and longest at ages 15-44 

(table A). In figure 2, the length of stay is shown 

by sex and color. Males with a single-listed diagnosis in both color categories, showed an increase in the length of stay with each succeeding 

age group. However, female patients in the age 

group. 15-44 years did not have a significantly 

longer length of stay than those under 15 years 

of age, primarily because of the inclusion of 

deliveries. The average length of stay for both 

white and all other patients was 5.4 days. The all 

other group showed longer stays for each age 

group except ages 15-44 years, primarily because 

the length of stay for both all other and white 

females was 4.1 days (table 2). 

Patients discharged with single-listed surgery 

totaled 10.2 million and had an average length 

of stay of 6.6 days (table A). This was less than 

that for all discharges (7.3 days), but more than 

that for discharges with a single-listed diagnosis 

(5.4 days). The average stay for males (7.2 days) 

was longer than that for females (6.2 days) for 

the total of all ages. Stays for females aged 15-

44 years were significantly greater than for those 

under 15 years of age, because deliveries are not 

counted as operations. Patients with single-listed 

surgery had 47.4 percent of their discharges in 

the age group 15-44 years (figure 1). For white 

males, the proportion of discharges in the age 

group under 15 years was 15.9 percent, and for 

all other males, it was 22.4 percent. 

Table ‘3 shows the average length of stay for 

discharges with a single-listed surgery. For both 

color groups the single-listed surgery discharges 

in all age and sex groups included a smaller percent in the age group 65 years and over than 

those with a first-listed diagnosis did, but included a larger percent than those with a singlelisted diagnosis did (figure 1). Females in the all 

othkrcategory with single-listed surgery had a 

greater percent of discharges (71.2 percent) in 

the age group 1544 years than those discharged 

with a first-listed diagnosis (64.0 percent). 

Bed Size of Hospital and 

Hospital Ownership 

The average length of stay increased as age 

or hospital bed size increased, ranging from 6.0 

days in the smallest hospitals to 8.4 days in the 

largest hospitals and from 4.2 days in the youngest group to 12.4 days for the age group 65 

years and over who were discharged from hospitals with 500 beds or more (table 4). Male discharges from hospitals with 6-99 beds averaged 

6.1 days per stay. The stay increased to 9.3 days 

in hospitals with 500 beds or more. Females 

showed a significantly smaller increase in stay 

by bed size of hospital, from 6.0 days (6-99 

beds) to 7.8 days (500 beds or more). 

Length of stay for single-listed diagnosis 

showed differences between the youngest and 

oldest age group of only 5 .O days (3.7 and 8.7 

days, respectively) and between the smallest and 

the largest hospitals of 1.8 days (table 5). Discharges with only a single-listed surgery showed 

a length of stay for the age group 65 years and 

over to be 3.2 times greater than that for the age 

group under 15 years (table 6). 

The average length of stay was shorter in 

government and proprietary hospitals than in 

voluntary nonprofit hospitals (table 7). This difference was due to the longer stays for males 

(8.0 days) and for the age groups 45 years and 

over discharged from nonprofit hospitals. In government hospitals, for the age group 15-44 years 

the average length of stay for males was 2.0 days 

longer than it was for females. 

For patients discharged with a single-listed 

5 
F“- 16r 

Total 

16 

14 

1, E 

16 

14 

12 11. 

10 r 

Total 

FIRST.LISTED DIAGNOSIS 

White male White female All other male All other female 

SINGLE.LISTED DIAGNOSIS 

White male White female All other male All other female 

SINGLE.LISTEDS”RGERY 15.r 

12. 

r r 

White male White female All other male All other female 

COLOR AND SEX 

Figure 2. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with first-listed diagnoses, single-listed diagnoses, and 

and single-listed surgery, by age, color, and sex: United States, 1977 

6 
diagnosis, voluntary, government, and proprietary hospitals showed stays that were not significantly different (table 8). Females discharges 

from proprietary hospitals had a length of stay 

of 5.1 days, which was not significantly different from male discharges (5.5 days). Table 9 

shows persons discharged with a single-listed 

surgery. 

Marital Status 

For all discharges 15 years of age and over, 

unmarried persons had longer stays (8.7 days) 

than married persons (7 .l days) (table 10). However, for discharges aged 15-44 years, there was 

little significant difference between married and 

unmarried discharged persons. In hospitals with 

less than 100 beds, no significant difference 

existed for this age group. In government and 

voluntary hospitals, the average length of stay 

was 1.6 and 1.7 days longer, respectively, for unmarried discharged persons than for married persons (table 11). In voluntary hospitals, the average length of stay of 8.6 days for discharged 

married males exceeded that for married females 

(6.4 days) by 2.2 days. However, unmarried females discharged from voluntary hospitals had 

stays similar to those of unmarried males. Regardless of hospital ownership, unmarried females had longer stays than married females. 

Table 12 shows the average length of stay 

for persons discharged with a single-listed diagnosis by marital status. The difference between 

the length of stay of married and unmarried discharges 15 years and over was 1 .O days. However, for persons aged 15-44 years discharged 

from hospitals with less than 100 beds, there 

was no significant difference between the married and unmarried. 

The difference between stays of married and 

unmarried discharges with a single-listed surgery 

was 1.1 days (table 13). For ages 15-44 years, 

length of stay was about the same regardless 

of marital status or hospital size. 

AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY BY 

GEOGRAPHIC REGION 

Age and Sex 

Average length of stay was highest in the 

Northeast Region and lowest in the West Region, 

8.6 days and 6.0 days, respectively (table 14). 

This regional pattern was consistent for all age 

groups, with the difference between the Northeast and the West Regions being greatest in the 

age group 65 years and over, 13.6 and 8.9 days, 

respectively, or a difference of 4.7 days. Length 

of stay for both sexes was longest in the Northeast Region for the age group 65 years and over, 

and shortest in the West Region for the age 

group under 15 years. The average length of stay 

for males was longer than that for females in 

each of the four Regions. 

For patients discharged with a single-listed 

diagnosis, the Northeast Region had a length of 

stay of 6.1 days, or 1.7 days longer than that for 

discharges in the West Region (4.4 days). Length 

of stay did not differ significantly among the 

Northeast, North Central, and South Regions for 

persons discharged under 15 years of age with a 

single-listed diagnosis (table 15) or with a singlelisted surgery (table 16). 

Bed Size of Hospital and 

Hospital Ownership 

Average length of stay by bed size of hospital, region, age, and sex is shown in table 17. For 

each region, length of stay increased with bed 

size and age; it was shortest in hospitals with less 

than 100 beds for discharges under 15 years of 

age, and longest in hospitals with 500 beds or 

more for discharges 65 years of age and over. 

Average stays were longest in the Northeast Region for persons 65 years of age and over discharged from hospitals with 500 beds or more. 

The West Region consistently had a shorter 

average length of stay for each hospital size and 

age group than the Northeast Region did. 

Length of stay for hospitals with 500 beds or 

more in the Northeast Region was only 28.9 

percent longer than that for hospitals with less 

than 100 beds; however, in the West Region, the 

comparative difference was 40.8 percent. 

Patients discharged with a single-listed diagnosis showed length of stay for hospitals with 

500 beds or more (6.7 days) in the Northeast 

Region to be only 13.6 percent greater than that 

for hospitals with less than 100 beds (5.9 days) 

(table B). In the West Region, the difference between the largest and smallest hospitals was 43.2 

percent (5.3 and 3.7 days, respectively). Females discharged under 15 years of age from 
Table 6. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with first-listed diagnoses, single-listed diagnoses, and single-listed 

surgery, by geographic region, bed size of hospital, age, and sex: United States, 1977 

Northeast North Central South West 

I I I I I I I I I I I 

Type of diagnosis or All 190- 500 1 oo- 500 109 500 loo- 500 

surgery, age, and sex regions 6-99 499 beds 6-99 499 beds 6-99 499 beds 6-99 499 beds 

beds beds Or beds beds Or beds beds Or beds beds Or more more more more 

First-listed diagnosis Average length of stay in days 

All ages, both saxes’.......... 7.6 8.5 9.8 6.1 8.4 6.0 8.1 6.3 6.9 

Under 15 years .................................. 4.2 3.2 4.3 6.0 3.4 4.0 5.4 3.3 4.0 5.6 2.8 3.8 5.6 

1544 years.. ...................................... 5.3 5.6 5.6 6.8 4.6 5.5 6.6 4.3 4.8 6.3 3.7 4.8 5.4 

4564 years.. ...................................... 8.5 8.1 9.7 12.0 6.7 8.9 9.8 6.4 8.3 9.6 5.4 7.2 7.7 

65 years and over.. ............................. 11.1 11.8 13.5 15.5 8.5 11.6 12.1 9.1 10.8 11.7 7.8 9.1 9.8 

Single-listed diagnosis 

All ages, both sexa~~.......... 6.0 6.7 6.5 4.5 6.2 4.6 -

Under 15 years .................................. 3.7 2.8 3.9 3.1 3.6 4.6 3.1 3.6 5.1 2.6 3.4 4.2 

15-44 years.. ...................................... 4.5 5.0 4.8 3.8 4.7 5.4 3.8 4.1 5.2 3.2 3.9 4.2 

45-64 years.. ...................................... 6.9 6.8 7.9 5.4 7.2 8.1 5.4 6.7 7.7 4.7 5.8 6.4 

65 years and over ............................... 8.7 11.2 10.8 6.8 8.6 9.9 7.5 8.5 9.2 5.4 7.0 8.0 

Single-listed surgery 

All ages, both sexesl.. ........ 7.6 8.3 6.4 6.2 7.6 5.8 6.5 

-

Under 15 years .................................. 3.7 2.4 3.4 5.3 2.6 3.4 4.7 5.5 2.1 5.2 

1544 years ........................................ 4.7 4.0 5.0 5.7 4.0 4.6 5.7 5.6 3.6 5.3 

4564 years.. ...................................... 8.0 7.5 9.0 9.9 6.5 7.9 8.9 9.2 5.4 6.9 

65 years and over.. ............................. 11.7 12.1 13.8 14.7 10.6 11.4 11.8 12.1 7.2 9.6 

llncludes dkharge data for which sex was not stated 

hospitals with less than 100 beds had stays that 

did not significantly differ among the Northeast, 

North Central, and South Regions (table 18). 

Average stays for single-listed surgery discharges in the Northeast Region were not always 

higher than comparable stays in the West Region 

(table 19). This statement is especially true in 

the age group 15-44 years where males discharged from small hospitals showed similar 

stays for the Northeast and West Regions (4.1 

and 4.0 days, respectively). Female patients in 

the age group 15-44 years (excluding deliveries) 

in the West Region had stays similar to those of 

females discharged in the Northeast Region. 

Table 11 shows the regional length of stay 

by type of hospital ownership, age, sex, and 

marital status for patients discharged. In 

government-owned hospitals, average stays for 

male patients (7.4 days) were 1 .l days longer 

than those for female patients (6.3 days). In 

contrast, in proprietary hospitals the stays for Figure 3. Percent of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals, by type of ownership of hospital and geographic

males were no longer than those for females. In region: United States, 1977 

8 
Table C. Percent distribution of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with first-listed diagnoses, single-listed diagnoses, and single-listed 

surgery, by geographic region, bad size of hospital, age, and sex: United States, 1977 

Northeast North Central South 

Type of diagnosis or All 500 1 oo- 500 1 oo­ surgery, age, and sex regions 6-99 is beds 6-99 499 beds 6-99 499 beds beds Or beds beds Or beds beds more more 

First-listed diagnosis 

All ages, both sexes’.......... 

Under 15 years . . . . . . . .. . . .. 

1544 years . .. . . ... . .. . .. . .. .. . .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . 

4564 years . . . ... . .. . . .. .. . . ... .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. .. 

65 years and over .. ... .._..._................... 

Single-listed diagnosis 

All ages, both sexes’.......... 

Under 15 years ... . . .. .. .. . . ... . . .. . .. ... . . . ... .. 

1544 years .. . .. . .. . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . .. . 

4564 years .. . . .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. . .. . . .. .. . . .. .. . 

65 years and over . . . .. .. . . .. .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. .. . 

Single-listed surgery 

All ages, both sexesl.......... 

Under 15 years ... .. . . .. .. . .. . ... . . . . . . .. . . . 

1544 years . .. . .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. . .. . . 

45-64 years .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. . ... . . . ... ... . . .. 

1Includes discharge data for which sex was not stated. 

both the voluntary and government-owned hospitals in each of the four regions, unmarried discharged persons had longer stays than married 

persons, especially in the Northeast Region. 

Overall, the number of discharges from government hospitals in the Northeast Region comprised the smallest percent of total discharges 

(7.4 percent) for any of the four regions (figure 3). The distribution of discharges by ownership in the South and West Regions showed a 

smaller percent of their discharges from voluntary nonprofit hospitals, 54.2 and 57.6 percent, 

respectively, in contrast to the Northeast and 

North Central Regions (86.4 and 82.4 percent, 

respectively). The South, like the West, when 

compared with the Northeast and North Central 

Regions, had a relatively larger percent of its 

discharges from smaller hospitals than from the 

largest ones. Hospitals with less than 100 beds in 

the South and West Regions comprised 30.3 

and 24.8 percent, respectively, of patient discharges, compared with the Northeast and North 

Percent distribution 

12.8 60.4 26.9 30.3 48.3 

10.4 63.6 26.1 28.4 51.3 

11.4 61 .O 27.5 28.0 49.4 

12.6 58.3 29.1 29.6 48.1 

16.8 59.7 23.6 35.9 45.2 

11.2 60.4 28.5 29.1 48.7 

10.5 63.5 26.1 29.9 51.2 

10.5 61.7 27.9 28.0 49.6 

11.1 57.1 31.9 28.8 47.6 

15.1 66.3 28.6 34.3 43.8 

8.4 59.4 32.2 19.0 53.9 - - - x z 

9.0 62.9 28.1 23.1 53.0 

8.7 59.6 31.7 19.6 55.1 

7.3 56.0 36.7 16.3 53.3 

8.5 60.9 30.4 17.8 52.4 

west 

500 106 500 

beds 6-99 499 beds 

Or beds beds Or more more 

21.4 24.8 64.6 10.6 

20.2 25.6 63.4 11 .o 

22.6 25.0 64.2 10.8 

22.3 24.0 64.7 11.3 

19.0 25.1 65.8 9.1 

22.2 25.4 63.9 10.7 

18.9 28.7 62.3 9.0 

22.5 25.6 64.1 10.3 

23.7 23.6 64.9 11.5 

21.8 24.6 62.9 12.4 

27.1 20.6 68.5

E - 11.0 

24.2 27.1 63.3 10.0 

25.4 22.2 67.2 10.6 

30.4 18.1 70.0 12.1 

30.0 15.9 72.9 11.2 

Central Regions where they comprised 10.8 and 

12.8 percent, respectively, of patient discharges 

(table C). 

RATIO COMPARISONS BY 

SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS 

Table D shows the ratio of the average 

length of stay in the Northeast Region to those 

in the North Central, South, and West Regions 

by selected variables. By comparing the Northeast Region with the West Region by age, the 

average length of stay for ages 15-44 years in the 

Northeast Region is shown to be approximately 

1.26 days for each l-day stay in the West Region, compared with 1.43 days for each l-day 

stay for the total of all ages. Similarly, by comparing hospital size, the ratio for hospitals with 

loo-499 beds is only 1.34 days; by ownership 

(voluntary), 1.39 days; and by marital status 

9 
Table D. Ratios of average length of stay in the Northeast 

Region to stays in the North Central, South, and West 

Regions, by selected characteristics: United States, 1977 

Characteristic North South West Cent. al I I I I 

Ratio 

Total ................................... 1.15 1.24 1.43 

- - - - - - Age: 

Under 15 years.. ........................ 1.05 1.10 1.22 

15-44 years ............................... 1.02 1.16 1.26 

45-64 years.. ............................. 1.11 1.24 1.46 

65 years and over.. .................... 1.21 1.31 1.53 

Hospital size: 

6-99 beds.. ................................ 1.24 1.27 1.55 

loo-499 beds ............................ 1.15 1.25 1.34 

500 beds or more.. .................... 1.17 1.21 1.42 

Hospital ownership: 

Voluntary ................................. 1.10 1.20 1.39 

Government .............................. 1.40 1.44 1.54 

Proprietary.. .............................. 0.86 1.38 1.67 

Sex: 

Male.. ........................................ 1.16 1.26 1.41 

Female.. .................................... 1.14 1.24 1.43 

Marital status: 

Married ..................................... 1.11 1.22 1.41 

Unmarried.. ............................... 1.18 1.28 1.49 

Color: 

White.. ...................................... 1.13 1.26 1.41 

All other ................................... 1.12 1.32 1.36 

Voluntary nonprofit hospitals, 

100-499 beds, unmarried, 

ages 15-44 years1 ...................... 0.98 1.15 1.18 

Single-listed diagnoses fall 

discharges) ................................ 1.08 1.20 1.39 

Single-listed surgery fall 

discharges) ................................ 1.13 1.17 1.38 - - -

lSOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, Division of 

Health Resources Statistics: Unpublished data from the 1977 

Hospital Discharge Survey. 

(married), 1.41 days. Because each of the preceding characteristics shows the Northeast-toWest stay ratio to be less than or similar to the 

total ratio (1.43 days), the combination of these 

characteristics would yield a smaller ratio than 

any single characteristic. This situation occurs 

when stays for married patients, ages 15-44, discharged from voluntary hospitals with loo-499 

beds in the Northeast Region are compared with 

similar discharges in the West Region. The average length-of-stay ratio is only 1.18 days, compared with the total regional ratio of 1.43 

days. 

For discharges with a single-listed diagnosis, 

the Northeast-to-West length-of-stay ratio was 

1.39 days (table D). The average stay in the 

Northeast Region for patients under 15 years of 

age discharged from hospitals with less than 100 

beds was 2.8 days, and in the West Region, the 

stay was 2.6 days, or a ratio of 1.08 days 

(table 18). 

The comparison of average stays for singlelisted surgery discharges by region shows a significant reduction in regional differences by 

selected characteristics (table 19). Female discharges, ages 15-44, from hospitals with 500 

beds or more had stays of 5.1 and 4.5 days, respectively, in the Northeast and West Regions, or 

a ratio of only 1.13 days. The same comparison 

for females (excluding deliveries) showed stays 

of 4.7 and 4.8 days, respectively, or a ratio of 

0.98 days. The stays for the Noktheast and 

South Regions for females (including -deliveries) 

ages 15-44 years discharged from hospitals with 

500 beds or more were both 5.1 days. 

CONCLUSION 

Analysis of average length of stay indicates 

the following: 

Only two characteristics-age and hospital size-are relatively unaffected by interaction with other characteristics. In 

general, older patients in larger hospitals 

had the longest stays regardless of other 

characteristics. 

Color and hospital ownership are influenced by hospital size; marital status differences are influenced by sex, age, and 

number of diagnoses and surgeries; and 

sex differences vary with age and bed 

size. 

Regional differences generally are smallest in the age group under 15 years discharged from medium-sized hospitals, 

and greatest in the age group over 64 

years discharged with a single-listed diagnosis from small hospitals. 

Regional differences in length of stay 

can to some extent be explained by dif10 
ferences in hospital size and ownership. characteristically smaller and composed 

The Northeast - Region is characterized of a higher percent of proprietary hosby large voluntary hospitals, compared pitals. 

with the West Region where hospitals are 

REFERENCES 

INational Center for Health Statistics: Development 

of the design of the NCHS Hospital Discharge Survey. 

Vital and Health Statistics. PHS Pub. No. lOOO-Series 2-

No. 39. Public Health Service. Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office, Sept. 1970. 

2National Center for Health Statistics: Development 

and maintenance of a national inventory of hospitals and 

institutions. Vita2 and Health Statistics. PHS Pub. No. 

1OOOSeries l-No. 3. Public Health Service. Washington. 

U.S. Government Printing Office, Feb. 1965. 

SNational Center for Health Statistics: Eighth Revision International Classification of Diseases, Adapted for 

Use in the United States. 2 Vols. PHS Pub. No. 1693. 

Public Health Service. Washington. U.S. Government 

Printing Office, 1967 and 1968. 

000 

4National Center for Health Statistics: Utilization 

of short-stay hospitals, summary of nonmedical statistics, United States, 1965. Vital and Health Statistics. 

PHS Pub. No. lOOO-Series 13-No. 2. Public Health 

Service. Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, 

Aug. 1967. 

SNational Center for Health Statistics: Utilization 

of short-stay hospitals by characteristics of discharged 

patients, United States, 1965. Vital and He&h Statistics. PHS Pub. No. lOOO-Series 13-No. 3. Public Health 

Service. Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, 

Dec. 1967. 

11 
LIST OF DETAILED TABLES 

1. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by sex, 

color, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 

2. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by sex, 

color, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .................. 

3. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by sex, color, 

and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . ............................ 

4. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by sex, bed 

size of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 

5. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by sex, bed 

size of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 

6. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by sex, bed 

size of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . ... 

7. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by sex, type 

of ownership of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

8. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by sex, type 

of ownership of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

9. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by sex, type 

of ownership of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 

10. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by color, marital status, 

age, geographic region, and bed size of hospital: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

11. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged with a first-listed diagnosis, by type of ownership of hospital, geographic region, age, sex, marital status, and sex and marital status: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

12. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by color, marital status, 

age, geographic region, and bed size of hospital: United States, 1977 . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

13. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by color, marital status, 

age, geographic region, and bed size of hospital: United States, 1977 . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 

14. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by sex, geographic region, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . . . .... 

15. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by sex, geographic region, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-.......................................... 

16. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by sex, geographic region, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 

17. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by geographic region, 

bed size of hospital, sex, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

18. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by geographic region, 

bed size of hospital, sex, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 

19. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by geographic region, 

bed size of hospital, sex, and age: United States, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

12 
Table 1. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitels with a first-listed diagnosis, by sex, color, 

and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. 

-

Excludes newborn infants J 

30th

Color and age EII 

Male 

I

I 

Female z 11 Male 1 Female iexes 

II 

Total Average length of stay Number of patients 

in days discharged in thousands 

All ages .......................................................................................... I 7.3 

-

7.8 7.0 35,902 -14,385 21,518 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 4.2 4.3 4.1 3,775 2,137 1,638 

1544 years .................................................................................................... 5.3 8.3 4.9 15,180 4,553 10.627 

4564 years .................................................................................................... 8.5 8.6 8.4 8,804 4,042 4,562 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 11.1 10.8 11.3 8,344 3,653 4,690 

White 

All ages.. .............................................................................................. 7.3 7.7 7.1 27,342 11,115 16,226 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 4.1 4.2 4.1 2,802 1,575 1,227 

15-44 yeers .................................................................................................... 5.3 6.2 4.9 11,055 3,429 7,626 

4564 years .................................................................................................... 8.4 8.4 8.4 6,797 3,199 3,598 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 11.0 10.7 11.2 6,688 2,912 3,776 

All other 

All ages.. .............................................................................................. 7.6 8.9 6.8 3,963 1,459 2,504 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 5.2 5.4 4.8 497 293 204 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 5.7 7.5 5.1 2,155 553 1,603 

4564 years.. .................................................................................................. 10.6 11.5 9.7 741 348 393 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 12.6 12.4 12.9 569 266 303 

Color not stated 

Al I ages ................................................................................................ 7.0 7.4 6.8 4,598 1,810 2,788 

Under 15 years ............................................................................................... 3.6 3.7 3.5 477 269 207 

1544 years.. .................................................................................................. 5.1 5.9 4.7 1,969 571 1,398 

4564 years .................................................................................................... 8.0 8.0 8.0 1,066 495 571 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 11.1 10.5 11.5 1,086 475 611 

13 
Table 2. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by sex, color, 

and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Color and age :zfts 1 Male 1 Female Ert 1) Male 1 Female 

Total 

All ages.. .......................................................................................... 

Under 15 years ................................................................................................. 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 

White 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 

All other 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 

15-14 years ..................................................................................................... 

Average length of stay Number of patients 

in days discharged in thousands 

5.4 5.9 5.1 16,627 7,025 11,602 

3.7 3.9 3.6 2,474 1,404 1,070 

4.5 5.4 4.1 10,208 2,822 7.386 

6.9 6.9 7.0 3,652 1,765 i ,886 

a.7 a.2 9.1 2,293 1.034 1,260 

5.4 5.9 5.1 13,960 5,379 8,581 

3.7 3.8 3.6 i ,838 1,039 800 

4.5 5.4 4.1 7.415 2,135 5.280 

6.9 6.8 7.0 2,866 1,395 1,491 

8.6 a.1 9.1 1,821 al0 1,011 

5.4 6.6 4.7 2,188 727 1,461 

4.5 4.9 4.1 329 194 135 

4.6 6.3 4.1 1,428 323 1,105 

4564 years ...................................................................................................... 7.7 a.1 7.3 283 136 147

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 10.3 10.1 10.4 147 74 74 

Color not stated 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 5.1 5.6 4.8 2,479 919 1,560 

Under 15 years. ................................................................................................ 3.3 3.4 3.1 307 172 135 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.3 5.1 4.0 1,365 363 1,001 

4564 years ...................................................................................................... 6.6 6.7 6.5 482 234 249 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... a.2 7.8 a.5 325 150 176 

14 
Table 3. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by sex, color, 

and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Color and age ,“,“:,“, 11 Male 1 Female 

Total Average length of stay 

in days 

Number of patients 

discharged in thousands 

All ages ............................................................................................ 6.6 7.2 6.2 10,227 4,093 6,133 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.7 3.8 3.4 1,202 520 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.7 5.6 4.4 4,847 3,406 

4564 years ...................................................................................................... 8.0 8.4 7.7 2,350 1,235 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 11.7 11.1 12.2 1,827 972 

White 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 6.7 7.3 6.3 7,739 3,153 4,587 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.6 3.8 3.3 502 396 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.8 5.6 4.4 3,540 1,096 2.444 

4564 years ...................................................................................................... 7.9 8.1 7.7 1,859 882 977 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 11.7 11.3 12.0 1,442 673 769 

All other 

6.9 8.2 6.2 1,093 388 705 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 4.7 4.5 5.2 139 87 52 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 5.0 6.5 4.6 654 151 502 

4564 years ...................................................................................................... 11.1 12.3 10.0 180 87 94 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 13.7 12.1 15.4 121 63 58 

Color not stated 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 6.1 6.4 5.8 1,394 553 841 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.0 3.1 2.9 165 93 72 

15-44 years .................................................... . ................................................. 4.4 5.0 4.1 654 194 460 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 7.1 7.5 6.8 310 147 164 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 10.8 9.9 11.5 265 119 146 

15 
Table 4. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by sex, bed size 

of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

-

Bed size of hospital and age Eis (I Male 1 Female Both Male Female sexes II I 

All sizes Average length of stay Number of patients 

in days discharged in thousands 

All ages .......................................................................................... i 7.3 7.8 

G 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 

4.2 

5.3 

4.3 

6.3 

4564 years .................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 

8.5 

11.1 

8.6 

10.8 

6-99 beds 

6.0 6.1 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 3.2 3.2 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 4.4 4.7 

45-64 years .................................................................................................... 6.5 6.4 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 9.1 8.6 

100-I 99 beds 

6.8 7.2 

Under 15years.. ............................................................................................. 3.9 3.9 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 4.7 6.8 

45-64 years .................................................................. .: ................................ 8.0 8.1 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 10.6 10.0 

200-299 beds 

Al I ages................................................................................................ 7.3 7.8 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 4.1 4.2 

1544 years .................................................................................................... 5.2 6.1 

45-64 years .................................................................................................... 8.5 8.5 

65 years and over ........................................................................................... 11.6 11.3 

300-499 beds 

Ail ages........................................................ ..- .................................... 7.7 8.2 

Under 15 years ............................................................................................... 4.2 4.2 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 5.6 6.6 

45-64 years .................................................................................................... 9.1 9.1 

65 years and over ........................................................................................... 12.0 11.8 

500 beds or more 

All ages................................................................................................ 8.4 9.3 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 5.6 5.8 

15-44 years ....................................................... , ............................................ 6.4 8.0 

4564 years .................................................................................................... 10.0 10.3 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 12.4 12.3 

7.0 35.902 14,385 21,518 

4.1 3,775 2,137 1,638 

4.9 15,180 4,553 10,627 

8.4 8,604 4,042 4,562 

11.3 8,344 3,653 4,690 

6.0 7,126 2,871 4,255 

3.2 678 361 317 

4.2 2,869 931 1,938 

6.5 1,678 772 906 

9.4 1,901 807 1,093 

6.5 6,097 2,375 3,722 

3.8 690 388 302 

4.3 2,591 730 1,881 

7.9 1,370 834 736 

11.1 1,447 624 823 

7.0 5,556 2,224 3,332 

3.8 623 355 268 

4.8 2,334 688 1,646 

8.6 1,259 594 664 

11.8 1,340 587 754 

7.4 9,761 3,931 5,830 

4.1 1,012 594 418 

5.1 4,127 1,223 2,905 

9.0 2,459 1,161 1,298 

12.2 2,163 953 1,209 

7.8 7,362 2,984 4,378 

5.3 772 440 333 

5.8 3,258 981 2,277 

9.7 1,838 881 957 

12.5 1,493 682 811 

16 
Table 5. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by sex, bed 

sizeof hospitat; and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Bed size of hospital and age Both Male Female sexes II I - II I 

All sizes Average length 

in days 

of stay Number of patients 

discharged in thousands 

All ages ............................................................................................ 5.4 5.9 5.1 18,627 7,025 11,602 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.7 3.9 3.6 2,474 1,404 1,070 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.5 5.4 4.1 10,208 2,822 7,386 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 6.9 6.9 7.0 3,652 1,765 1,886 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 8.7 8.2 9.1 2,293 1,034 1,260 

6-99 beds 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 4.5 4.8 4.3 3,555 1,396 2,159 

Under 15 years................ ................................................................................. 3.0 3.0 3.0 465 256 209 

16-44 years ...................................................................................................... 

45:64_years. .. ............. l.......................~ ...... -. . ....... . ..._...-... ........................ 3.8 4.2 

5.5 5.5, 

3.6 

54 

1,906 591 1,314 

326 363, 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 7.3 7.2 7.3 496 223 272 

100-l 99 beds 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 5.0 5.5 4.7 3,116 1,107 2,008 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.5 3.6 3.4 4lB 250 199 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.0 5.1 3.7 1,750 440 1,310 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 6.9 6.6 7.1 559 263 296 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 8.4 7.8 8.9 359 155 204 

200-299 beds 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 5.2 5.7 4.9 2,853 1,074 1,779 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.6 3.9 3.3 409 -233 176 

1544 years ...................................................................................................... 4.3 5.3 3.9 1,562 426 1,136 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 

6.8 6.7 

8.6 8.1 

6.8 

9.0 

533 259 274 

349 156 193 

300-499 beds 

All ages................................................................................................. 5.6 6.1 5.3 5,109 1,930 3,179 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.7 3.7 3.7 663 388 275 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.7 5.7 ‘4.3 2,808 765 2,043 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 7.2 7.2 7.2 1,039 505 534 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 9.2 8.6 9.7 599 271 327 

500 beds or more 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 6.3 7.1 5.8 3,995 1,518 2,477 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 4.8 5.2 4.4 488 278 211 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 5.3 6.7 4.7 2,183 599 1,583 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 7.9 7.9 7.9 831 412 419 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 9.7 9.0 10.4 492 229 263 

17 
Table 6. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by sex, bed size 

of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newbor/n infants] 

-

Bed size of hospital and age 

Both Male Female E I/ Male 1 Female 

II I 

All sizes Average length of stay 

in days 

Number of patients 

discharged in thousands 

All ages ............................................................................................ i 6.6 7.2 6.2 10,227 4,093 6,133 

Under 15 years ................................................................................................. 3.7 3.8 3.4 1,202 682 520 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.7 5.6 4.4 4,847 1,441 3,406 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 8.0 8.4 7.7 2,350 1,115 1,235 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 11.7 11.1 12.2 1,827 855 972 

6-99 beds 

All ages .................................................................................................. 5.2 5.3 5.1 1,338 505 832 

Under 15 years ................................................................................................. 2.6 2.6 2.5 188 108 80 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 3.9 4.1 3.8 678 193 485 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 6.5 6.8 6.2 263 113 151 

65 years and over ............................................................................................. 10.1 9.1 10.9 208 92 116 

100-l 99 beds 

All ages .................................................................................................. 5.7 6.3 5.3 1,680 630 1,050 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.2 3.2 3.1 199 108 92 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.0 4.9 3.7 843 223 620 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 7.1 7.5 6.8 337 158 179 

65 years and over ............................................................................................. 10.5 9.9 11.1 300 141 160 

200-299 beds 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 6.6 6.9 6.4 1,662 683 

Under 15 years ................................................................................................. 3.5 3.7 3.3 202 111 91 

15-44 years. ..................................................................................................... 4.6 5.3 4.3 775 243 532 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 8.0 7.9 8.1 376 182 194 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 11.9 10.8 12.8 310 147 163 

300-499 beds 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 7.0 7.6 6.6 3,079 1,255 1,824 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.5 3.5 3.4 343 196 146 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 5.0 6.0 4.5 1,410 437 973 

45-64 years.. .................................................................................................... 8.2 8.5 8.0 752 359 393 

,65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 12.3 11.9 12.7 575 263 312 

500 beds or more 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 7.6 8.5 6.9 2,468 1,020 1,448 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 5.1 5.4 4.6 270 159 111 

15-44 years. ..................................................................................................... 5.6 6.8 5.1 1,142 345 797 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 9.0 9.5 8.5 622 303 318 

65 years and over ............................................................................................. 12.3 12.2 12.4 434 212 222 

sexes II I 

18 
Table 7. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by sex, type of 

ownership of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Type of ownership and age 30th Male Female sexes II I

II I 

K 11 Male / Female 

All types Average length of stay 

in days 

Number of discharged 

patients in thousands 

All ages .......................................................................................... 7.3 7.8 7.0 35,902 14,385 21,518 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 4.2 4.3 4.1 3,775 2,137 1,638 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 5.3 6.3 4.9 15,180 4,553 10,627 

45-64 years .................................................................................................... 8.5 8.6 8.4 8,604 4,042 4,562 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 11.1 10.8 11.3 8,344 3,653 4.690 

Voluntary nonprofit 

All ages.. .............................................................................................. 7.5 8.0 7.2 25,236 10,022 15,214 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 4.2 4.3 4.1 2,627 1,501 1,126 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 5.4 6.3 5.0 10,520 3,045 7,475 

4564 years .................................................................................................... 8.8 8.9 8.7 6,136 2,870 3,267 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 11.6 11.2 11.9 5,953 2,607 3,346 

Government 

All ages.. .............................................................................................. 6.7 7.4 6.3 7,469 3,041 4,429 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 4.4 4.6 4.3 886 492 394 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 5.2 6.6 4.6 3,351 1,041 2,310 

45-64 years .................................................................................................... 8.0 8.0 8.0 1,613 776 838 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 9.8 9.7 9.9 1,619 732 887 

Proprietary 

All ages.. .............................................................................................. 6.8 6.9 6.8 3.197 1,322 1,875 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 3.4 3.3 3.5 263 145 118 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 5.2 5.7 5.0 1,308 467 842 

45-64 years .................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 

7.4 

10.1 

7.5 

9.8 

7.3 

10.2 1 

854 

771 

396 

314 

458 

458 

19 
-- 

Table 8. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by sex, type 

of ownership of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Type of ownership and age Both Male Female sexes II I 

All types Average length 

in days 

of stay Number 

patients 

of discharged 

in thousands 

All ages.. .......................................................................................... 5.4 5.9 5.1 8,627 7,025 11,602 

Under 15 years.. ............................... ..- ............................................................. 3.7 3.9 3.6 2,474 1,404 1,070 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.5 5.4 4.1 10,208 2,822 7,386 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 6.9 6.9 7.0 3,652 1,765 1,886 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 8.7 8.2 9.1 2,293 1,034 1,260 

Voluntary nonprofit 

Al I ages.. ................................................................................................ 5.5 6.0 5.2 13,139 4,895 8,244 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.8 3.9 3.7 1,723 980 743 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.5 5.4 4.1 7,123 1,891 5,232 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 7.1 7.1 7.1 2,635 1,273 1,362 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 8.9 8.3 9.3 1,658 751 907 

Government 

Al I ages .................................................................................................. 5.1 5.8 4.7 3,971 1,500 2,470 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.8 4.1 3.5 573 324 249 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.4 5.8 3.9 2,288 649 1,639 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 6.5 6.2 6.7 673 327 346 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 8.3 7.9 8.6 437 200 237 

Proprietary 

All ages .................................................................................................. 5.2 5.5 5.1 1,517 629 888 

Under 15 years ................................................................................................. 3.0 3.1 3.0 179 101 78 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.5 5.0 4.2 797 281 516 

4564 years.. .................................................................................................... 6.6 6.7 6.4 343 165 178 

65 years and over ............................................................................................. 8.0 7.5 8.3 198 82 115 

20 
Table 9. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by sex, type of 

ownership of hospital, and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

-

Type of ownership and age Both Female K // Male 1 Female sexes 

All types Average length of stay Number of discharged 

in days 1patients in thousands 

All ages ............................................................................................ 6.6 7.2 6.2 10,227 4,093 6,133 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.7 3.8 3.4 1,202 682 520 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.7 5.6 4.4 4,847 1,441 3,406 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 8.0 8.4 7.7 2,350 1,115 1,235 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 11.7 11.1 12.2 1,827 972 

Voluntary nonprofit 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 6.7 7.3 6.4 7,590 4,556 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.6 3.8 3.4 851 477 374 

1544 years ...................................................................................................... 4.7 5.5 4.4 3,523 1,038 2,485 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 8.1 8.5 7.8 1,796 855 941 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 11.8 11.2 12.4 1,419 664 755 

Government 

Al I ages.. ................................................................................................ 6.5 7.4 5.9 1,843 728 1,114 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 4.0 4.2 3.8 258 151 107 

1544 years ...................................................................................................... 5.0 6.7 4.3 943 274 669 

4564 years ...................................................................................................... 8.5 8.6 a.3 361 170 191 

65 years and over ............................................................................................. 11.4 11.1 11.6 280 134 147 

Proprietary 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 5.6 5.9 5.4 794 330 463 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 2.6 2.5 2.8 93 54 39 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.2 4.6 3.9 381 128 262 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 6.5 6.8 6.2 193 91 102 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 10.7 10.4 10.9 128 58 70 

21 
5.8 4.3 6.2 

Table 10. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by color, marital status, age, 

geographic region, and bed size of hospital: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Color Married Unmarried2 

II I 

Region and bed size Total1 I5 65 15 65 

of hospital years 15-44 45-64 years years 15-44 45-64 years 

and years years and and years years and 

over over over over 

All regions Average length of stay in days 

All sizes.. ........ 7.3 7.3 1 7.6 7.0 7.7 9.6 

6-99 beds.. ..................... 6.0 6.0 6.0 5.9 6.3 8.2 4.6 7.3 9.9 

100-499 beds ................. 7.4 7.4 7.5 6.8 7.8 10.6 5.7 9.7 12.4 

500 beds or more.. ......... 8.4 6.4 8.5 8.7 8.8 8.3 6.1 9.6 11.8 7.0 11.1 12.9 

Northeast 

u I 

All sizes ............... 8.6 8.6 9.1 6.7 9.1 a.2 II 5.5 I 9.3 12.4 6.3 14.6 

6-99 beds ....................... 7.6 7.4 11.3 a.2 7.9 7.0 5.1 7.6 10.4 9.4 6.3 12.9 

100499 beds ................. 8.5 8.5 8.4 8.2 8.9 a.1 II 5.4 I 9.2 12.1 10.4 6.0 14.6 

600 beds or more.. ......... 9.8 9.7 9.9 10.5 10.2 14.8 10.9 7.4 15.8 

North Central 

All sizes ............... 7.5 7.6 8.1 7.1 7.9 8.8 6.2 11.8 

6-99 beds ....................... 6.1 6.2 7.5 5.2 6.4 8.0 7.3 5.0 9.1 

100499 beds ................. 7.6 8.1 7.0 7.9 10.8 8.9 6.0 12.3 

600 beds or more.. ......... 2: 8.4 8.1 8.4 6.7 11.3 9.5 7.1 12.8 

South 

West -

All sizes ............... 6.0 6.1 6.7 5.1 6.3 5.8 4.3 6.6 a.1 

6-99 beds ....................... 4.9 5.1 4.4 3.3 5.2 4.7 3.7 5.0 6.6 6.1 3.6 6.7 9.6 

100499 beds ................. 6.3 6.5 7.0 5.3 6.5 6.2 4.4 7.1 8.5 7.2 5.3 7.6 10.0 

500 6.7 5.0 7.6 9.6

All sizes.. ............. 6.9 6.8 6.9 7.4 7.2 8.1 8.9 10.8 

6-99 beds ....................... 6.0 5.8 6.7 6.3 5.8 11 4.3 1 6.2 8.4 7.2 4.4 6.7 

100499 beds ................. 6.7 7.0 7.8 7.2 47 81 10.3 8.2 5.2 9.1 

600 beds or more.. ......... a.1 a.2 8.0 7.3 8.4 ::i 6:0 9:1 11.3 9.1 6.7 11.1 

beds or more.. ......... 6.9 6.8 7.6 6.6 7.0 !lL7.3 &I 7.0 9.9 

IIncludes patients for whom marital status was not stated. 

21ncludes single, separated, divorced, and widowed persons. 

22 
--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

Table 11. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged with a first-listed diagnosis, by type of ownership of hospital, geographic 

region, age, sex, marital status, and sex and marital status: United States, 1977 

lDischaraes from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Region, age, sex, marital status, ~~~~~ 1 Government 1 Proprietary ~~~~~ 1 Government 1 Proprietary and sex and marital status 

ALL REGIONS Average length of stay in days Number of discharged patients 

in thousands 

Age -

All ages.. ..................................................... 7.5 6.i 6.8 25,236 7,469 3.197 -

All ages, 15 years and over.. ............................. 7.9 7.c 22,609 6,584 2,934 

15-24 years.. ............................................................... 4.7 4.E 4.4 3,908 1,417 414 

2544 years.. ............................................................... 5.8 5.7 5.6 6,612 1.934 8,941 

4664 years.. ............................................................... 8.8 8.C 7.4 6,136 1,613 8,540 

65 years and over.. ...................................................... 11.6 9.E 10.1 5,953 1,619 7,715 

Sex, all ages 

Male.. .......................................................................... 8.0 7.4 6.9 10,022 3,041 1,322 

Female.. ...................................................................... 7.2 6.3 6.8 15,214 4.429 1,875 

Marital status, 15 years and over1 

Married ....................................................................... 

Unmarried .................................................................. 

7.3 

9.0 

6.4 

8.a 

6.7 

7.8 

13,917 

7,694 

3,704 

2,397 

1,748 

1,077 

Marital status and sex, 15 years and over1 

Married males ............................................................. 8.6 7.5 7.4 5,638 1,513 782 

Married females .......................................................... 6.4 5.6 6.2 8,278 2,190 966 

Unmarried males.. ....................................................... 8.8 8.6 7.4 2,504 840 352 

Unmarried females.. .................................................... 9.1 7.6 7.9 5,190 1,566 725 

NORTHEAST REGION 

Age -

All ages.. ..................................................... 8.5 9.4 6,749 579 

All ages, 15 years and over.. ............................. 9.0 9.9 -__ 6,091 519 _--

15-24 years.. ............................................................... 4.9 6.3 --_ 962 106 

2544 years.. ............................................................... 

4564 years.. ............................................................... 

6.0 

9.7 

7.2 

12.1 _-- 1.714 

1,710 

189 

126 

65 years and over.. ...................................................... 13.4 16.0 ___ 1,705 99 

Sex, all ages -

Male.. .......................................................................... 9.1 10.6 _-_ 2,714 258 

Female.. ...................................................................... 8.1 8.4 -__ 4.034 322 

Marital status, 15 years and over1 

Married ....................................................................... 8.1 L 8.4 -__ 3,593 212 

Unmarried .................................................................. 10.3 11.0 ___ 2,230 238 

Marital status and sex, 15 years and over1 

Married males ............................................................. 9.7 10.6 --_ 1,487 89 

Married females .......................................................... 6.9 6.8 2,108 123 --_ Unmarried males.. ....................................................... 9.9 12.0 --_ 752 98 

Unmarried females.. .................................................... 10.4 10.4 1,478 139 

IDoes not include marital status “Not stated.” 

23 
Table 11. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged with a first-listed diagnosis, by type of ownership of hospital, geographic 

region, age, sex, marital status, and sex and marital status: United States, 1977-Con. 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Region, age, sex, marital status, Voluntary Government Proprietary Voluntary 

and sex and marital status nonprofit I I nonprofit 

NORTH CENTRAL REGION 

Age -

All ages .. .. .. . . . . . .. .. . . . . .. . . . .. .. . . .. . .. .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. 

All ages, 15 years and over .. . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . .. . . . 

15-24 years .. . .. . . . .. .. .. . . . .. . . . . ... . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . .. .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . . 

2544 years . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . .. .. . .. . .. . . . . . .. .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . . . . . . 

4564 years _................................................................ 

65 years,and over .. . . . .. . . .. .. .. .. . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . 

Sex, all ages 

Male . .. .. . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . .. .. . .. . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. . 

Female . . . . . .. . . . ... .._........................................................ 

Marital status, 15 years and over1 

Married . . . . .. . . .. .. .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . 

Unmarried .. .. . .. . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . 

Marital status and sex, 15 years and over1 

Married males . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . ... . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . 

Married females .,........................................................ 

Unmarried males . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . 

Unmarried females . ..._................................................. 

SOUTH REGION 

Aae 

All ages ... . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . 

All ages, 15 years and over. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. .. . .. . . .. . . . . . . 

15-24 years . . .. . .. .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . .. . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. .. . . . . . 

2544 years .. .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . 

4564 years .. . .. . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . 

65 years and over . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . 

Sex, all ages 

Male . . . . . .. .. . .. .. . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . .. .. .. . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. .. . . 

Female . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . 

Marital status, 15 years and over’ 

Married .. . ... . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. .. . 

Unmarried .. . . . . .. . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . .. 

Marital status and sex, 15 years and over1 

Married males .. . .. .. . . . . . .. .. .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . 

Married females ... . . . . . .. . . .. . .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . . . 

Unmarried males _........................................................ 

Unmarried females . .. . .. . . .. . .. . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . 

IDoes not include marital status “Not stated.” 

Average length of stay in days Number of discharged patients 

in thousands 

7.7 6.7 

8.1 7.0 

5.0 4.7 

6.2 5.7 

9.1 

11.7 2: 

8.1 7.1 

7.4 6.4 

7.6 6.5 

9.0 7.8 

8.8 7.4 

6.8 5.8 

8.9 7.9 

9.0 7.7 

7.1 6.5 -

7.4 6.9 

4.3 4.2 

5.4 5.5 

8.4 7.8 

10.8 10.0 

7.6 7.1 

6.8 6.1 

6.8 6.3 

8.4 7.8 

8.2 

6.0 

8.0 

8.6 

8,931 1,850 

7,905 1,627 

1,477 329 

2,312 423 

2,174 406 

1,942 470 

3,611 754 

5,320 1,096 

4,826 961 

2,703 590 

1,981 399 

2,846 562 

886 207 

1,816 383 

6,118 3,675 

5,471 3,217 

966 685 

1,683 941 

1,293 798 

1,428 794 

2,292 1,472 

3,826 2,202 

3,553 1,885 

1,738 1,153 

1,342 784 

2,210 1,101 

629 372 

1,209 781 

___ 

___ 

-_-

___ 
--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

--- 

Table 11. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged with a first-listed diagnosis, by type of ownership of hospital, geographic 

region, age, sex, marital status, and sex and marital status: United States, 1977-Con. 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Region, age, sex, marital status, ~~~~~ / Government ) Proprieta, Voluntary Government Proprietary and sex and marital status nonprofit 

WEST REGION Average length of stay in days Number of discharged patients 

in thousands 

All ages ....................................................... 6.1 6.1 3,437 1,365 

All ages, i 5 years andover.. ............................. 6.4 6.2 --_ 3,141 1,220 

15-24 years.. ............................................................... 3.7 4.5 --_ 503 298 

25-44 years ................ . ................................................ 4.6 5.3 903 381 

4564 years ........................................................... . ....... 6.6 7.3 m-w 859 284 

65 years and over.. ...................................................... 9.1 8.4 w-w 877 257 

Sex, all ages 

Male.. .......................................................................... ,6.5 7.0 so_ 1,405 556 --_ Female.. ...................................................................... 5.9 5.4 2.033 809 

Marital status, 15 years and over’ 

Married . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 5.9 5.7 1$43 646 ___ Unmarried .. . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 7.2 7.0 1,024 415 -__ 

Marital status and sex. 15 Years and over’ 

Married males ............................................................. 6.8 6.8 827 241 

Married females .......................................................... 5.2 5.0 1,115 405 

Unmarried males.. ....................................................... 7.3 8.0 337 162 

Unmarried females ...................................................... 7.2 6.3 e-e 686 253 

IDoes not include marital status “Not stated.” 

25 
Table 12. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by color. marital status, age, 

geographic region, and bed size of hospital: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants ] 

Color Married Unmarried2 

Region and bed size Total Total1 I5 65 15 65 

of hospital White All Not years 15-44 45-64 years years 1544 45-64 years 

other stated and years years and and years years and 

over over over over 

All regions Average length of stay in days 

All sizes.. ........ 5.6 5.3 4.2 6.7 7.8 6.3 4.9 7.8 9.7 

6-99 beds ....................... 4.5 4.5 4.7 4.4 4.7 4.4 3.7 6.7 5.2 4.0 6.2 8.0 

100499 beds ................. 5.3 5.4 5.2 5.0 5.6 5.3 4.2 7.8 6.3 4.8 7.9 9.9 

500 beds or more.. ......... 6.3 6.4 6.0 6.4 6.5 6.2 5.0 8.9 7.0 5.7 8.7 10.6 

Northeast 

All sizes ............... 6.1 6.1 6.4 6.1 6.4 6.0 4.6 7.6 7.2 12.1 

6-99 beds.. ..................... 5.9 5.6 10.5 6.0 6.2 5.2 6.3 7.7 13.8 

100499 beds.. ............... 6.0 6.1 5.9 5.7 6.3 5.9 7.6 7.2 12.1 

500 beds or more.. ......... 6.7 6.6 6.7 7.1 6.9 6.7 8.1 7.2 11.0 

North Central 

All sizes.. ............. 5.6 5.8 5.2 5.6 4.6 7.1 7.8 6.5 5.2 8.4 9.6 

6-99 beds ....................... 4.5 4.6 6.2 4.1 4.7 4.5 5.3 6.4 5.2 3.9 6.2 7.2 

100499 beds ................. 5.4 5.8 5.1 5.8 5.4 6.9 7.6 6.4 5.1 8.8 9.4 

500 beds or more.. ......... 6.5 ::: 5.9 6.4 6.7 6.4 8.1 8.8 7.4 6.0 8.6 11.5 

south 

All sizes ............... 5.6 6.4 7.8 4.6 

6-99 beds ....................... 4.5 4.5 4.3 4.7 4.6 5.3 7.4 5.0 3.8 

100499 beds ................. 5.0 4.9 4.8 5.2 4.9 6.6 7.8 6.0 4.5 2: 

500 beds or more.. ......... 6.2 6.4 5.7 6.3 6.0 7.4 8.4 6.9 5.7 9.8 

West 

All sizes ............... 4.4 4.6 4.6 6.0 5.8 7.8 

6-99 beds ....................... 3.7 3.8 3.4 2.7 3.8 3.7 4.5 5.2 3.9 3.2 5.9 

100499 beds.. ............... 4.6 4.8 4.5 4.0 4.8 4.6 5.8 6.2 5.2 4.2 8.0 

500 beds or more ........... 5.3 5.3 4.8 5.4 5.4 5.1 6.4 6.8 5.7 4.4 9.5 

lIncludes patients for whom marital status was not stated. 

21ncludes single, separated, divorced, and widowed persons. 

26 
Table 13. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by color, marital status, age, 

geographic region, and bed size of hospital: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Color Married Unmarried2 

Region and bed size Total Total1 I5 65 

of hospital All Not years 1544 4564 years White other stated and years years and 

over over 

All regions Average length of stay in days 

All sizes.. ........ 6.6 6.7 6.9 6.1 7.0 6.6 4.7 7.7 10.6 7.7 4.8 

6-99 beds ....................... 5.2 5.2 5.6 4.7 5.6 5.2 4.0 6.0 8.4 6.3 3.7 7.8 12.2 

100499 beds ................. 6.5 6.7 6.5 6.0 7.0 6.5 4.6 7.6 10.5 7.7 4.6 9.1 13.2 

500 beds or more.. ......... 7.6 7.6 8.0 6.9 7.9 7.6 5.5 8.6 11.8 8.3 5.7 10.1 12.9 

Northeast 

All sizes ............... 7.6 7.7 8.1 7.0 8.1 7.6 5.0 8.5 12.8 8.8 5.1 10.8 14.9 

6-99 beds.. ..................... 5.9 5.9 7.9 6.0 6.3 5.3 3.9 5.9 10.7 8.1 4.1 11.7 13.5 

100499 beds .............. 7.6 7.6 7.7 7.0 8.0 7.5 5.0 8.6 12.3 8.9 4.9 10.2 15.3 

500 beds or more.. ......... 8.3 8.4 8.7 7.3 8.6 8.5 5.6 9.0 15.6 8.7 5.8 12.5 13.6 

North Central 

All sizes ............... 6.7 6.7 6.8 6.4 7.1 6.8 5.0 7.9 10.4 7.5 4.7 9.2 12.6 

6-99 beds ....................... 5.5 5.5 6.4 5.2 6.0 5.5 4.1 6.4 8.9 6.6 3.7 7.3 12.1 

100499 beds.. ................ 6.4 6.5 5.9 6.3 6.9 6.5 4.7 7.6 10.2 7.4 4.4 9.5 12.6 

500 beds or more.. ......... 7.5 7.5 7.4 7.0 7.8 7.7 5.7 8.8 11.2 8.0 5.6 9.3 12.7 

South 

All sizes ............... 6.5 6.3 7.0 6.5 6.8 6.3 4.6 7.5 10.7 7.9 4.9 9.6 13.0 

6-99 beds ....................... 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.0 6.0 5.6 4.1 6.8 9.4 6.7 .4.0 7.0 13.0 

100499 beds ................. 6.2 6.0 6.7 7.1 6.6 6.0 4.4 10.9 7.8 4.7 9.3 12.9 

500 beds or more.. ......... 7.6 7.6 8.3 6.1 7.9 7.5 5.5 2; 11.1 8.7 5.8 11 .o 13.2 

West 

All sizes ............... 5.5 5.8 5.5 4.6 5.8 5.6 4.2 6.3 8.0 6.2 4.3 7.1 10.5 

6-99 beds ....................... 4.3 4.4 4.9 2.6 4.6 4.5 3.8 4.9 6.2 4.7 3.1 7.4 9.7 

100499 beds.. ............... 5.8 6.2 5.3 4.7 6.0 5.8 4.2 6.6 8.4 6.5 4.4 7.1 10.6 

500 beds or more.. ......... 6.5 6.4 7.3 7.6 6.7 6.1 4.6 6.8 8.7 7.2 6.0 6.4 10.6 

lIncludes patients for whom marital status was not stated. 

21ncludes single, separated, divorced, and widowed persons. 

27 
Table 14. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by sex, 

geographic region, and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Region and age 

All regions 

All ages.. ........................................................................................ 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 

45-64 years .................................................................................................... 

65 years and over ........................................................................................... 

Northeast 

All ages................................................................................................ 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 

45-64 years .................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 

North Central 

All ages................................................................................................ 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 

45-64 years .................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 

South 

All ages.. .............................................................................................. 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 

15-44 years .................................................................................................... 

45-64 years .................................................................................................... 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 

West 

All ages................................................................................................ 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................. 

1544 years ...................................................................................... .:. ........... 

45-64 years .................................. ,. ................................................................ 

65 years and over.. ......................................................................................... 

Both Male Female sexes 

IIII I

I 

Average length of stay Number of patients 

in days discharged in thousands 

7.3 7.8 7.0 35,902 14,385 

4.2 4.3 4.1 3,775 2,137 

5.3 6.3 4.9 15,180 4,553 

a.5 8.6 a.4 8,604 4,042 

11.1 I 0.8 11.3 a,344 3,653 

8.6 9.2 a.2 7,al I 

4.5 4.6 4.4 739 432 

5.8 7.2 5.2 3,182 973 

9.9 10.1 9.7 I ,982 954 

13.6 13.2 14.0 I ,908 a32 

7.5 7.9 7.2 I 0,835 4,392 

4.3 4.4 4.1 1,251 714 

5.7 6.7 5.3 4,567 1,395 

a.9 a.9 a.8 2,594 1,220 

11.2 I 0.8 11.5 2,424 1,063 

6.9 7.3 6.6 11,290 4,366 

4.1 4.2 4.0 1,214 667 

5.0 5.8 4.7 4,843 I ,389 

a.0 a.2 7.9 2,573 1,1x2 

10.4 10.2 10.5 2,660 1,128 

6.0 6.5 5.7 5,966 2,435 

3.7 3.8 3.7 571 324 

4.6 5.5 4.2 2,588 796 

6.8 6.7 6.9 1,455 686 

a.9 a.8 9.0 1,352 629 

21,518 

1.638 

10,627 

4,562 

4.690 

4,620 

307 

2,209 

1,028 ’ 

1,076 

6,443 

537 

3,172 

1,374 

1,360 

6,924 

547 

3,464 

1,391 

1,532 

3,531 

247 

1,792 

769 

723 

28 

L 
Table 15. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from 

geographic region, and age: United 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. 

Region and age 

All regions 

All ages ............................................................................................ 

Under 15 years ................................................................................................. 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 

65 years and over ............................................................................................. 

Northeast 

All ages.................................................................................................. 

Under 15 years ................................................................................................. 

1544 years ...................................................................................................... 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 

65 years and over ............................................................................................. 

North Central 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 

1544 years ...................................................................................................... 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 

65 years and over ............................................................................................. 

South 

All ages.................................................................................................. 

Under 15 years ................................................................................................. 

1544 years ...................................................................................................... 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 

65 years and over ............................................................................................. 

West 

Al I ages.................................................................................................. 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 

.45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 

65 years and over ............................................................................................. 

short-stay hospitals with a single-listed diagnosis, by sex, 

States, 1977 

Excludes newborn infants] 

Both Male Female Both Male Female sexes II .I sexes II I II I II I 

Average length of stay Number of patients 

in days discharged in thousands 

18,627 7,025 11,602 

3.7 3.9 3.6 2,474 1,404 1,070 

4.5 5.4 4.1 10,208 2,822 7,386 

6.9 6.9 7.0 3,652 1,765 1,886 

8.7 8.2 9.1 2,293 1,034 1,260 

6.1 2,473 

4.0 4.0 506 297 209 

4.9 6.2 2,186 611 1,574 

7.9 7.9 837 411 425 

10.9 10.4 476 211 264 

5.6 6.1 5,657 3,486 

3.8 4.0 3.6 459 360 

4.8 5.9 4.4 848 2,183 

7.3 7.2 7.5 548 563 

8.7 8.0 9.3 316 380 

5.6 5,802 3,683 

3.7 3.9 3.6 783 439 344 

4.3 5.0 4.0 3,245 870 2,376 

6.6 6.6 6.6 1,069 498 571 

8.3 8.0 8.6 705 312 393 

4.4 4.2 3,165 1,204 1,960 

3.2 3.4 3.0 366 209 157 

3.7 4.5 3.4 1,746 493 1,253 

5.6 5.7 5.5 636 308 328 

6.7 6.2 7.2 418 195 223 

29 
Table 16. Average length of stay and number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed surgery, by sex, 

geographic region, and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Region and age 

Both Male Female sexes II I

II I 

Both Male Female sexes II I II I 

All regions Average length of stay 

in days 

Number of patients 

discharged in thousands 

All ages.. .......................................................................................... 6.6 7.2 6.2 10,227 4,093 6,133 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.7 3.8 3.4 1,202 682 520 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.7 5.6 4.4 4,847 1,441 3,406 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 8.0 8.4 7.7 2,350 1,115 1,235 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 11.7 11.1 12.2 1,827 855 972 

Northeast 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 7.6 8.4 7.1 2,329 938 1,392 

Under 15 years ................................................................................................. 3.8 3.8 3.8 238 139 99 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 5.1 6.2 4.6 1,071 311 760 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 9.1 9.4 8.8 564 271 294 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 13.9 13.2 14.5 456 216 240 

North Central 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 6.7 7.2 6.3 3.128 1,268 1,860 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.7 4.1 3.3 399 220 179 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.9 5.6 4.5 1,441 448 994 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 8.2 8.6 7.8 736 351 386 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 11.5 10.8 12.0 552 250 302 

South 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 6.5 7.2 6.0 2,853 1,088 1,765 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.8 3.9 3.6 355 205 151 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.7 5.5 4.4 1,429 384 1,045 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 8.0 8.6 7.5 595 281 314 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 11.8 11.6 12.0 473 219 255 

West 

All ages.. ................................................................................................ 5.5 5.9 5.3 1,916 800 1,116 

Under 15 years.. ............................................................................................... 3.2 3.2 3.2 210 118 92 

15-44 years ...................................................................................................... 4.3 5.2 3.8 905 297 607 

45-64 years ...................................................................................................... 6.5 6.4 6.7 454 213 241 

65 years and over.. ........................................................................................... 9.0 8.5 9.5 347 171 176 

30 
Table 17. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a first-listed diagnosis, by geographic region, bad size of 

hospital, sex, and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

Northeast North Central South West 

I I I I 1 1 I I 

Sex and age regions 6-99 IOO- 500 

499 beds 6-99 g beds 6-99 499 beds 

All beds 6-99 109 500 500 loo- 500 

beds 499 beds Or beds beds Or beds beds Or beds beds Or more more more more 

Both sexes Average length of stay in days 

All ages.. ............................ 7.3 7.6 8.5 9.8 6.1 7.4 8.4 6.0 6.8 8.1 4.9 6.3 6.9 

Under 15 years .................................. 

1544 years ........................................ 

4.2 

5.3 

3.2 

5.6 

4.3 

5.6 iii 

3.4 4.0 3.3 4.0 

4.6 5.5 i-i 4.3 4.8 

5.6 

6.3 

2.8 

3.7 

3.8 

4.8 

5.6 

5.4 

4564 years.. ...................................... 8.5 8.1 9.7 12:o 6.7 8.9 9:8 6.4 8.3 9.6 5.4 7.2 

65 years and over.. ............................. 11.1 11.8 13.5 15.5 8.5 11.6 12.1 9.1 10.8 11.7 7.8 9.1 ::I 

Male 

All ages ................................... I ;7.8 7.7 9.0 11.3 6.3 7.8 9.0 6.0 7.4 9.1 5.0 

- 6.8 7.5 

Under 15 years.. ............................. F.. 4.3 2.9 4.2 6.5 3.4 4.2 5.5 3.2 4.1 5.9 3.0 3.9 5.2 

15-44 years ........................................ .$X3 6.3 6.8 9.0 5.2 6.5 8.0 4.4 7.7 3.9 5.9 6.8 

4564 years ........................................ 86 7.9 9.9 12.5 6.9 8.7 10.2 6.3 z 9.9 4.9 7.5 

65 years and ovar.. ..................... ........ 10.8 11.8 12.7 15.8 8.0 11.3 11.2 8.6 10.6 12.0 7.7 i:: 9.8 

Female including deliveries 

All ages ................................... 7.0 7.5 8.2 8.8 6.0 7.2 8.0 6.1 6.5 7.5 4.9 5.9 6.4 - -

Under 15 years .................................. 4.1 3.5 4.3 5.2 3.4 3.8 5.2 3.4 3.9 5.2 2.5 3.7 6.1 

1544 years ........................................ 4.9 5.9 4.3 5.1 4.3 4.5 5.7 3.6 4.3 4.8 

4564 years ........................................ 8.4 :: :: 11.6 6.5 9.0 ::: 6.4 8.2 9.4 5.8 7.8 

65 years and over.. ............................. 11.3 11:8 14:1 15.2 9.0 11.7 12.7 9.5 10.9 11.4 7.9 i:: 9.7 

Female excluding deliveries 

All ages ................................... 7.6 8.0 8.8 9.5 6.3 7.7 8.7 6.5 7.1 8.3 5.3 6.5 7.2 

Under 15 years .................................. 4.1 3.5 4.3 5.2 3.4 3.8 5.2 3.4 3.9 5.2 2.5 3.7 6.1 

1544 years ........................................ 5.5 5.4 6.2 4.5 5.5 6.8 4.8 5.0 6.6 4.0 4.9 5.8 

4564 years.. ...................................... E-i 8.3 9.4 11.6 6.5 .9.1 9.5 6.4 8.2 9.4 5.8 7.3 7.8 

65 years and over.. ............................. 11:3 11.8 14.1 15.2 9.0 11.7 12.7 9.5 10.9 11.4 7.9 9.3 9.7 

31 
Table 18. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals .with a single-listed diagnosis, by geographic region, bed size of 

hospital, sex, and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

II Northeast North Central 

I I I I I 

Sex and age 

g 

Both sexes Average length of stay in days 

All ages.. ............................ 5.4 5.9 6.a 6.7 4.5 5.4 6.5 4.5 5.0 6.2 3.7 4.6 5.3 - E = - E -

- - E R 

Under 15 years .................................. 3.7 2.8 3.9 5.1 3.1 3.6 4.6 3.1 3.6 5.1 2.6 3.4 4.2 

1544 years.. ...................................... 4.5 5.0 4.8 318 4.7 5.4 3.8 4.1 5.2 3.2 3.9 4.2 

45-64 years.. ...................................... 6.9 8.8 7.9 2: 5.4 7.2 8.1 5.4 6.7 7.7 4.7 5.8 6.4 

65 years and over.. ............................. 8.7 11.2 10.8 11:1 6.8 8.6 9.9 7.5 8.5 9.2 5.4 7.0 8.0 

Male 

Al I ages ................................... 5.9 6.2 8.7 7.8 4.9 5.8 7.2 4.7 5.6 6.9 3.9 5.1 5.7 

Under 15 years .................................. 3.9 2.6 3.8 5.8 3.0 3.8 4.9 3.0 3.8 5.4 2.9 3.5 '4.1 

15-44 years.. ...................................... 5.4 5.7 6.0 7.5 4.2 5.6 7.0 4.1 5.0 6.3 3.5 4.8 5.2 

4564 years ........................................ 

65 years and over.. ............................. 

6.9 

8.2 

6.4 

12.8 

8.1 

10.1 

8.5 

10.7 

5.8 

7.0 

6.8 

8.0 

8.2 

8.6 

5.4 

7.2 

6.7 

8.2 i:: 

4.6 

5.2 

5.9 

6.3 

6.2 

7.4 

Female including deliveries 

All ages ................................... 5.1 5.6 5.6 6.0 4.3 5.2 6.0 4.4 4.7 5.8 3.5 4.3 5.0 -

Under 15 years .................................. 

1544 years.. ...................................... 

3.6 

4.1 

3.2 

4.5 

3.9 

4.3 

4.1 

4.7 

3.2 

,3.6 

3.4 

4.3 2: 3.2 3.6 

3.4 

3.8 

4.7 

4.8 

2.3 

3.1 

3.2 

3.5 

4.6 

3.8 

45-64 years ........................................ 7.0 7.4 7.8 8.6 5.2 7.6 8.1 5.4 6.8 7.7 4.7 5.6 6.7 

65 years and over.. ............................. 9.1 10.0 11.3 11.5 6.7 9.1 11.1 7.8 8.8 9.2 5.7 7.5 8.7 

Female excluding deliveries 

All ages ................................... 5.5 6.0 6.1 6.4 4.4 5.6 6.7 4.8 5.1 6.6 3.8 4.8 5.8 

Under 15 years .................................. 3.6 3.2 3.9 4.1 3.2 3.4 4.3 3.2 4.7 3.2 4.5 

15-44 years.. ...................................... 4.4 4.8 4.4 4.9 3.6 4.5 5.4 4.1 ::: 5.7 3.9 

45-64 years ....... ,................................ 7.0 7.4 7.8 8.7 5.2 7.6 8.1 5.4 6.8 417 5.6 t:; 

65 years and over.. ............................. 9.1 10.0 11.3 11.5 6.7 9.1 11.1 7.8 8.8 a::

i-i 

5.7 7.5 8.7 

32 
Table 19. Average length of stay for patients discharged from short-stay hospitals with a single-listed’surgery, by geographic region, bed size of 

hospital, sex, and age: United States, 1977 

[Discharges from non-Federal short-stay hospitals. Excludes newborn infants] 

II Northeast I North Central I south I West 

All 500 500 500 500 Sex and age regions 6-99 109 beds 6-99 loo- beds 6-99 ;g beds 6-99 - loo- beds 499 499 499 beds beds Or ‘. beds beds Or beds beds Or beds beds Or more more more more A 

Both sexes Average length of stay in days 

Al I ages.. ............................ 7.6 8.3 6.4 6.2 7.6 5.8 6.5 

Under 15 years .................................. 3.7 2.4 3.4 2.6 3.4 4.7 5.5 2.1 5.2 

1544 years ........................................ 4.7 4.0 5.0 4.0 4.6 5.6 3.6 5.3 

4564 years ........................................ 8.0 7.5 9.0 6.5 7.9 2 9.2 5.4 6.9 

65 years and over.. ............................. 11.7 12.1 13.8 10.6 11.4 11:8 12.1 7.2 9.6 

Male 

All ages ................................... 7.2 6.0 8.2 9.6 5.6 8.2 8.7 6.2 

Under 16 years .................................. 3.8 2.5 3.3 5.7 2.8 3.8 2.7 3.6 5.8 2.4 3.2 

15-44 years.. ...................................... 6.6 .4.1 6.0 7.4 3.9 5.4 4.1 5.4 6.8 4.0 5.3 

4564 years.. ...................................... 8.4 8.5 9.3 10.1 6.8 8.2 9.6 7.8 8.2 ‘9.8 5.0 6.6 

65 years and over.. ............................. 11.1 10.0 12.9 15.2 10.1 10.7 11.2 10.2 11.5 12.5 6.4 8.8 

Female including deliveries 

All ages ................................... 6.2 7.5 6.1 6.9 6.9 4.2 

Under 15 years .................................. 2.3 3.6 4.8 2.5 4.2 3.0 4.9 1.9 3.5 5.3 

16-44 years.. ...................................... 3.9 4.5 5.1 4.0 5.2 4.0 5.1 3.4 3.8 4.5 

4664 years.. ...................................... 6.8 8.7 9.8 6.4 8.2 6.3 8.6 5.8 6.9 6.5 

65 years and over.. ............................. 13.7. 14.6 14.3 11.0 12.5 11.9 11.8 8.0 9.8 9.9 

Female excluding deliveries 

All ages .................................... 6.4 6.1 5.6 6.2 7.2 5.6 6.0 6.3 

Under 15 years .................................. 3.4 2.3 3.5 4.8 2.5 4.1 3.0 4.9 1.8 3.5 

15-44 years.. ...................................... 4.2 3.5 4.1 3.9 5.2 4.0 5.1 3.3 3.8 ::: 

4564 years.. ...................................... 7.7 6.8 8.7 3:: 6.4 8.2 6.3 8.6 6.5 

65 years and over ............................... 12.2 13.7 14.6 14.3 11.0 12.6 11.9 11.8 9.9 

i 

33 
APPENDIXES 

CONTENTS 

I. Technical Notes on Methods .......................................................................................................... 35 

Statistical Design of the National Hospital Discharge Survey .................................................... 35 

Data Collection and Processing ................................................................................................. 37 

Reliability of Estimates ............................................................................................................. 39 

11. Definitions of Certain Terms Used in This Report .......................................................................... 42 

Hospital and Hospital Characteristics ........................................................................................ 42 

Terms Relating to Hospitalization ............................................................................................. 42 

Terms Relating to Diagnoses ..................................................................................................... 42 

Terms Relating to Surgery ........................................................................................................ 43 

Demographic Terms .................................................................................................................. 43 

LIST OF APPENDIX FIGURES 

I. Medical Abstract for the Hospital Discharge Survey .... ... .. .... . ... ... ... .. ..... . .. .... .. ... .... . .. ..... . .. .... ... .. .... . 38 

II. Approximate relative standard errors of estimated numbers of patients discharged, or of firstlisted diagnoses, by selected patient and hospital characteristics .. . ..... . ... ... ... .. .... .. .. .... ... . .... .. ... .... . 40 

LIST OF APPENDIX TABLES 

I. Distribution of short-stay hospitals in the universe (Master Facility Inventory) and in the National Hospital Discharge Survey sample and the number of hospitals that participated in the 

survey, by geographic region and bed size of hospital: United States, 1977 . ... .. . .. ..... . ... .... . ... .... .. . 36 

II. Civilian noninstitutionalized population by sex, age, and geographic region: United States, July 1, 

1977 .. .... .. . ...... ... .... .. ... ... . .. . ..... .. ..... .. ... .... .. . .... ... .. ... ... .. .... ... ...... ... .... .. .. ..... . . ..... ... . ..... .................... 39 

III. Approximate standard errors of percents shown in this report for patient discharges: patient 

characteristics classified by geographic region and for all hospitals ... .. .... .. .. .... .. . ..... . .. ...... . .. .... ... . . 41 

IV. Approximate standard errors of average lengths of stay shown in this report for patient discharges: patient characteristics cross-classified by geographic region, bed size of hospital, geographic region by bed size of hospital and for all hospitals .... .. .. .... .. .. .... .. .. .... .. ...... .. .. ...... . . .. .. ... . ... 41 

34 
APPENDIX I 

TECHNICAL NOTES ON METHODS 

Statistical Design of the National 

Hospital Discharge Survey 

Scope of the suruey.-The scope of the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) encompasses patients discharged from noninstitutional hospitals, exclusive of military and 

Veterans Administration hospitals, located in 

the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Only 

hospitals having six beds or more for patient 

use and those in which the average length of stay 

for all patients is less than 30 days are included 

in the survey. Although all discharges of patients 

from these hospitals are within the scope of the 

survey, discharges of newborn infants from all 

hospitals are excluded from this report as well 

as discharges of all patients from Federal 

hospitals. 

Sampling j-tame and size of sample--The 

sampling frame (universe) for hospitals in the 

NHDS is the Master Facility Inventory of Hospitals and Institutions (MFI). A detailed description of how the MFI was developed, its contents, plans for maintaining it, and procedures 

for assessingthe completeness of its coverage has 

been published.2 

The universe for the survey consisted ’of 

6,965 short-stay hospitals contained in the MFI 

in 1963, 442 hospitals that were added to the 

MFI in 1969, another 223 hospitals that were 

added in 1972, and 273 hospitals that were 

added in 1976. The distribution of the hospitals 

in the MFI and in the NHDS sample is shown by 

bed size and geographic region in table I. 

The sample for 1977 consisted of 535 hospitals. Of these hospitals, 68 refused to participate 

NOTE: A list of references follows the text. 

and 44 were out of scope either because the 

hospital had gone out of business or because it 

failed to meet the definition of a short-stay hospital. Thus 423 hospitals participated in the survey during 1977 and provided approximately 

224,000 abstracts of medical records. 

Sample design.-All hospitals with 1,000 

beds or more in the universe of short-stay hospitals were selected with certainty in the sample. 

All hospitals with fewer than 1,000 beds were 

stratified, the primary strata were the 24 sizeby-region classes shown in table I. Within each 

of these 24 primary strata, the allocation of the 

hospitals was made through a controlled selection technique so that hospitals in the sample 

would be properly distributed with regard to 

type of ownership and geographic region. Sample hospitals were drawn with probabilities ranging from certainty for the largest hospitals to 1 

in 40 for the smallest hospitals. 

The within-hospital sampling ratio for selecting sample discharges varied inversely with the 

probability of selection of the hospital. The 

smallest sampling fraction of discharged patients 

was taken in the largest hospitals, and the largest 

fraction was taken in the smallest hospitals. This 

sampling was done to compensate for the fact 

that hospitals were selected with probabilities 

proportionate to their size class and to ensure 

that the overall probability of selecting a discharge would be approximately the same in each 

size class. 

In nearly all hospitals, the daily listing sheet 

of discharges was the frame from which the subsamples of discharges were selected within the 

sample hospitals. The sample discharges were selected by a random technique, usually on the 

basis of the terminal digit(s) of the patient’s 

35 

1 
Table I. Distribution of short-stay hospitals in the universe (Master Facility Inventory) 

sample and the number of hospitals that participated in the survey, by geographic region 

Bed size of hospital 

All sizes 

Universe ..................................................................................... *................................... 

Total sample .................................................................................................................. 

Number participating.. ................................................................................................... 

6-49 beds 

Universe ......................................................................................................................... 

Total sample .................................................................................................................. 

Number participating.. ................................................................................................... 

50-99 beds 

Universe ......................................... , ............................................................................... 

Total sample .................................................................................................................. 

Number participating.. ... . ............................................................................................... 

100-I 99 beds 

Universe ......................................................................................................................... 

Total sample ...... . ...................................................................................... .:. .................. 

Number participating.. ................................................................................................... 

200-299 beds 

Universe ....................... , ................................................................................................. 

Total sample .................................................................................................................. 

Number participating.. ................................................................................................... 

300-499 beds 

Universe.. ....................................................................................................................... 

Total sample .................................................................................................................. 

Number participating.. ... . . . ........................ . .................................................................... 

500-999 beds 

Universe ........................................................................................ *................................ 

Total sample .................................................................................................................. 

Number participating.. ................................................................................................... 

1,000 beds or more 

Universe ......................................................................................................................... 

Total sample .......................... . ....................................................................................... 

Number. participating.. ................................................................................................... 

L 

and in the National Hospital Discharge 

and bed size of hospital: United States, 

All South ,egions I 

Number of hospitals 

7,903 1,177 2,214 3,130 

535 132 152 170 

423 113 120 125 

3,486 221 889 1,658 

69 8 18 30 

44 6 15 16 

1,871 299 482 721 

79 14 20 31 

58 10 14 23 

1,371 298 404 448 

117 26 33 39 

98 25 28 27 

614 193 164 160 

97 31 27 24 

76 26 21 17 

408 112 134 109 

97 25 32 

81 21 26 

136 45 48 

58 19 19 

49 17 13 

18 9 3 

18 9 3 

17 8 3 

28 

25 

29 

13 

12 

5 

5 

5 

Survey 

1977 

West 

1,472 

81 

65 

718 

13 

7 

369 

14 

11 

221 

19 

18 

97 

16 

12 

53 

12 

9 

13 

7 

7 

36 

i 
t 

medical record number-a number assigned 

when the patient was admitted to the hospital. 

If the hospital’s daily discharge listing did not 

show the medical record numbers, the sample 

was selected by starting with a randomly selected discharge and taking every Kth discharge 

thereafter. 

Data Collection and Processing 

Data collection.-Depending on the study 

procedure agreed on with the hospital administrator, the sample selection and the transcription 

of information from the hospital records to abstract forms were performed either by the hospital staff or by representatives of the National 

Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) or by both. 

In about two-thirds of the hospitals that participated in the NHDS during the year, this work 

was performed by the medical records department of the hospital. In the remaining hospitals, 

the work was performed by personnel of the 

U.S. Bureau of the Census acting for NCHS. 

Survey hospitals used an abstract form to 

transcribe data from the hospital records. The 

abstract form provides for recording demographic data, admission and discharge dates, zip 

code of the patient’s residence, expected sources 

of payment, disposition of patient at discharge, 

and information on discharge diagnoses and surgical operations or procedures (figure I). All discharge diagnoses and operations were listed on 

the abstract form in the order of the principal 

one, or the first-listed one if the principal one 

was not identified, followed by the order in 

which all other diagnoses or operations were 

entered on the face sheet of the medical record. 

Shipments of completed abstract forms for 

each sample hospital were transmitted, along 

with sample selection control sheets, to a Census 

Regional Office. Every shipment of abstracts 

was reviewed and each abstract form was 

checked for completeness. Abstracts were then 

sent to NCHS for processing. 

Medical coding and edit.-The medical information recorded on the sample patient abstracts 

was coded centrally by NCHS staff. A maximum 

of five diagnostic codes was assigned for each 

sample abstract; in addition, if the medical information included surgery, a maximum of three 

codes for surgical operations and procedures was 

assigned. Following the conversion of the data 

on the Medical Abstract to computer tape, a 

final medical edit was accomplished by computer inspection runs and a review of rejected 

abstracts. If sex or age of patient was incompatible with the recorded medical information, priority was given to the medical information in 

the editing decision. 

The basic system used for coding the diagnoses on the NHDS sample patient abstracts is 

the Eighth Revision International Classification 

of Diseases, Adapted for Use in the United 

States3 (ICDA). 

Patient characteristics not stated.-If the age 

or sex of the patient was not stated on the hospital records of sample hospitals (the face sheet 

of patient’s medical record), it was imputed by 

assigning the patient an age or sex consistent 

with the age or sex of other patients with the 

same diagnostic code.’ Color was identified as 

“not stated.” If the dates of admission or discharge were not given and if they could not be 

obtained from the monthly sample listing sheet 

transmitted by the sample hospital, a length of 

stay was imputed by assigning the patient a stay 

characteristic of the stays of other patients of 

the same age. The age and sex of the patient 

were not stated for less than one-fourth of 1 

percent of the discharges. However, color was 

not stated for 12.8 percent of all discharges, 

and, therefore, caution should be used in drawing conclusions from the data by color which are 

shown. 

Rounded numbers.-Estimates of the numbers of inpatient discharges, discharges with surgery, and all-listed operations have been rounded 

to the nearest thousand for tabular presentation. 

For this reason, detailed figures within the tables 

do not always add to totals. Rates and percents 

were calculated on the basis of unrounded figures and will not necessarily- agree with computations made from the rounded data. 

Population estimates.-The population estimates used in computing rates are unpublished 

estimates for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population on July 1 of the data year provided by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The estimates by age and sex and by geographic region 

NOTE: A list of references follows the text. 

37 
CONFIDENTIAL - All information which would 

:onfidential, will be used only by persons engaged 

xher persons or used for any other purpose. 

FORM HDS-1 DEPARTMENT l12-1s-7S) 

HEALTH 

NATIONAL 

permit identification of an individual or of an establishment will be helc 

in and for the p~~rposes of the survey,andwill not be d;scfosedor released CC 

OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE 

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 

RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION 

CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS 

MEDICAL ABSTRACT - HOSPITAL DISCHARGE SURVEY 

A. PATIENT IDENTIFICATION Month 

1. Hospital number . . . . . 4. Date of admission . . . m-a-m 

2. HDS number . . . . , . 5. Date of discharge . . . m-m-m 

3. Medical Record number 6. Residence ZIP Code 1 

B, PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS 

Month D=Y Year I 8. Age (Complete only if Units 1 17 Years 

~,-TI -ml j Dote.of Birth not given) . . . . 2 q Months 

7. Dateof birth. . . I d 3 0 oays 

I 

9. S’ex (Mark one) 1 1 0 Male 2 0 Female 2 0 Not stated 

I 

10. Race or Color (Mark one) I 1 OWhite 2 0 Black 3 0 Other 4 0 Not stated 

I 

11. Marital StatUS (Mark one) l 1 0 Married 2 0 Single 2 0 Widowed 4 0 Divorced S 0 Separated 6 q Not state 

12. Expected Source(s) of payment 13. Disposition of Patient (Mark one) 

Principal Other 

(M&k one) (Mark a// that apply) 

10 0 Self-pay I 0 

2c! 0 Workmen’s Compensation 2 0 

30. 0 Medicare 

40 0 Medicaid S q 

50 0 Other government payments 

60 q Blue Cross 4 0 

70 0 Other private or commercial insurance 

80 q No charge S 0 

90 0 Other (Speclly) 

‘00 0 Not sfated 6 0 

C. DIAGNOSES 

Principal: 

Other/additional: 

D. SURGICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES 

Principal: 

Other/additional: 

0 NONE 

tompleted by 

Routine discharge/discharged home 

Left against medical advice 

Discharged/transferred to another 

facility or organization 

Discharged/referred to organized 

home care service 

Died 

Not stated 

0 See reverse side 

Date: 

Month D=Y Year 

+I%:+ 

F,:F,j+ 

m-m-ix 0 See reverse side 

Date 

Figure I. Medical Abstract for the Hospital Discharge Sur’JeY 

38 
are presented in table II and are consistent with Reliability of Estimates 

the population estimates published in Current 

Popda&on Reports, Series-P-25. However, they Estimation.-Statistics produced by NHDS 

are not official population estimates of the are derived by a complex estimating procedure. 

Bureau of the Census. The basic unit of estimation is the sample inpatient discharge abstract. The estimating procedTable II. Civilian noninstitutionalized population by sex, age, ure used to produce essentially unbiased naand geographic region: United States, July 1, 1977 tional estimates in NHDS has three principal 

[Population estimates consistent with Series P-25, Current components: inflation by reciprocals of the 

Population Reports, U.S. Bureau of the Census] probabilities of sample selection, adjustment for 

nonresponse, and ratio adjustment to fixed 

Age and region Both Male Female sexes 

totals. These components of estimation are detionsP*5 

Population in thousands Measurement errors.-As in any survey, re-

(I I

I scribed in appendix I of two earlier publica­ ,I 

All ages.. ............... 212,182 102,399 109,782 sults are subject to nonsampling or measurement 

errors, which include errors due to hospital nonNortheast. ._ ........................ 48,529 23,292 25,237 response, missing abstracts, information incom- North Central ....................... 57,055 27;796 29,259 

South.. .................................. 68,278 32,694 35,584 pletely or inaccurately recorded on abstract 

West.. .................................... 38,319 18,617 19,702 forms, and processing errors. Some of these 

O-l 4 years .................. 51,481 26,260 25,220 errors were discussed under the previous section 

entitled “Patient characteristics not stated.” 

Under 1 year.. ....................... 3,161 1,619 1,542 Sampling errors.-The standard error is 

I-4 years.. ............................. 12,067 6,166 5,901 primarily a measure of the variability that is attributed to using a value obtained from a sample 

Northeast .............................. 

North Central ....................... 

South.. .................................. 

West.. .................................... 

11,081 

13,950 

17,063 

9,386 

5,662 

7,123 

8,687 

4,787 

5,419 

6,827 

8,375 

4,599 

as an estimate of a population value. In this report it also reflects part of the measurement error. The value that would have been obtained if 

15-44 years ................ 95,060 46,231 48,828 

a complete enumeration of the population had 

been made will be contained in an interval rep15-24 years.. ......................... 39,720 19,496 20,224 resented by the sample estimate plus or minus 1 

25-34 years.. ......................... 32,247 15,642 16,604 standard error about 68 out of 100 times and 

35-44 years.. ......................... 23,093 11,092 12,001 plus or minus 2 standard errors about 95 out of 

Northeast.. ............................ 21,267 10,360 10,907 100 times. 

North Central ....................... 

South.. .................................. 

25,722 

30,455 

12,684 

14,622 

13,038 

15,833 

The relative standard error is obtained by 

5-14 years.. ........................... 36,253 18,475 17,778 

West.. .................................... 17,616 8,566 9,051 dividing the standard error by the estimate. The 

resulting value is multiplied by 100, which ex45-64 years ................ 43,357 20,704 22,653 presses the standard error as a percentage of the 

estimate.

45-54 years.. ......................... 23,174 11,174 11,999 

55-64 years.. ......................... 20,183 9,529 10,654 The standard error of one statistic is generally different from that of another, even when 

Northeast.. ............................ 10,761 5,085 5,676 the two come from the survey. To derive standSouth.. .................................. 

West.. .................................... 

13,536 

7,674 

6,394 

3,735 

7,142 

3,938 

ard errors that would be applicable to a wide 

variety of statistics and that could be prepared 

65 years and over.. ..... 22,284 9,204 13,080 

at a moderate cost, a number of approximations 

are required. As a result, the figures shown in 

65-74 years.. ......................... 14,278 6,205 8.072 this appendix provide general relative standard 

75 years and over.. ................ 8,007 2,999 5,008 errors for a wide variety of estimates rather than 

North Central ....................... 11,387 5,490 5,896 

Northeast.. ............................. 5,421 2,186 3,235 the specific error for a particular statistic. 

North Central ....................... 5,996 2,499 3,497 

South.. .................................. 7,225 2,991 4,234 

West.. .................................... 3,643 1,529 2,114 NOTE: A list of references follows the text. 

39 
male 

hospita 

mately 

. 56789, 2 3 , 2 5 E.7as* 7. 3 . 6 ,as, 

1 . ltl 100 1,000 a 10.000 ‘c0.000 

SIZE OF ESTIMATE IN THOUSANDS 

Illustration for use of fipre II: As shown in table 14 in the West Region, an estimated 324,000 

patients who were under 15 years of age were discharged in 1977 from short-stay, non-Federal 

The relative standard error of this estimate, as read from the curve “AI1 variables” is approxi7.5 percent. The standard error is approximately 24,000 (7.5 percent of 324,000). 1 

Approximate relative standard errors and 

standard errors have been prepared for measuring the variances applicable to (1) estimates of 

all patient discharges, or first-listed diagnoses, 

for patient characteristics (e.g., age, sex, and 

color) and hospital characteristics (e.g., region, 

bed size, and ownership); and (2) estimates of 

discharges for single-listed diagnosis and singlelisted surgery (operations) for the patient and 

hospital characteristics. 

The selection of the appropriate relative 

standard error is made as follows: 

1. Discharges, or first-listed diagnoses, 

single-listed diagnosis, and single-listed 

2. 

3. 

surgery for patient characteristics: Relative standard errors of the estimated 

number of discharges are obtained from 

the curve in figure II. 

The approximate standard error of estimated percents, when the characteristic(s) used to form the numerator of the 

percent is a subclass of the denominator, 

by patient and hospital characteristic, is 

presented in table III. 

Approximate standard errors for estimates of discharges by average length of 

stay applicable to patient and hospital 

characteristics are presented in table IV. 

Figure II. Approximate relative standard errors of estimated numbers of patients discharged, or of first-listed diagnoses, by selected 

patient and hospital characteristics 

, 2 3 . s 6789, 2 3 . 567as. 5 6 ,as* 2 3 34 4 5 6.789, 7. 3 . 55789, 5 789, 2 34 4 6 ,as,

1 . 10 100 1,000 a10.000 ‘c0.000 

SIZE OF ESTIMATE IN THOUSANDS 

Illu stration for use of fipre II: As shown in table 14 in the West Region, an estimated 324,000 

male pmatients who were under 15 years of age were discharged in 1977 from short-stay, non-Federal 

hospitals. tls. The relative standard error of this estimate, as read from the curve “AI1 variables” is approximately 7.5 percent. The standard error is approximately 24,000 (7.5 percent of 324,000). 1 

40 
Table III. Approximate standard errors of percents shown in this report for patient discharges: patient characteristics classified by 

geographic region and for all hospitals 

[Standard errors for patient characteristics classified by size of hospital and geographic region by size of hospital are 1% times‘and by 

type of ownership are 2% times the standard errors shown in this table1 

Estimated percent 

Number of discharges (base of percent in thousands) 

-qqqqqT 

Standard error expressed in 

percentage points 

100 ............................................................................................................................................... 4.7 5.4 5.9 

200 ............................................................................................................................................... 3.4 3.8 4.2 

600 ................................................................................................................................................ 1.9 2.2 2.4 

1,000 ............................................................................................................................................ 

2,000 ............................................................................................................................................ 

6,000 ............................................................................................................................................ 

10,000 .......................................................................................................................................... 

20,000 .......................................................................................................................................... 

40,000 .......................................................................................................................................... 

1.5 

1.1 

0.6 

0.5 

0.3 

0.2 

1.7 

1.2 

0.7 

0.5 

0.4 

0.3 

1.9 

1.3 

0.8 

0.6 

0.4 

0.3 L 

illustration of use of table LW Figure 1 shows that 30.8 percent of the 11,115,OOO white male pat ients (table 1) dii charged durin g 1977 

from all hospitals were 15-44 years of age. Linear interpolation between the values shown in table III yields an approximate st artdard 

error of 0.5 percent for an estimate of 30.8 percent with a base of 11,115,OOO. 

Table IV. Approximate standard errors of average lengths of 

stay shown in this report for patient discharges: patient 

characteristics cross-classified by geographic region, bed siie 

of hospital, geographic region by bed size of hospital and 

for all hospitals 

[Standard errors for patient characteristics classified by type of 

ownership are 1% times the standard errors shown in this table] 

Number of discharges 

(base of average in thousands) 

2 6 10 14 

Standard error in days 

600 .................................................... 

1,000.. ............................................... 

2,000 ................................................. 

6,000.....................................; ........... 

10,000.. ............................................. 20,000 ............................................... 

Illustration of use of table IVz Table 15 shows that the average

length of stay was 7.9 days for the estiiated 837,000 patients 

age 45-64 years with a single-listed diagnosis discharged from 

hospitals in the Northeast Region. Linear interpolation between 

the values shown in table IV will yield an approximate standard 

error of 0.4 days for an estimated average length of stay of 7.9 

days with a base of 837,000. 

000 

41 
APPENDIX I I 

DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THIS REPORT 

Hospitals and Hospital Characterisitcs 

Hos@taZs.-Short-stay special and general 

hospitals having six beds or more for inpatient 

use and an average length of stay of less than 30 

days. Federal hospitals and hospital units of 

institutions are not included. 

Bed size of hos@al.-Measured by the number of beds, cribs, and pediatric bassinets regularly maintained (set up and staffed for use) for 

patients; bassinets for newborn infants are not 

included. In this report the classification of hospitals by bed size is based on the number of beds 

at or near midyear reported by the hospitals. 

Type of ownership of hospital.-The type of 

organization that controls and operates the hospital. Hospitals are grouped as follows: 

Voluntary nonprofit. -Hospitals operated by 

a church or another nonprofit organization. 

Government.-Hospitals operated by State 

or local governments. 

Proptietary.-Hospitals operated by individuals, partnerships, or corporations for profit. 

Terms Relating to Hospitalization 

Patient.-A person who is formally admitted 

to the inpatient service of a short-stay hospital 

for observation, care, diagnosis, or treatment. In 

this report the number of patients refers to the 

number of discharges during the year including 

any multiple discharges of the same individual 

from one short-stay hospital or more. Infants 

admitted on the day of birth, directly or by 

transfer from another medical facility, with or 

without mention of a disease, disorder, or immaturity are included. All newborn infants, defined as those admitted by birth to the hospital, 

are excluded. The terms “patient” and “inpatient” are used synonymously. 

Days of care.-The total number of patient 

days accumulated at time of discharge by patients discharged from short-stay hospitals during a year. A stay of less than 1 day (patient 

admission and discharge on the same day) is 

counted as 1 day in the summation of total days 

of care. For patients admitted and discharged on 

different days, the number of days of care is 

computed by counting all days from (and including) the date of admission to (but not including) the date of discharge. 

Average length of stay.-The total number of 

patient days accumulated at time of discharge 

by patients discharged during the year divided 

by the number of patients discharged. 

Terms Relating to Diagnoses 

Discharge diagnosis. -One or more diseases 

or injuries (or special conditions and examinations without sickness or tests with negative 

findings) that the attending physician assigns to 

the medical record of patients. In NHDS all discharge (or final) diagnoses listed on the face 

sheet (summary sheet) of the medical record for 

patients discharged from the inpatient service of 

short-stay hospitals are transcribed in the order 

listed. Each sample discharge is assigned a maximum of five 3- or 4-digit codes according to the 

Eighth Revision International Classification of 

Diseases, Adapted for Use in the United States3 

(ICDA), and coding modifications for use in 

NHDS. 

First-listed diagnosis.-The coded diagnosis 

identified as the principal diagnosis or else listed 

first on the face sheet of the medical record. The 

NOTE: A list of references follows the text. 

42 
‘1 

number of first-listed diagnoses is equivalent to 

the number of discharges and includes singlelisted diagnosis. 

Terms Relating to Surgery 

Discharges with surgeY.-The estimated 

number ‘of surgically treated patients discharged 

from non-Federal short-stay hospitals during the 

year. 

Operation.-One or more surgical operations, 

procedures, or special treatments that are 

assigned by the physician to the medical record 

of patients discharged from the-inpatient service 

of short-stay hospitals. In NHDS all terms listed 

on the face sheet (summary sheet) of the medical record under the captions “operation,” “operative procedures, ” “operations and/or special 

treatments,” and the like are transcribed in the 

order listed. 

Demographic Terms 

Age.-Patient’s age refers to age at birthday 

prior to admission to the hospital inpatient 

service. 

Color. -Patients are classified into two 

groups, “white” and “all other.” The all other 

classification includes all categories other than 

white. Mexican and Puerto Rican are included in 

the white category unless specifically identified 

as all other. 

Geographic region.-Hospitals are classified 

by location in one of the four geographic regions 

of the United States which correspond to those 

used by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. 

Region States included .’ . . 

Northeast .......... Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode 

Island, Connecticut, New 

York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania 

North Central.... Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, 

Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas 

South .... .. .......... Delaware, Maryland, District 

of Columbia, Virginia, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, 

Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, 

Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, 

Oklahoma, and Texas 

West ....... ...... ..... Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, 

Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California, 

Hawaii, and Alaska 

000 

43 
VITAL AND HEALTH STATISTICS Series 

Series 1. Programs and Collection Procedures.-Reports which describe the general programs of the National 

Center for Health Statistics and its offices and divisions atld data collection methods used and include 

definitions and other material necessary for understanding the data. 

Series 2. Data Evaluation and Methods Research.-Studies of new >tatistical methodology including experimental tests of new survey methods, studies of vital statistics collection methods, new analytical 

techniques, objective evaluations of reliability of collected data, and contributions to statistical theory. 

Series 3. Analytical Studies.-Reports presenting analytical or interpretive studies based on vital and health 

statistics, carrying the analysis further than the expository types of reports in the other series. 

Series 4. Documents and Committee Reports.-Final reports of major committees concerned with vital and 

health statistics and documents such as recommended model vital registration laws and revised birth 

and death certificates. 

Series 10. Data From the Health Interview Survey.-Statistics on illness, accidental injuries, disability, use of 

hospital, medical, dental, and other services, and other health-related topics, all based on data collected 

in a continuing national household interview survey. 

Series 11. Data From the Health Examination Survey and the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.-Data 

from direct examination, testing, and measurement of national samples of the civilian noninstitutionalized population provide the basis for two types of reports: (1) estimates of the medically defined 

prevalence of specific diseases in the United States and the distributions of the population with respect 

to physical, physiological, and psychological characteristics and (2) analysis of relationships among the 

various measurements without reference to an explicit fmite universe of persons. 

Series 12. Data From the Institutionalized Population Surveys.-Discontinued effective 1975. Future reports from 

these surveys will be in Series 13. 

Series 13. Data on Health Resources Utilization.--Statistics on the utilization of health manpower and facilities 

providing long-term care, ambulatory care, hospital care, and family planning services. 

Series 14. Data on Health Resources: Manpower and Facilities.-Statistics on the numbers, geographic distribution, and characteristics of health resources including physicians, dentists, nurses, other health 

occupations, hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient facilities. 

Series 20. Data on Mortality.-Various statistics on mortality other than as included in regular annual or monthly 

reports. Special analyses by cause of death, age, and other demographic variables; geographic and time 

series analyses; and statistics on characteristics of deaths not available from the vital records based on 

sample surveys of those records. 

Series 21. Data on Natality, Marriage, and Divorce .-Various statistics on natality, marriage, and divorce other 

than as included in regular annual or monthly reports. Special analyses by demographic variables; 

geographic and time series analyses; studies of fertility; and statistics on characteristics of births not 

available from the vital records based on sample surveys of those records. 

Series 22. Data From the National Mortality and Natality Surveys. -Discontinued effective 1975. Future reports 

from these sample surveys based on vital records will be included in Series 20 and 21, respectively. 

Series 23. Data From the National Survey of Family Growth .-Statistics on fertility, family formation and dissolution, family pkming, and related maternal and infant health topics derived from a biennial survey 

of a nationwide probability sample of ever-married women 15-44 years of age. 

For a list of titles of reports published in these series, write to: Scientific and Technical Information Branch 

-National Center for Health Statistics 

Public Health Service 

Hyattsville, Md. 20782