36; 95% CI (1.33, 4.18); P=0.015] as compared to patients from households with income greater than or equal to $63,000. Mortality rates for patients admitted to hospitals located in the Midwest [OR =2.17; 95% CI (1.20, 3.95); P<0.0001] were higher than those admitted to hospitals in the South. Mortality rates increased with the number of diagnoses on record [OR =1.14;

95% CI (1.10, 1.19); P<0.0001]. Table 3 Predictors of mortality for hospitalizations among patients with gastrointestinal Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical stromal tumors (GISTs) Discussion This study assesses the inpatient burden of GISTs using a nationally representative dataset. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the hospitalization rates and burden of GISTs in the US. Given the dearth of prior research in this regard, it is difficult to make substantial conclusions. However, the results of this study are noteworthy and add to the Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical literature concerning GISTs. Hospitalization

rates among patients with GISTs varied by study characteristics. In terms of patient-level variables, rates were highest for patients aged 50-64 years, males, with household income greater than or equal to $63,000, and those with private insurance, respectively. As is true for most cancers, the rate of GISTs was found to increase with age. We found a linear relationship Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical between household income and hospitalization rate, with the rate increasing with income level. Differences in cancer incidence and healthcare access by socioeconomic status could explain this result. When studying the occurrence of cancers of GI tract by socioeconomic Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical status and education, Pukkala and Teppo [1986] found a higher incidence of cancers of colon and rectum among individuals of higher socio-economic status (12). Other studies have also found a positive association between colon

cancer and socioeconomic status (13,14). Dietary habits and lifestyle Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical could account for such occurrences (12,14). Besides the variation in cancer incidence by socioeconomic status, access-related factors could attribute for the positive relationship seen between hospitalization rates and income and insurance (15,16). Differences in hospitalization rates for GISTs also BI 6727 in vivo existed by hospital characteristics. Hospitalization rates were higher in hospitals located in urban areas. Cancer incidence rates CYTH4 are generally higher in urban areas as compared to rural areas (17). The higher rates in urban areas may be explained by the differences in lifestyle factors and exposure to environmental pollutants (17). Teaching hospitals had higher hospitalization rates than non-teaching hospitals. The specialized nature of care provided in teaching hospitals may explain this result. The average total charge among patients with GISTs was found to be ~$49,000. In the only previous study of cost among patients with GISTs, Rubin et al.