Table 3

Unadjusted and adjusted patient outcomes at discharge

Patient outcomes	Risk-adjusted rate or adjusted median				Regression coefficient (95% CI)†
Patient outcomes	Lowest quality	Quartile 2	Quartile 3	Highest quality	Unadjusted	Adjusted
Condition-improved	61.48	67.81	67.04	69.37	0.648 (0.605 to 0.692)*	0.356 (0.306 to 0.406)*
In-hospital mortality	0.75	0.59	0.69	1.03	1.052 (0.994 to 1.114)	0.060 (−0.003 to 0.123)
Medical cost	9241	9029	8396	8332	−0.007 (−0.023 to 0.008)	−0.004 (−0.016 to 0.008)
Length of stay	10.45	10.62	11.15	10.43	−0.035 (−0.127 to 0.058)	−0.062 (−0.152 to 0.027)

*P<0.05.
†Regression coefficient (95% CI) of hospital process composite performance scores. Adjusted for age group, primary payer status, left ventricular ejection fraction, New York Heart Association classification, pattern of admission, year, comorbidities, nurse to bed ratio, health technician to bed ratio, geographical region, ownership, hospital level, university affiliated, and annual outpatient volume. The first quartile was regarded as the lowest quality group and the fourth quartile was regarded as the highest quality group.