The Relationship between Platelet Count and Length of Stay among Inpatients Registered with Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial Kesehatan at Pardasuka Community Health Center, Pringsewu Regency, Lampung Province in 2024

Abstract

Length of stay (LOS) is a critical indicator in health service management, particularly in cases of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF). While platelet count is often considered a crucial parameter , its role in predicting the duration of hospitalization remains controversial. This study aimed to statistically analyze the relationship between platelet count and length of stay among DHF patients covered by BPJS Kesehatan at a primary healthcare facility. his study utilized a descriptive design with a cross-sectional approach. Data were collected using a total sampling method from the medical records of inpatients at the Pardasuka Community Health Center (Puskesmas), Pringsewu, during the period of January to December 2024. A total of 91 samples from DHF patients registered with BPJS Kesehatan who met the criteria were analyzed. The association between the platelet count and length of stay variables was tested using the Chi-Square analysis. The majority of patients in this study (85.71%) presented with low platelet counts. The length of stay was predominantly in the  ≥4 days category, accounting for 72.53% of all patients. The Chi-Square test yielded a p-value of 0.701. With a p-value > 0.05, this study concludes that there is no statistically significant relationship between platelet count and the length of stay for DHF patients covered by BPJS Kesehatan at the Pardasuka Health Center. This finding suggests that patient discharge decisions are multifactorial, relying on a comprehensive clinical evaluation, such as clinical improvement, hematocrit stability, and the absence of warning signs, than on a single laboratory parameter alone.