Regional Differences in Cost and Length of Stay in Neonates with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a highly resource-intensive diagnosis. Geographic variation in cost and length of stay (LOS) in HLHS is not well described. Neonates diagnosed with HLHS between 2000 and 2012 were identified using the Kids’ Inpatient Database. Hospitalizations were stratified into two groups: (1) birth and (2) secondary. United States regional differences in hospital charges and LOS were compared using adjusted linear regression. Of 2431 birth hospitalizations, 449 neonates (18.5%) died while inpatient and mortality rates differed by region ( p = 0.02). After birth, 40.5% ( n = 985) of neonates were transferred; transfers were most common in the Midwest ( p