Observational studyBMJ open2022
Trend in CT utilisation and its impact on length of stay, readmission and hospital mortality in Western Australia tertiary hospitals: an analysis of linked administrative data 2003-2015.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Rational evaluation of computed tomography scans using a risk-adjusted model in a comprehensive public tertiary hospital in China.Frontiers in health services · 2026Article
- Demonstrating the use of population level data to investigate trends in the rate, radiation dose and cost of Computed Tomography across clinical groups: Are there any areas of concern?Journal of medical radiation sciences · 2025Observational
- Trends in CT use in an emergency department in Western Australia: 2015-2022.Insights into imaging · 2025Article
- Patterns of computed tomography utilisation in injury management: latent classes approach using linked administrative data in Western Australia.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2023Observational
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveHigh use of CT scanning has raised concern due to the potential ionising radiation exposure. This study examined trends of CT during admission to tertiary hospitals and its associations with length of stay (LOS), readmission and mortality.
designRetrospective observational study from 2003 to 2015.
settingWest Australian linked administrative records at individual level.
participants2 375 787 episodes of tertiary hospital admission in adults aged 18+ years.
main outcome measuresLOS, 30-day readmissions and mortality stratified by CT use status (any, multiple (CTs to multiple areas during episode), and repeat (repeated CT to the same area)).
methodsMultivariable regression models were used to calculate adjusted rate of CT use status. The significance of changes since 2003 in the outcomes (LOS, 30-day readmission and mortality) was compared among patients with specific CT imaging status relative to those without.
resultsBetween 2003 and 2015, while the rate of CT increased 3.4% annually, the rate of repeat CTs significantly decreased -1.8% annually and multiple CT showed no change. Compared with 2003 while LOS had a greater decrease in those with any CT, 30-day readmissions had a greater increase among those with any CT, while the probability of mortality remained unchanged between the any CT/no CT groups. A similar result was observed in patients with multiple and repeat CT scanning, except for a significant increase in mortality in the recent years in the repeat CT group.
conclusionThe observed pattern of increase in CT utilisation is likely to be activity-based funding policy-driven based on the discordance between LOS and readmissions. Meanwhile, the repeat CT reduction aligns with a more selective strategy of use based on clinical severity. Future research should incorporate in-hospital and out-of-hospital CT to better understand overall CT trends and potential shifts between settings over time.
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