Trends in Hospital Admissions for Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Insights from a Retrospective Cohort Study in a Province in Northern Italy
Giulia Gianferrari,
Elisabetta Zucchi,
Ilaria Martinelli,
Cecilia Simonini,
Nicola Fini,
Salvatore Ferro,
Andrea Mercati,
Laura Ferri,
Tommaso Filippini,
Marco Vinceti,
Jessica Mandrioli
Affiliations
Giulia Gianferrari
Neurosciences PhD Program, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41126 Modena, Italy
Elisabetta Zucchi
Neurosciences PhD Program, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41126 Modena, Italy
Ilaria Martinelli
Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41126 Modena, Italy
Cecilia Simonini
Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41126 Modena, Italy
Nicola Fini
Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41126 Modena, Italy
Salvatore Ferro
Department of Hospital Services, Emilia Romagna Regional Health Authority, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Andrea Mercati
Specific Training Course in General Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
Laura Ferri
Neurosciences PhD Program, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41126 Modena, Italy
Tommaso Filippini
Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Marco Vinceti
Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Jessica Mandrioli
Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41126 Modena, Italy
ALS is characterized by a highly heterogeneous course, ranging from slow and uncomplicated to rapid progression with severe extra-motor manifestations. This study investigated ALS-related hospitalizations and their connection to clinical aspects, comorbidities, and prognosis. We performed a retrospective cohort study including patients residing in Modena, Italy, newly diagnosed between 2007 and 2017 and followed up until 31 December 2022. Data were obtained from the Emilia Romagna ALS registry, regional hospitals, and medical records. Among the 249 patients, there were 492 hospital admissions, excluding those for diagnostic purposes; 63% of the patients had at least one hospitalization post-diagnosis, with an average stay of 19.90 ± 23.68 days. Younger patients were more likely to be hospitalized multiple times and experienced longer stays (44.23 ± 51.71 days if p p p = 0.012). Tracheostomy-free survival was not affected by hospitalizations. In conclusion, younger ALS patients undergo frequent and prolonged hospitalizations, especially after emergency interventions, although these do not correlate with reduced survival.
