Trends in hospitalization, mortality, and timing of colonoscopy in patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding

Background and study aims Current guidelines conditionally recommend performing early colonoscopy (EC) (< 24 hours) in patients admitted with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). It remains unclear whether this practice is implemented widely. Therefore, we used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to investigate trends for timing of colonoscopy in patients admitted with acute LGIB. We also assessed trend of hospitalization and mortality in patients with LGIB.

Patients and methods Adult patients with LGIB admitted from 2005 to 2014 were examined. ICD-9-CM codes were used to extract LGIB discharges. Trends were assessed using Cochrane-Armitage test. Factors associated with mortality, cost of hospitalization, and length of stay (LOS) were assessed by multivariable mixed-effects and exact-matched logistic, linear regression, and accelerated-failure time models, respectively.

Results A total of 814,647 patients with LGIB were included. The most common etiology of LGIB was diverticular bleeding (49 %) and 45 % of patients underwent EC. Over the study period, there was no change in the trend of colonoscopy timing. Although admission with LGIB increased over the study period, the mortality rate decreased for patients undergoing colonoscopy. Independent predictors of mortality were age, surgery (colostomy/colectomy) during admission, intensive care unit admission, acute kidney injury, and blood transfusion requirement. Timing of colonoscopy was not associated with mortality benefit. However, cost of hospitalization was $ 1,946 lower and LOS was 1.6 days shorter with EC.

Conclusion Trends in colonoscopy timing in management of LGIB have not changed over the years. EC is associated with lower LOS and cost of hospitalization but it does not appear to improve inpatient mortality.

Trends in Hospitalization, Acute Kidney Injury, and Mortality in Patients With Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis

GOALS

The purpose of our study was to evaluate trends of hospitalization, acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).

BACKGROUND

SBP is a frequent bacterial infection in cirrhotic patients leading to increased morbidity and mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 4,840,643 patients hospitalized with cirrhosis from 2005 to 2014 were identified using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, of which 115,359 (2.4%) had SBP. We examined annual trends and used multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression analyses to obtain adjusted odds ratios by accounting for hospital level and patient level variables.

RESULTS

We identified a striking increase in hospitalizations for SBP in cirrhotic patients (0.45% to 3.12%) and AKI in SBP patients (25.6% to 46.7%) from 2005 to 2014. Inpatient mortality decreased over the study period in patients with SBP (19.1% to 16.1%) and in patients with SBP plus AKI (40.9% to 27.6%). Patients with SBP had a higher inpatient mortality rate than those without SBP [15.5% vs. 6%, adjusted odd ratio (aOR): 2.02, P<0.001]. AKI was 2-fold more prevalent in cirrhotics with SBP than those without SBP (42.8% vs. 17.2%, aOR: 1.91, P<0.001) and concomitant AKI was associated with a 6-fold mortality increase (aOR: 5.84, P<0.001). Cirrhotic patients with SBP had higher hospitalization costs and longer length of stays than patients without SBP.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a higher hospitalization rate and prevalence of concomitant AKI, mortality in patients with SBP decreased during the study period. SBP is associated with high likelihood of development of AKI, which in turn, increases mortality.

Acute pancreatitis: Trends in outcomes and the role of acute kidney injury in mortality- A propensity-matched analysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess national trends of AP (acute pancreatitis) admissions, outcomes, prevalence of AKI (acute kidney injury) in AP, and impact of AKI on inpatient mortality.

METHODS

We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2003 to 2012 to identify AP admissions using ICD-9-CM codes. After excluding patients with missing information on age, gender, and inpatient mortality, we used ICD-9-CM codes to identify complications of AP, specifically AKI. We examined trends with survey-weighted multivariable regressions and analyzed predictors of AKI and inpatient mortality by multivariate logistic regression. Additionally, both AKI and non-AKI groups were propensity-matched and regressed against mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 3,466,493 patients (1.13% of all discharges) were hospitalized with AP, of which 7.9% had AKI. AP admissions increased (1.02%→1.26%) with rise in concomitant AKI cases (4.1%→11.7%) from year 2003-2012. Mortality rate decreased (1.8%→1.1%) in the AP patients with a substantial decline noted in AKI subgroup (17.4%→6.4%) during study period. Length of stay (LOS) and cost of hospitalization decreased (6.1→5.2 days and $13,654 to $10,895, respectively) in AKI subgroup. Complications such as AKI (OR: 6.08, p < 0.001), septic shock (OR: 46.52, p < 0.001), and acute respiratory failure (OR: 22.72, p < 0.001) were associated with higher mortality. AKI, after propensity matching, was linked to 3-fold increased mortality (propensity-matched OR: 3.20, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Mortality, LOS, and cost of hospitalization in AP has decreased during the study period, although hospitalization and AKI prevalence has increased. AKI is independently associated with higher mortality.