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Background: This study investigated the Length of Stay (LOS) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and its influential factors as a step toward revising hospital policies, more appropriate resources usage and improving health system performance.

Materials and Methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted on 246 patients, among nine general ICUs of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Variables such as age, type of disease, existing nosocomial infection and APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) score were studied. SPSS software utilized for statistical analysis using Mann Witney U and regression.

Results: The mean and median of LOS was 8.6±19.2 and 2 (1-7) days, respectively. Mortality rate was 19.9% (N=49). The mean age was 52.7±22.07 yrs which LOS enhanced with increasing age (r=0.35, p<0.001). The mean  of APACHE II score was 14.2±6 and it raised  with increasing patients LOS (r=0.19, p=0.01). Average length of stay in patients with surgical diagnosis was 6.71 days less than others. Among effecting factors, nosocomial infection (p<0.001), need for mechanical ventilation in the first 24 hours of hospitalization (p<0.001) and a past medical history (p=0.012) which prolonged LOS significantly.

Conclusions: In this study, type of disease, hospital infection and age were the most important affecting factors on the length of stay. Thus, implementing effective interventions in order to maintain patients' health and safety is recommended. Since, half of the patients were hospitalized less than two days, providing protocols are necessary to make better use of ICU resources for patients who really need.