TABLE 3 ] .

Effect of Early Tracheostomy Compared With Late Tracheostomy on Outcomes in Linear Models

Linear Models	Parameter Estimate	95% CI
Total Hospital LOS, d	−11.8	−12.4 to −11.7
ICU LOS, d	−5.3	−5.5 to −5.1
Post-tracheostomy LOS, d	−3.7	−6.8 to −2.3
Total charges, × $1,000	−76.7	−80.7 to −72.8
Total direct hospital cost, × $1,000	−18.2	−19.1 to −17.3

Covariates in each model included age groups (18-24, 25-44, 45-64, 65-83, and > 83 y), sex, race (white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and other), payer status (private, Medicare, Medicaid, uninsured/self-pay, and other), grouped admitting diagnoses (trauma, cardiovascular, pulmonary, surgical, neurologic, sepsis, and other), severity of illness score (minor, moderate, major, and extreme), and admission status (elective and emergent). See Table 2 legend for expansion of abbreviation.