Primary payer status affects mortality for major surgical operations

Tracheostomy Incidence and Complications: A National Database Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To describe the incidence of tracheostomy-related complications and identify prognostic risk factors.

STUDY DESIGN

Administrative database analysis.

SETTING

Outpatient and inpatient insurance claims records obtained from a national database.

METHODS

PearlDiver, a private analytics database of insurance claims from Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance companies, was used to identify patients who underwent tracheostomies and associated complications between January 2010 and October 2021 by CPT and ICD-9/ICD-10 codes.

RESULTS

A total of 198,143 tracheostomies were identified from PearlDiver, and at least 1 tracheostomy-related complication occurred within 90 days of the procedure in 22,802 (10.3%) of these cases. The proportion of tracheostomy-related complications was 2.3 times higher in 2019 compared to 2010 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.18-2.52). The risk of developing tracheostomy-complications was associated with the hospital region (highest in the Midwest as compared to the West [odds ratio [OR] = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.25-1.39]), provider specialty (highest for otolaryngologists as compared to nonsurgical physicians [OR = 2.22; 95% CI: 2.10-2.34]), insurance plan type (lowest for cash payment compared to Medicaid [OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94]), and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) (highest in patients with ECI of 7+ compared to 0-1 [OR = 2.96; 95% CI: 2.17-3.24]), but was not significantly associated with patient age (OR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.99-0.99), or gender (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01-1.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Complications after tracheostomy are common and sicker patients are at higher risk for complications. Identifying factors associated with increased risk for complications could help to improve patient and family counseling, guide quality improvement initiatives, and inform future studies on tracheostomy outcomes.

Association of sociodemographic characteristics with the timeliness of surgery for patients with open tibial fractures

BACKGROUND

The American College of Surgeons recommends operative debridement of open tibial fractures within 24 h of presentation. It is unknown what the compliance rates are with this recommendation and what factors contribute to delays to operation.

METHODS

To determine the characteristics associated with delays to operation for open tibial fractures, we conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program data from 2017 to 2021. Individuals aged 18 and older presenting to a trauma center with an open tibial fracture were included. Associations were determined with a hierarchal regression model nesting patients within facilities.

RESULTS

Of the 24,102 patients presenting to 491 trauma centers, 66.3 % identified as White, 21.7 % as Black, 1.5 % as Asian, 1.1 % as American Indian, and 10.6 % as Other race. In total, 15.8 % identified as Hispanic. Patients were most often men (75.9 %) and privately insured (47.6 %). The median time to OR was 10.2 h (IQR 4.4-17.7) with 84.6 % receiving surgery within 24 h. In adjusted analyses, Black and American Indian patients had 5.5 % (CI 1.3 %-9.9 %) and 17.8 % (CI 2.2 %-35.8 %) longer wait times, respectively, and a decreased odds of receiving surgery within 24 h (AOR 0.85, CI 0.8-0.9; AOR 0.69, CI 0.5-0.9) when compared to White patients. Female patients had 6.5 % (CI 3.0 %-10.2 %) longer wait times than men. Patients with Medicaid had 5.5 % (CI 1.2 %-9.9 %) longer wait times than those with private insurance. Greater time to OR was associated with increasing age (p < 0.001), increasing injury severity (p < 0.001), and the presence of altered mentation (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We identified longer wait times to operative irrigation and debridement of open tibial fractures for Black and American Indian patients, women, and those with Medicaid. The implementation of health equity focused quality metrics may be necessary to achieve equity in trauma care.

Neighborhood Disadvantage and Prostate Tumor Aggressiveness among African American and European American Men

BACKGROUND

Studies have identified associations between neighborhood disadvantage (ND), which is more likely to affect African American (AA) individuals, and aggressive prostate cancer. Thus, ND may contribute to prostate cancer disparities. However, it is unknown what ND components drive aggressive disease and whether associations vary by race.

METHODS

We evaluated associations between aggressive prostate cancer and four ND metrics-Area Deprivation Index (ADI), validated Bayesian Neighborhood Deprivation Index (NDI), racial isolation (RI) index, and historical redlining, and whether these factors interacted with race, among men with prostate cancer treated at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (2004-2021).

RESULTS

We included 1,458 men (698 European American and 760 AA). AA men were more likely to experience ND. In adjusted models, the ADI, RI, and redlining were significantly associated with aggressive versus nonaggressive prostate cancer overall [ADI, OR for one SD increase = 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00-1.30; RI, OR = 1.27, CI, 1.07-1.51; redlining, OR = 1.77; CI, 1.23-2.56] and among AA men. The NDI was associated with aggressive prostate cancer among AA men (OR = 1.32, 95% credible interval: 1.13-1.57); percent in poverty received the largest importance weight. The ADI (P heterogeneity = 0.002) and NDI (exceedance probability heterogeneity = 98.1%) significantly interacted with race, such that associations were significantly stronger for AA men.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified novel significant positive associations for racial segregation and historical redlining with aggressive prostate cancer and significant interactions between ND indices and race.

IMPACT

Findings inform specific ND components that are associated with aggressive prostate cancer and suggest the ND effect is stronger for AA men, which has implications for interventions to reduce disparities.

The Effect of Insurance Type on Length of Stay Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

With the expansion of the Affordable Care Act in 2014, there has been a growing interest in how the Medicaid population will affect postoperative outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Studies have shown that lower socioeconomic status, non-Caucasian race, women, cardiac and renal disorders, and younger age have been associated with increased lengths of stay (LOS) after TKA. The primary purpose of our study was to compare the total complications and LOS among patients undergoing TKA who have cash, commercial, government, Medicaid, and Medicare insurances.

METHODS

We queried a national, all-payer administrative claims database from 2016 to 2022 among patients undergoing TKA who had cash (n = 3,923), commercial (n = 966,169), government (n = 25,644), Medicaid (n = 56,184), and Medicare (n = 524,034) insurances. We compared and analyzed various baseline demographics, total complications, and LOS (<1 day, 1 to 2 days, 3 to 4 days, and >4 days), between the insurance types.

RESULTS

Medicaid and Medicaid insurance types had patients who had the most comorbidities at baseline, including a comorbidity index >3 (P < 0.0001), women, alcohol abuse, diabetes, obesity, tobacco use, chronic kidney disease, and congestive heart disease (all P < 0.0001). In accounting for comorbidities, Medicaid was the biggest risk factor for total complications (P < 0.001) as well as increased LOS after TKA at 4 to 6 days, 7 to 9 days, and >9 days (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Medicaid insurance is a risk factor for increased total complications and LOS following TKA. Appropriate preoperative and perioperative management of these patients is essential in order to mitigate the risk and burden on the health care system in this population.

Demographic, Socioeconomic, and Clinical Factors Associated with Severe Vision Loss in Patients with Neovascular Glaucoma

Purpose

To investigate the association between demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors and severe vision loss in patients with neovascular glaucoma (NVG).

Patients and Methods

A retrospective chart review of patients referred to the University of Virginia (UVA), diagnosed with NVG, and treated for NVG between January 2010 and December 2020 was performed. Patients were grouped according to vision outcomes after 1 year of treatment: mild - moderate vision loss (best corrected visual acuity [BCVA] > light perception [LP]) and severe vision loss (BCVA ≤ LP). The associations between patient characteristics and BCVA were also examined.

Results

Of the 89 patients (99 eyes), those with progression to severe vision loss presented with higher intraocular pressure (IOP) (p < 0.001) and lower visual acuity (p = 0.003) on average. However, there was no difference in IOP between the vision loss groups after one year of treatment. Univariate analysis showed a moderate association between a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and severe vision loss (p = 0.033). Increasing age was associated with an increased likelihood of progression to severe vision loss (odds ratio [OR] 1.074, p = 0.008). Females were more likely to exhibit severe vision loss (OR 3.281, p = 0.036). Patients with Medicare (OR 0.098, p = 0.005) or private insurance (OR 0.110, p = 0.006) were less likely to progress to severe vision loss than those without insurance.

Conclusion

Progression of vision loss in patients with NVG may be influenced by the stage of disease at diagnosis, age, sex, T2DM, and insurance status.

Race and socioeconomic disparities persist in treatment and outcomes of patients with cervical spinal cord injuries: An analysis of the national inpatient sample from 2016 - 2020

Objective

Previous literature has described race and socioeconomic disparities in both treatment and outcomes following cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI). The goal of this study is to investigate the current state of parity in management and outcomes following SCI.

Methods

We surveyed the National Inpatient Sample database (NIS) for patients admitted with primary diagnosis of cervical SCI. 49,320 patients were identified. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate racial and socioeconomic differences in SCI care and outcomes.

Results

Compared to white patients, minority race was associated with a longer time from presentation to operative intervention (p < 0.001) and longer length of stay following admission for cervical SCI (16 vs 13 days, p < 0.001). Minority patients were more likely to have an unfavorable discharge (skilled nursing facility, against medical advice, death) status than white patients (p < 0.001). Patients in the bottom quartile of median household income were associated with more unfavorable discharges than the top two quartiles (p < 0.001). Patients with the lowest median household income quartile also had higher total costs than those in the top quartiles ($221,654 vs 191,723, p < 0.001). Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander incurred higher treatment costs than White patients.

Conclusion

Minority and lower socioeconomic status are independently associated with unfavorable discharge and LOS in cervical SCI. Furthermore, racial and economically disadvantaged groups have longer wait times from admission to surgical intervention. These disparities persist despite being highlighted by previous publications and increased societal awareness of healthcare inequities, necessitating further work to reach parity.

Insurance-based Disparities in Outcomes and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Utilization for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to examine insurance-based disparities in mortality, nonhome discharges, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation utilization in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

METHODS

Using a national database of U.S. academic medical centers and their affiliated hospitals, the risk-adjusted association between mortality, nonhome discharge, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation utilization and (1) the type of insurance coverage (private insurance, Medicare, dual enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid, and no insurance) and (2) the weekly hospital COVID-19 burden (0 to 5.0%; 5.1 to 10%, 10.1 to 20%, 20.1 to 30%, and 30.1% and greater) was evaluated. Modeling was expanded to include an interaction between payer status and the weekly hospital COVID-19 burden to examine whether the lack of private insurance was associated with increases in disparities as the COVID-19 burden increased.

RESULTS

Among 760,846 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 214,992 had private insurance, 318,624 had Medicare, 96,192 were dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, 107,548 had Medicaid, and 23,560 had no insurance. Overall, 76,250 died, 211,702 had nonhome discharges, 75,703 were mechanically ventilated, and 2,642 underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The adjusted odds of death were higher in patients with Medicare (adjusted odds ratio, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.21 to 1.35]; P < 0.0005), dually enrolled (adjusted odds ratio, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.30 to 1.50]; P < 0.0005), Medicaid (adjusted odds ratio, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.20 to 1.36]; P < 0.0005), and no insurance (adjusted odds ratio, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.26 to 1.62]; P < 0.0005) compared to patients with private insurance. Patients with Medicare (adjusted odds ratio, 0.47; [95% CI, 0.39 to 0.58]; P < 0.0005), dually enrolled (adjusted odds ratio, 0.32 [95% CI, 0.24 to 0.43]; P < 0.0005), Medicaid (adjusted odds ratio, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.62 to 0.79]; P < 0.0005), and no insurance (adjusted odds ratio, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.29 to 0.56]; P < 0.001) were less likely to be placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation than patients with private insurance. Mortality, nonhome discharges, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation utilization did not change significantly more in patients with private insurance compared to patients without private insurance as the COVID-19 burden increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with COVID-19, insurance-based disparities in mortality, nonhome discharges, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation utilization were substantial, but these disparities did not increase as the hospital COVID-19 burden increased.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

Evaluating frailty using the modified frailty index for colonic diverticular disease surgery: analysis of the national inpatient sample 2015-2019

BACKGROUND

Frailty has been associated with increased postoperative mortality and morbidity; however, the use of the modified frailty index (mFI-11) to assess patients undergoing surgery for diverticular disease has not been widely assessed. This paper aims to examine frailty, evaluated by mFI-11, to assess postoperative morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing operative intervention for colonic diverticular disease.

METHODS

We used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample (October 1, 2015-December 31, 2019). ICD-10-CM codes were utilized to identify a cohort of adult patients with a primary admission diagnosis of diverticulitis. mFI-11 items were adapted to correspond with ICD-10-CM codes. Patients were stratified into robust (mFI < 0.27) and frail (mFI ≥ 0.27) groups. Primary outcomes were in-hospital postoperative morbidity and mortality. Secondary outcomes included system-specific postoperative complications, length of stay (LOS), total admission cost, and discharge disposition. Multivariable regression models were fit.

RESULTS

Of the 26,826 patients, there were 24,194 patients with mFI-11 < 0.27 (i.e., robust) and 2,632 patients with mFI-11 ≥ 0.27 (i.e., frail). Adjusted analysis showed significant increases in postoperative mortality (aOR 2.16, 95% CI 1.38-3.38, p = 0.001) and overall postoperative morbidity (aOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.65-2.06, p < 0.001). LOS was higher in the frail group (MD 1.78 days, 95% CI 1.46-2.11, p < 0.001) as well as total cost (MD $25,495.19, 95% CI $19,851.63-$31,138.75, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In the elective setting, a high mFI-11 (i.e., presence of the variables comprising the index) could alert clinicians to the possibility of implementing preoperative optimization strategies. In the emergent setting, a high mFI-11 may help guide prognostication for these vulnerable patients.

Orthotic Helmet Therapy for Deformational Plagiocephaly: Stratifying Outcomes by Insurance

OBJECTIVE

Deformational Plagiocephaly (DP) is commonly treated with cranial orthosis, or helmet therapy. A large, national study on the impact of insurance status on helmet outcomes is lacking. We assessed treatment outcomes for helmet therapy based on insurance status.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective data analysis of patients referred to Cranial Technologies, Inc for helmet therapy between 2014-2020 across 21 states.

PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS

There were a total of 211,417 patients referred for helmeting, of whom 141,513 received helmet therapy.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

Multivariate regression was used to assess the relationship of insurance status with post-treatment residual flattening, measured by cephalic index (CI) and cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI), and treating provider rating of success.

RESULTS

Patients with Medicaid were more likely to complete treatment with residual flattening measured by CI and CVAI when compared to patients with private insurance (OR: 1.58, CI: 1.51-1.65, p < 0.001 and OR: 1.21, CI: 1.15-1.28, p < 0.001, respectively). Providers of patients with Medicaid were more likely to give a low rating of success following treatment (OR: 3.25, CI: 2.70-3.92, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study investigating the impact of insurance status on helmet therapy across 21 states found that patients with Medicaid were more likely to experience residual flattening and have lower provider-rated outcomes compared to those with commercial insurance. Given significant caregiver burden posed by helmet therapy, which requires frequent visits and consistent helmet use, caregivers of patients with Medicaid may require greater support to reduce outcome disparities observed here.

High-Value Epilepsy Care in the United States: Predictors of Increased Costs and Complications from the National Inpatient Sample Database 2016-2019

BACKGROUND

For patients with medically refractory epilepsy, newer minimally invasive techniques such as laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) have been developed in recent years. This study aims to characterize trends in the utilization of surgical resection versus LITT to treat medically refractory epilepsy, characterize complications, and understand the cost of this innovative technique to the public.

METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample database was queried from 2016 to 2019 for all patients admitted with a diagnosis of medically refractory epilepsy. Patient demographics, hospital length of stay, complications, and costs were tabulated for all patients who underwent LITT or surgical resection within these cohorts.

RESULTS

A total of 6019 patients were included, 223 underwent LITT procedures, while 5796 underwent resection. Significant predictors of increased patient charges for both cohorts included diabetes (odds ratio: 1.7, confidence interval [CI]: 1.44-2.19), infection (odds ratio: 5.12, CI 2.73-9.58), and hemorrhage (odds ratio: 2.95, CI 2.04-4.12). Procedures performed at nonteaching hospitals had 1.54 greater odds (CI 1.02-2.33) of resulting in a complication compared to teaching hospitals. Insurance status did significantly differ (P = 0.001) between those receiving LITT (23.3% Medicare; 25.6% Medicaid; 44.4% private insurance; 6.7 Other) and those undergoing resection (35.3% Medicare; 22.5% Medicaid; 34.7% private Insurance; 7.5% other). When adjusting for patient demographics, LITT patients had shorter length of stay (2.3 vs. 8.9 days, P < 0.001), lower complication rate (1.9% vs. 3.1%, P = 0.385), and lower mean hospital ($139,412.79 vs. $233,120.99, P < 0.001) and patient ($55,394.34 vs. $37,756.66, P < 0.001) costs.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study highlights LITT's advantages through its association with lower costs and shorter length of stay. The present study also highlights the associated predictors of LITT versus resection, such as that most LITT cases happen at academic centers for patients with private insurance. As the adoption of LITT continues, more data will become available to further understand these issues.

Impact of Insurance Type on Access to Pediatric Surgical Care

Background

This study aimed to measure the impact of insurance type on access to pediatric surgical care, clinical and surgical scheduling decisions, provider-driven cancelations, and missed care opportunities (MCOs). We hypothesize that patients with public health insurance experience longer scheduling delays and more frequently canceled surgical appointments compared with patients with private health insurance.

Methods

This retrospective study reviewed the demographics and clinical characteristics of patients who underwent a surgical procedure within the plastic and oral surgery department at our institution in 2019. Propensity score matching and linear regressions were used to estimate the effect of insurance type on hospital scheduling and patient access outcomes while controlling for procedure type and sex.

Results

A total of 457 patients were included in the demographic and clinical characteristics analyses; 354 were included in propensity score matching analyses. No significant differences in the number of days between scheduling and occurrence of initial consultation or number of clinic cancelations were observed between insurance groups (P > 0.05). However, patients with public insurance had a 7.4 times higher hospital MCO rate (95% CI [5.2-9.7]; P < 0.001) and 4.7 times the number of clinic MCOs (P = 0.007).

Conclusions

No significant differences were found between insurance groups in timely access to surgical treatment or cancelations. Patients with public insurance had more MCOs than patients with private insurance. Future research should investigate how to remove barriers that impact access to care for marginalized patients.

Frailty in inflammatory bowel disease: analysis of the National Inpatient Sample 2015-2019

AIM

Preoperative frailty has been associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in various populations, but of its use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains sparse. The present study aimed to characterize the impact of frailty, as measured by the modified frailty index (mFI), on postoperative clinical and resource utilization outcomes in patients with IBD.

METHODS

This retrospective population-based cohort study assessed patients from the National Inpatient Sample database from 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2019. Corresponding International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision Clinical Modification codes were used to identify adult patients (>18 years of age) with IBD, undergoing either small bowel resection, colectomy or proctectomy. Patient demographics and institutional data were collected for each patient to calculate the 11-point mFI. Patients were categorized as either frail or robust using a cut-off of 0.27. Primary outcomes were postoperative in-hospital morbidity and mortality, whilst secondary outcomes included system-specific morbidity, length of stay, in-hospital healthcare costs and discharge disposition. Logistic and linear regression models were used for primary and secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Overall, 7144 patients with IBD undergoing small bowel resection, colectomy or proctectomy were identified, 337 of whom were classified as frail (i.e., mFI < 0.27). Frail patients were more likely to be women, older, have lower income and a greater number of comorbidities. After adjusting for relevant covariates, frail patients were at greater odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.42, 95% CI 2.31-12.77, P < 0.001), overall morbidity (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.30-2.28, P < 0.001), increased length of stay (adjusted mean difference 1.3 days, 95% CI 0.09-2.50, P = 0.035) and less likely to be discharged to home (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.45-0.77, P < 0.001) compared to their robust counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

Frail IBD patients are at greater risk of postoperative mortality and morbidity, and reduced likelihood of discharge to home, following surgery. This has implications for clinicians designing care pathways for IBD patients following surgery.

The modified frailty index predicts postoperative morbidity in elective hernia repair patients: analysis of the national inpatient sample 2015-2019

PURPOSE

Frailty has shown promise in predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality following hernia surgery. This study aims to evaluate the predictive capacity of the 11-item modified frailty index (mFI) in estimating postoperative outcomes following elective hernia surgery using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the NIS from 2015 to 2019 was performed including adult patients who underwent elective hernia repair. The mFI was used to stratify patients as either frail (mFI ≥ 0.27) or robust (mFI < 0.27). The primary outcomes were in-hospital postoperative morbidity and mortality. The secondary outcomes were system-specific morbidity, length of stay (LOS), total in-hospital healthcare cost, and discharge disposition. Univariable and multivariable regressions were utilized.

RESULTS

In total, 14,125 robust patients and 1704 frail patients were included. Frailty was associated with an increased age (mean age 66.4 years vs. 52.6 years, p < 0.001) and prevalence of ventral hernias (51.9% vs. 44.4%, p < 0.001). Adjusted analyses demonstrated that frail patients had increased in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.89, 95% CI 1.50, 10.11, p = 0.005), postoperative overall morbidity (aOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.72, 2.29, p < 0.001), postoperative LOS (adjusted mean difference (aMD) 0.78 days, 95% CI 0.51, 1.06, p < 0.001), total in-hospital healthcare costs (aMD $7562 95% CI 3292, 11,832, p = 0.001), and were less likely to be discharged home (aOR 0.61, 95% CI 0.53, 0.69, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The mFI may be a reliable predictor of postoperative morbidity and mortality in elective hernia surgery. Utilizing this tool can aid in patient education and identifying high-risk patients who may benefit from tailored prehabilitation.

Modified frailty index predicts postoperative morbidity in adhesive small bowel obstruction: analyzing the National Inpatient Sample 2015-2019

BACKGROUND

There are limited data identifying predictors of postoperative outcomes in adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO). This study used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to assess the efficacy of the modified frailty index (mFI) to predict postoperative morbidity among patients undergoing an operation for ASBO.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the NIS between September 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, was performed to identify adult patients who underwent nonelective operative intervention for ASBO. The mFI was used to stratify patients as either frail (mFI value ≥ 0.27) or robust (mFI value < 0.27). The primary outcomes were overall in-hospital postoperative morbidity and mortality. The secondary outcomes were system-specific morbidity, length of stay (LOS), total in-hospital healthcare cost, and discharge disposition. Univariable and multivariable regressions were used.

RESULTS

Overall, 23251 robust patients and 6122 frail patients were included. Adjusted analyses demonstrated that frail patients had increased in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.16; 95% CI, 1.80-2.60), postoperative morbidity (aOR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.52-1.74), postoperative LOS (adjusted mean difference [aMD], 0.97 days; 95% CI, 0.73-1.21), and total in-hospital healthcare costs (aMD, $18,921; 95% CI, $14,608-$23,235) and were less likely to be discharged home (aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.55-0.63). The findings were unchanged on subgroup analysis of patients undergoing open operation and those older than 65 years of age.

CONCLUSION

The mFI may predict postoperative outcomes for ASBO. Stratifying patients based on frailty may assist clinicians and patients in making informed decisions, setting realistic expectations, and proactively planning postoperative disposition.

Disparities in postoperative complications and perioperative events based on insurance status following elective spine surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Increasing evidence demonstrates disparities among patients with differing insurance statuses in the field of spine surgery. However, no pooled analyses have performed a robust review characterizing differences in postoperative outcomes among patients with varying insurance types.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search of the PUBMED, MEDLINE(R), ERIC, and EMBASE was performed for studies comparing postoperative outcomes in patients with private insurance versus government insurance. Pooled incidence rates and odds ratios were calculated for each outcome and meta-analyses were conducted for 3 perioperative events and 2 types of complications. In addition to pooled analysis, sub-analyses were performed for each outcome in specific government payer statuses.

Results

Thirty-eight studies (5,018,165 total patients) were included. Compared with patients with private insurance, patients with government insurance experienced greater risk of 90-day re-admission (OR 1.84, p<.0001), non-routine discharge (OR 4.40, p<.0001), extended LOS (OR 1.82, p<.0001), any postoperative complication (OR 1.61, p<.0001), and any medical complication (OR 1.93, p<.0001). These differences persisted across outcomes in sub-analyses comparing Medicare or Medicaid to private insurance. Similarly, across all examined outcomes, Medicare patients had a higher risk of experiencing an adverse event compared with non-Medicare patients. Compared with Medicaid patients, Medicare patients were only more likely to experience non-routine discharge (OR 2.68, p=.0007).

Conclusions

Patients with government insurance experience greater likelihood of morbidity across several perioperative outcomes. Additionally, Medicare patients fare worse than non-Medicare patients across outcomes, potentially due to age-based discrimination. Based on these results, it is clear that directed measures should be taken to ensure that underinsured patients receive equal access to resources and quality care.

Effect of insurance status on perioperative outcomes after robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy: a propensity-score matched analysis

The influence of Medicaid or being uninsured is prevailingly thought to negatively impact a patient's socioeconomic and postoperative course, yet little has been published to support this claim specifically in reference to robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy. This study was undertaken to determine impact of health insurance type on perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy. Following IRB approval, we prospectively followed 364 patients who underwent robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy. Patients were stratified by insurance status (i.e., Private, Medicare, and Medicaid/Uninsured); 100 patients were 2:2:1 propensity-score matched by age, BMI, ASA class, pathology, 8th edition AJCC staging, and tumor size. Perioperative variables were compared utilizing contingency testing and ANOVA. Statistical significance was accepted at a p-value ≤ 0.05 and data are presented as median (mean ± SD). The 100 patients undergoing propensity-score matching were 64 (65 ± 9.1) years old with a BMI of 27 (27 ± 4.9) kg/m2 and ASA class of 3 (3 ± 0.5). Operative duration was 421 (428 ± 105.9) minutes and estimated blood loss was 200 (385 ± 795.0) mL. There were 4 in-hospital deaths and 8 readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Total hospital cost was $32,064 (38,014 ± 22,205.94). After matching, no differences were found in pre-, intra-, and short-term postoperative variables among patients with different insurances, including hospital cost and time to initiate adjuvant treatment, which was 8 (9 ± 7.9) weeks for patients with malignant disease. In our hepatopancreaticobiliary program, health insurance status did not impact perioperative outcomes or hospital costs. These findings highlight that financial coverage does not influence quality of perioperative care, reinforcing the equity of robotic surgery.

Socioeconomic status is associated with pediatric adenotonsillectomy outcomes: A single institution study

OBJECTIVE

Our institution serves a diverse patient population across a large metropolitan city. Literature has shown pediatric otolaryngology patients with lower socioeconomic status (SES) have higher rates of sleep-disordered breathing, delays in treatment time, and greater risks of complications post-tonsillectomy. This study aims to examine the effects of SES on adenotonsillectomy outcomes performed at our institution.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective chart review including 1560 pediatric patients (ages 0-18) who underwent adenotonsillectomy between January 2015 and December 2020.

SETTING

Large metropolitan hospital, level 1 trauma center.

METHODS

Outcome variables included postoperative hospital admission, phone calls, 30-day follow-up, and persistent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Descriptive statistics using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling were used to determine statistically significant covariates at α = 0.05.

RESULTS

The cohort included Non-Hispanic White (n = 488, 31 %), Non-Hispanic Black (n = 801, 51 %), Hispanic (n = 210, 13 %), and other (n = 61, 4 %) groups. Using multivariate regression, privately insured patients were less likely to have moderate-to-severe OSA before surgery (0.65 95 % CI 0.45, 0.93 p = 0.017) and be admitted postoperatively (0.73, 0.55-0.96, p < 0.01), while more likely to have postoperative follow-up phone calls (1.57, 1.19-2.09, p < 0.01) and visits (1.53, 1.22-1.92, p < 0.01). Increased income was associated with decreased rehospitalizations within three months of surgery (0.98, 0.97-1.00, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests SES significantly affects adenotonsillectomy outcomes. Further studies are warranted to provide better care for all pediatric patients.

Socioeconomic disparities in risk of financial toxicity following elective cardiac operations in the United States

BACKGROUND

While insurance reimbursements allay a portion of costs associated with cardiac operations, uncovered and additional fees are absorbed by patients. An examination of financial toxicity (FT), defined as the burden of patient medical expenses on quality of life, is warranted. Therefore, the present study used a nationally representative database to demonstrate the association between insurance status and risk of financial toxicity (FT) among patients undergoing major cardiac operations.

METHODS

Adults admitted for elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and isolated or concomitant valve operations were assessed using the 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample. FT risk was defined as out-of-pocket expenditure >40% of post-subsistence income. Regression models were developed to determine factors associated with FT risk in insured and uninsured populations. To demonstrate the association between insurance status and risk of FT among patients undergoing major cardiac operations.

RESULTS

Of an estimated 567,865 patients, 15.6% were at risk of FT. A greater proportion of uninsured patients were at risk of FT (81.3 vs. 14.8%, p<0.001), compared to insured. After adjustment, FT risk among insured patients was not affected by non-income factors. However, Hispanic race (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.60), length of stay (AOR 1.17/day), and combined CABG-valve operations (AOR 2.31, all p<0.05) were associated with increased risk of FT in the uninsured.

CONCLUSION

Uninsured patients demonstrated higher FT risk after undergoing major cardiac operation. Hispanic race, longer lengths of stay, and combined CABG-valve operations were independently associated with increased risk of FT amongst the uninsured. Conversely, non-income factors did not impact FT risk in the insured cohort. Culturally-informed reimbursement strategies are necessary to reduce disparities in already financially disadvantaged populations.

Short-term postoperative outcomes for obese versus non-obese inflammatory bowel disease patients undergoing bowel resection: a propensity score matched analysis

PURPOSE

Up to 40% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are obese. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for increased perioperative morbidity, but this risk has never been quantified in IBD patients undergoing abdominal surgery using the United States National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. This study aims to compare postoperative morbidity between obese and non-obese patients undergoing bowel resection for IBD using recent NIS data.

METHODS

Adult patients who underwent bowel resection for IBD from 2015 to 2019 were identified in the NIS using ICD-10-CM coding. Patients were stratified into obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and non-obese groups, then propensity score matched (PSM) for demographic, operative, and hospital characteristics. The primary outcome was postoperative in-hospital morbidity. Secondary outcomes included postoperative in-hospital mortality, system-specific postoperative complications, total admission healthcare costs, and length of stay (LOS). Univariable and multivariable regressions were utilized.

RESULTS

Overall, 6601 non-obese patients and 671 obese patients were identified. The PSM cohort included 659 patients per group. Obese patients had significantly increased odds of experiencing postoperative in-hospital morbidity (aOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.10-2.03, p = 0.010) compared to non-obese patients. Specifically, obese patients experienced increased gastrointestinal complications (aOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.00-2.24, p = 0.050), and genitourinary complications (aOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.12-2.61, p = 0.013). There were no differences in total admission healthcare costs (MD - $2256.32, 95% CI - 19,144.54-14,631.9, p = 0.79) or LOS (MD 0.16 days, 95% CI - 0.93-1.27, p = 0.77).

CONCLUSIONS

Obese IBD patients are at greater risk of postoperative in-hospital morbidity than non-obese IBD patients. This supports targeted preoperative weight loss protocols for IBD patients to optimize surgical outcomes.

The impact of operative approach for obese colorectal cancer patients: analysis of the National Inpatient Sample 2015-2019

AIM

Obesity is a well-established risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer. As such, patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer have increasingly higher body mass indices (BMIs). The advances in minimally invasive surgical techniques in recent years have helped surgeons circumvent some of the challenges associated with operating in the setting of obesity. While previous studies suggest that laparoscopy improves outcomes compared with open surgery in obese patients, this has never been established at the population level. Therefore, we designed a retrospective database study using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) with the aim of comparing laparoscopic with open approaches for obese patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.

METHOD

A retrospective analysis of the NIS from 2015 to 2019 was conducted including patients with a BMI of greater than 30 kg/m2 undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. The primary outcomes were postoperative in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Secondary outcomes included postoperative system-specific complications, total admission healthcare cost and length of stay (LOS). Multivariable logistic and linear regressions were utilized to compare the two operative approaches.

RESULTS

A total of 4742 patients underwent open surgery and 3231 underwent laparoscopic surgery. We observed a significant decrease in overall postoperative morbidity [17.5% vs. 31.4%, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50-0.64; p < 0.001], gastrointestinal morbidity (8.1% vs. 14.5%, aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.50-0.69; p < 0.001) and genitourinary morbidity (10.1% vs. 18.6%, aOR 0.61, 95% CI 0.52-0.70; p < 0.001) with the use of laparoscopy. Postoperative LOS was 1.7 days shorter (95% CI 1.5-2.0, p < 0.001) and cost of admission was decreased by $9106 (95% CI $4638-$13 573, p < 0.001) with laparoscopy.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery for obese patients with colorectal cancer is associated with significantly decreased postoperative morbidity and improved healthcare resource utilization compared with open surgery. Laparoscopic approaches should be relied upon whenever feasible for these patients.

Disparities in access to minimally invasive surgery for inflammatory bowel disease and outcomes by insurance status: analysis of the 2015 to 2019 National Inpatient Sample

INTRODUCTION

Despite being the preferred modality for treatment of colorectal cancer and diverticular disease, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been adopted slowly for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to its technical challenges. The present study aims to assess the disparities in use of MIS for patients with IBD.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from October 2015 to December 2019 was conducted. Patients < 65 years of age were stratified by either private insurance or Medicaid. The primary outcome was access to MIS and secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, complications, length of stay (LOS), and total admission cost. Univariate and multivariate regression was utilized to determine the association between insurance status and outcomes.

RESULTS

The NIS sample population included 7866 patients with private insurance and 1689 with Medicaid. Medicaid patients had lower odds of receiving MIS than private insurance patients (OR 0.85, 95% CI [0.74-0.97], p = 0.017), and experienced more postoperative genitourinary complications (OR 1.36, 95% CI [1.08-1.71], p = 0.009). In addition, LOS was longer by 1.76 days (p < 0.001) and the total cost was higher by $5043 USD (p < 0.001) in the Medicaid group. Independent predictors of receiving MIS were age < 40 years old, female sex, highest income quartile, diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, elective admission, and care at teaching hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with Medicaid are less likely to receive MIS, have longer lengths of stay, and incur higher costs for the surgical management of their IBD. Further investigations into disparities in inflammatory bowel disease care for Medicaid patients are warranted.

Incorporation and Utilization of an Additional Needs Screener by Surgical Trainees for Comprehensive Care of Underserved and Underinsured Surgical Patients

OBJECTIVE

Comprehensive, socially-minded healthcare has historically been delivered in the primary care setting. For underserved patient populations, however, a surgical care episode may serve as the health care access point. To maximize patient wellbeing during the perioperative period, our surgical center developed the Additional Needs Screener (ANS). Operationalized into practice by GME and UME trainees, this tool screens surgical patients across 3 domains (social, emotional, and immigration needs) and connects patients to partner organizations if appropriate. This study describes the pilot utilization of the ANS among underserved and underinsured surgical patients.

DESIGN

Clinical quality improvement and retrospective cohort study of patients completing the ANS from implementation in September 2021 to September 2022.

SETTING

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, PA-a tertiary care center.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and 10 underinsured and/or underserved patients completed at least 1 ANS domain.

RESULTS

Patients were majority female (55F, 53M, 2 other) and Hispanic/Latinx (72%) with a median age of 38 (IQR = 34-48). Most patients spoke a primary language other than English (77%), and nearly all were either uninsured (82%) or received emergency medical assistance or Medicaid (14%) at referral. Patients demonstrated significant needs; 39% endorsed difficulty affording housing, 32% endorsed difficulty paying for food, 29% endorsed experiencing current life-interfering distress, and 75% had undocumented immigration status. Ultimately, 57% of screened patients accepted referrals to our needs response teams.

CONCLUSIONS

Underserved and underinsured patients presenting for surgical care face significant challenges relating to social, emotional, and immigration needs. Through adoption of the ANS, trainees gained competency identifying and addressing these barriers in the perioperative period. Future works will focus on categorizing referral outcomes, developing interventions to increase patient trust, and improving screener dissemination.

Unmet Social Health Needs as a Driver of Inequitable Outcomes After Surgery: A Cross-sectional Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify opportunities to improve surgical equity by evaluating unmet social health needs by race, ethnicity, and insurance type.

BACKGROUND

Although inequities in surgical care and outcomes based on race, ethnicity, and insurance have been well documented for decades, underlying drivers remain poorly understood.

METHODS

We used the 2008-2018 National Health Interview Survey to identify adults age 18 years and older who reported surgery in the past year. Outcomes included poor health status (self-reported), socioeconomic status (income, education, employment), and unmet social health needs (food, housing, transportation). We used logistic regression models to progressively adjust for the impact of patient demographics, socioeconomic status, and unmet social health needs on health status.

RESULTS

Among a weighted sample of 14,471,501 surgical patients, 30% reported at least 1 unmet social health need. Compared with non-Hispanic White patients, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic patients reported higher rates of unmet social health needs. Compared with private insurance, those with Medicaid or no insurance reported higher rates of unmet social health needs. In fully adjusted models, poor health status was independently associated with unmet social health needs: food insecurity [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.14; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.89-2.41], housing instability (aOR=1.69; 95% CI: 1.51-1.89), delayed care due to lack of transportation (aOR=2.58; 95% CI: 2.02-3.31).

CONCLUSIONS

Unmet social health needs vary significantly by race, ethnicity, and insurance, and are independently associated with poor health among surgical populations. As providers and policymakers prioritize improving surgical equity, unmet social health needs are potential modifiable targets.

Antiemetic Administration and Its Association with Race: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Anesthesiologists' contribution to perioperative healthcare disparities remains unclear because patient and surgeon preferences can influence care choices. Postoperative nausea and vomiting is a patient- centered outcome measure and a main driver of unplanned admissions. Antiemetic administration is under the sole domain of anesthesiologists. In a U.S. sample, Medicaid insured versus commercially insured patients and those with lower versus higher median income had reduced antiemetic administration, but not all risk factors were controlled for. This study examined whether a patient's race is associated with perioperative antiemetic administration and hypothesized that Black versus White race is associated with reduced receipt of antiemetics.

METHODS

An analysis was performed of 2004 to 2018 Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group data. The primary outcome of interest was administration of either ondansetron or dexamethasone; secondary outcomes were administration of each drug individually or both drugs together. The confounder-adjusted analysis included relevant patient demographics (Apfel postoperative nausea and vomiting risk factors: sex, smoking history, postoperative nausea and vomiting or motion sickness history, and postoperative opioid use; as well as age) and included institutions as random effects.

RESULTS

The Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group data contained 5.1 million anesthetic cases from 39 institutions located in the United States and The Netherlands. Multivariable regression demonstrates that Black patients were less likely to receive antiemetic administration with either ondansetron or dexamethasone than White patients (290,208 of 496,456 [58.5%] vs. 2.24 million of 3.49 million [64.1%]; adjusted odds ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.81 to 0.82; P < 0.001). Black as compared to White patients were less likely to receive any dexamethasone (140,642 of 496,456 [28.3%] vs. 1.29 million of 3.49 million [37.0%]; adjusted odds ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.78; P < 0.001), any ondansetron (262,086 of 496,456 [52.8%] vs. 1.96 million of 3.49 million [56.1%]; adjusted odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.84 to 0.85; P < 0.001), and dexamethasone and ondansetron together (112,520 of 496,456 [22.7%] vs. 1.0 million of 3.49 million [28.9%]; adjusted odds ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.79; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In a perioperative registry data set, Black versus White patient race was associated with less antiemetic administration, after controlling for all accepted postoperative nausea and vomiting risk factors.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

Disparities in Treatment of Closed Distal Radius Fractures in Patients Aged 18-64 Years and ≥65 Years by Insurance Type

PURPOSE

Type of and time to definitive treatment for distal radius fractures can influence the outcomes. The impact of social determinants of health (eg, insurance type) on distal radius fracture care remains unknown despite having health equity implications. Thus, we evaluate the association between insurance type and rate of surgery, the time to surgery, and the complication rate for distal radius fractures.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the PearlDiver Database. We identified adults with closed distal radius fractures. Patients were divided into subgroups by age (18-64 years, 65+ years) and further stratified on the basis of the insurance type (Medicare Advantage, Medicaid-managed care, and commercial). The primary outcome was the rate of surgical fixation. Secondary outcomes included the time to surgery and 12-month complication rates. Logistic regression modeling was used to calculate the odds ratios for each outcome, adjusting for age, sex, geographic region, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

In patients aged ≥65 years, a lower proportion of Medicaid patients underwent surgery within 21 days of diagnosis compared with Medicare or commercially insured patients (12.1% vs 15.9% or 17.5%, respectively). Complication rates did not differ between Medicaid and other insurance types. In patients aged <65 years, fewer Medicaid patients underwent surgery compared with commercially insured patients (16.2% vs 21.1%). However, in this younger group, Medicaid patients had higher adjusted odds of malunion/nonunion (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.39 [95% CI, 1.31-1.47]) and subsequent repair (aOR = 1.38 [95% CI, 1.25-1.53]).

DISCUSSION

Although older Medicaid patients experienced lower surgical rates, this may not lead to differential clinical outcomes. However, Medicaid patients aged <65 years experienced lower surgical rates that correlated with the increased rates of malunion or nonunion.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

In younger patients with a closed distal radius fracture and Medicaid insurance, system and patient-directed efforts should be considered to address delayed time to surgery and a higher odds for malunion/nonunion.

Association of Cumulative Colorectal Surgery Hospital Costs, Readmissions, and Emergency Department/Observation Stays with Insurance Type

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Medicare's Hospital Readmission Reduction Program disproportionately penalizes safety-net hospitals (SNH) caring for vulnerable populations. This study assessed the association of insurance type with 30-day emergency department visits/observation stays (EDOS), readmissions, and cumulative costs in colorectal surgery patients.

METHODS

Retrospective inpatient cohort study using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2013-2019) with cost data in a SNH. The odds of EDOS and readmissions and cumulative variable (index hospitalization and all 30-day EDOS and readmissions) costs were modeled adjusting for frailty, case status, presence of a stoma, and open versus laparoscopic surgery.

RESULTS

The cohort had 245 private, 195 Medicare, and 590 Medicaid/uninsured cases, with a mean age 55.0 years (SD = 13.3) and 52.9% of the cases were performed on male patients. Most cases were open surgeries (58.7%). Complication rates were 41.8%, EDOS 12.0%, and readmissions 20.1%. Medicaid/uninsured had increased odds of urgent/emergent surgeries (aOR = 2.15, CI = 1.56-2.98, p < 0.001) and complications (aOR = 1.43, CI = 1.02-2.03, p = 0.042) versus private patients. Medicaid/uninsured versus private patients had higher EDOS (16.6% versus 4.1%) and readmissions (22.9% versus 14.3%) rates and higher odds of EDOS (aOR = 4.81, CI = 2.57-10.06, p < 0.001), and readmissions (aOR = 1.62, CI = 1.07-2.50, p = 0.025), while Medicare patients had similar odds versus private. Cumulative variable cost %change was increased for Medicare and Medicaid/uninsured, but Medicaid/uninsured was similar to private after adjusting for urgent/emergent cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased urgent/emergent cases in Medicaid/uninsured populations drive increased complications odds and higher costs compared to private patients, suggesting lack of access to outpatient care. SNH care for higher cost populations, receive lower reimbursements, and are penalized by value-based programs. Increasing healthcare access for Medicaid/uninsured patients could reduce urgent/emergent surgeries, resulting in fewer complications, EDOS/readmissions, and costs.

Total Abdominal Colectomy Versus Diverting Loop Ileostomy and Antegrade Colonic Lavage for Fulminant Clostridioides Colitis: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample 2016-2019

BACKGROUND

When surgery is indicated for fulminant Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), total abdominal colectomy (TAC) is the most common approach. Diverting loop ileostomy (DLI) with antegrade colonic lavage has been introduced as a colon-sparing surgical approach. Prior analyses of National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data suggested equivalent postoperative outcomes between groups but did not evaluate healthcare resource utilization. As such, we aimed to analyze a more recent NIS cohort to compare these two approaches in terms of both postoperative outcomes and healthcare resource utilization.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the NIS from 2016 to 2019 was conducted. The primary outcome was postoperative in-hospital morbidity. Secondary outcomes included postoperative in-hospital mortality, system-specific postoperative complications, total admission cost, and length of stay (LOS). Univariable and multivariable regressions were utilized to compare the two operative approaches.

RESULTS

In total, 886 patients underwent TAC and 409 patients underwent DLI with antegrade colonic lavage. Adjusted analyses demonstrated no difference between groups in postoperative in-hospital morbidity (aOR 0.96, 95%CI 0.64-1.44, p = 0.851) or in-hospital mortality (aOR 1.15, 95%CI 0.81-1.64, p = 0.436). Patients undergoing TAC experienced significantly decreased total admission cost (MD $79,715.34, 95%CI 133,841-25,588, p = 0.004) and shorter postoperative LOS (MD 4.06 days, 95%CI 6.96-1.15, p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

There are minimal differences between TAC and DLI with antegrade colonic lavage for fulminant CDI in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Healthcare resource utilization, however, is significantly improved when patients undergo TAC as evidenced by clinically important decreases in total admission cost and postoperative LOS.

The Effect of Chronic Kidney Disease or End-stage Kidney Disease on Perioperative Outcomes and Healthcare Utilization in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

BACKGROUND

As chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a higher prevalence in patients with obesity, there is an increasing need to understand the safety of bariatric surgery for patients with advanced CKD. This study determined if short-term bariatric surgical outcomes and healthcare utilization differ in patients with advanced CKD.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was performed. Patients with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery from 2015 to 2019 were included. Patients without CKD, with CKD, and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) were compared for outcome differences. Univariate and multivariable regression was used to determine the association between perioperative outcomes to CKD status.

RESULTS

The unadjusted analysis found significantly higher mortality and overall complication rate in CKD and ESKD patients, however, after adjustment for confounders, only the ICU admission rate remained significantly higher for patients CKD compared to non-CKD patients (odds ratio 4.21, 95% CI [3.29-5.39]). Length of stay was longer for patients with CKD (mean difference (MD) 0.14 days, 95% CI, [0.04, 0.23]) and patients with ESKD (MD 0.27 days, 95% CI, [0.10, 0.43]) compared to non-CKD patients. Patients with ESKD had higher admission costs compared to non-CKD patients (MD $1982.65).

CONCLUSION

Patients with CKD and ESKD have increased healthcare utilization and higher rates of ICU admission after bariatric surgery compared to non-CKD patients. Otherwise, there is no significant difference in other post-operative complications and mortality. Bariatric surgery may therefore be safely offered to this patient population in hospitals with on-site ICU capacity.

Factors associated with recurrent appendicitis after nonoperative management

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study is to identify predictors for recurrent appendicitis in patients with appendicitis previously treated nonoperatively.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study of all adult patients with appendicitis treated at a tertiary care hospital. Patient demographics, radiographic information, management, and clinical outcomes were recorded. The primary outcome was recurrent appendicitis within 6 months after discharge from the index admission. Given the competing risk of interval appendectomy, a time-to-event competing-risk analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Of the 699 patients presenting with appendicitis, 74 were treated nonoperatively (35 [47%] were women; median [IQR] age, 48 [33,64] years), and 21 patients (29%) had recurrent appendicitis. On univariate and multivariate analysis, presence of an appendicolith on imaging was the only factor associated with a higher risk of recurrent appendicitis (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of appendicolith was associated with an increased risk of developing recurrent appendicitis within 6 months.

Influence of insurance status on the postoperative outcomes of cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) is increasingly performed for peritoneal surface malignancies but remains associated with significant morbidity. Scant research is available regarding the impact of insurance status on postoperative outcomes.

METHODS

Patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC between 2000 and 2017 at 12 participating sites in the US HIPEC Collaborative were identified. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare the baseline characteristics, operative variables, and postoperative outcomes of patients with government, private, or no insurance.

RESULTS

Among 2268 patients, 699 (30.8%) had government insurance, 1453 (64.0%) had private, and 116 (5.1%) were uninsured. Patients with government insurance were older, more likely to be non-white, and comorbid (p < 0.05). Patients with government (OR: 2.25, CI: 1.50-3.36, p < 0.001) and private (OR: 1.69, CI: 1.15-2.49, p = 0.008) insurance had an increased risk of complications on univariate analysis. There was no independent relationship on multivariate analysis. An American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3 or 4, peritoneal carcinomatosis index score >15, completeness of cytoreduction score >1, and nonhome discharge were factors independently associated with a postoperative complication.

CONCLUSION

While there were differences in postoperative outcomes between the three insurance groups on univariate analysis, there was no independent association between insurance status and postoperative complications after CRS/HIPEC.

Lack of Demographic Information in Total Hip Arthroplasty/Total Knee Arthroplasty Randomized Controlled Trial Publications

BACKGROUND

The impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) has been documented in orthopaedic literature. However, there is a lack of data on the inclusion of these variables in orthopaedic studies. Our aim was to investigate how many total hip arthroplasties and total knee arthroplasties randomized controlled trials report SDOH variables such as race, ethnicity, insurance, income, and education within the manuscript.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted on a PubMed search for randomized controlled trials published from 2017 to 2019 in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Journal of Arthroplasty, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, and Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. Data collected included publication year, type of surgery, and the inclusion of race, ethnicity, insurance, income, and education.

RESULTS

Of the 72 manuscripts included in the study, 5.6% of the manuscripts mentioned race, 4.2% included race within the demographic table, and 1.4% included ethnicity in the demographic table. Overall, only 5 studies discussed any one of the variables studied and none included any SDOH variables in their multivariable regressions. There were no statistically significant differences on inclusion across journal year (P value = .78), journal name (P value = 1.00), or surgery type (P value = .555).

CONCLUSION

Our findings identify a major shortcoming in the inclusion of SDOH variables in total knee arthroplasty/total hip arthroplasty publications. Their exclusion may be indirectly perpetuating disparities if research that does not use representative patient samples is used in creating health policies and national standards.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V.

The Association of Insurance Status and Complications After Carpal Tunnel Release

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel release (CTR) is one of the most commonly performed procedures in hand surgery. Complications from surgery are a rare but significant patient dissatisfier. The purpose of this study was to determine whether insurance status is independently associated with complications after CTR.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified all patients undergoing CTR between 2008 and 2018 using the Indiana Network for Patient Care, a state-wide health information exchange, and built a database that included patient demographics and comorbidities. Patients were followed for 90 days to determine whether a postoperative complication occurred. To minimize dropout, only patients with 1 year of encounters after surgery were included.

RESULTS

Of the 26 151 patients who met inclusion criteria, 2662 (10.2%) had Medicare, 7027 (26.9%) had Medicaid, and 16 462 (62.9%) had commercial insurance. Compared with Medicare, Medicaid status (P < .001) and commercial insurance status (P < .001) were independently associated with postoperative CTR complications. The overall complication rate was 2.23%, with infection, wound breakdown, and complex regional pain syndrome being the most common complications. Younger age, alcohol use, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and depression were also independently associated with complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of complications after CTR is low. Insurance status, patient demographics, and medical comorbidities, however, should be evaluated preoperatively to appropriately risk stratify patients. Furthermore, surgeons can use these data to initiate preventive measures such as working to manage current comorbidities and lifestyle choices, and to optimize insurance coverage.

Effect of socioeconomic status on patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in a publicly funded health care system

BACKGROUND

The association between socioeconomic status (SES) and outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in publicly funded health care systems is poorly described. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of SES on postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent AAA repair in Nova Scotia, Canada.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of all elective AAA repairs in Nova Scotia between November 2005 and March 2015 using administrative data sources. We compared postoperative 30-day outcomes and long-term survival across socio-economic quintiles, defined as the Pampalon Material Deprivation Index (MDI) and Social Deprivation Index (SDI). We also compared the relation between baseline characteristics, MDI quintile, SDI quintile and 30-day mortality. We used multivariable logistic regression and survival analysis to calculate adjusted 30-day mortality and long-term survival, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 1913 patients underwent AAA repair during the study period. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 2.6% (50 patients). Thirty-day outcomes including death (p = 0.8), stroke (p = 0.7), myocardial infarction (p = 0.06), length of stay (p = 0.3) and discharge disposition other than home (p = 0.8) were similar across MDI quintiles. Similarly, there was no statistically significant association between SDI quintile and postoperative outcomes. Multivariable analysis showed that age greater than 70 years (odds ratio [OR] 3.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55-6.06) and open repair (OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.59-6.52) but not MDI quintile (p = NS) or SDI quintile (p = NS) were associated with increased 30-day mortality. There was no effect of MDI or SDI quintile on long-term survival on univariable or multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

Socioeconomic status does not appear to affect short- or long-term mortality after AAA repair in a publicly funded health care system. Further research is needed to address any existing gaps in screening and referral before repair.

Diabetes as a Risk Factor for Perforated Appendicitis: A National Analysis

BACKGROUND

A few important risk factors play into rates of perforation following acute appendicitis. Diabetes may be an additional risk factor due to various systemic complications that may contribute to perforation and additional adverse outcomes following acute appendicitis, all of which currently remains unknown in the United States.

METHODS

Adult patients with acute appendicitis under 65 years of age were identified from the National Inpatient Sample between 2012 and 2014 and the distribution of baseline variables was examined across diabetic status using Rao-Scott chi square and student's t-test. A propensity score match was implemented for a conditional logistic regression that assessed differences in rates of perforation, outcomes, as well as postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Among all patients with acute appendicitis, approximately 7% had diabetes. Diabetics were more likely to experience perforated appendicitis (odds ratio 95% confidence interval 1.093 (1.029, 1.160); P = .0036), experience a longer length of stay (1.540 (1.434, 1.654); P < .0001), receive an open appendectomy (1.139 (1.05, 1.236); P = .0018), and experience postoperative cardiovascular complications (2.103 (1.325, 3.340)); P = .0016).

DISCUSSION

Diabetic adult patients under 65 years of age with acute appendicitis experience higher rates in perforation, a longer length of stay, more open surgical approach, and cardiovascular postoperative complications. Diabetes should be one of many risk factors considered in the evaluation and management of perforation following acute appendicitis.

Differences in in-hospital outcomes and healthcare utilization for laparoscopic versus open approach for emergency inguinal hernia repair: a nationwide analysis

PURPOSE

There has been a growing debate of whether laparoscopic or open surgical techniques are superior for inguinal hernia repair. For incarcerated and strangulated inguinal hernias, the laparoscopic approach remains controversial. This study aims to be the first nationwide analysis to compare clinical and healthcare utilization outcomes between laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repair in an emergency setting.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample was performed. All patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) and open inguinal hernia repair (OIHR) between October 2015 and December 2019 were included. The primary outcome was mortality, and secondary outcomes include post-operative complications, ICU admission, length of stay (LOS), and total admission cost. Two approaches were compared using univariate and multivariate logistic and linear regression.

RESULTS

Between the years 2015 and 2019, 17,205 patients were included. Among these, 213 patients underwent LIHR and 16,992 underwent OIHR. No difference was observed between laparoscopic and open repair for mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.80, 95% CI [0.25, 2.61], p = 0.714). Additionally, there was no significant difference between groups for post-operative ICU admission (OR 1.11, 95% CI [0.74, 1.67], p = 0.614), post-operative complications (OR 1.09, 95% CI [0.76, 1.56], p = 0.647), LOS (mean difference [MD]: -0.02 days, 95% CI [- 0.56, 0.52], p = 0.934), or total admission cost (MD: $3,028.29, 95% CI [$- 110.94, $6167.53], p = 0.059).

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is comparable to the open inguinal hernia repair with respect to low rates of morbidity, mortality as well as healthcare resource utilization.

Association of the Affordable Care Act on Access to and Outcomes After Kidney or Liver Transplant: A Transplant Registry Study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the effect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion on payor mix among patients on the kidney and liver transplant waiting list as well as waiting list and post-transplant outcomes.

DESIGN

Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we performed a secondary data analysis of all patients on the kidney and liver transplant waiting list from 2007 to 2018. We described changes in payor mix by timing of state Medicaid expansion. We used competing risks models to estimate cause-specific hazard ratios for the effects of insurance and era on death/delisting and transplant. We used a Poisson regression model to estimate the effect of insurance and era on incidence rate ratio of inactivations on the waiting list. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the effect of insurance and era on graft and patient survival.

RESULTS

A decade after implementation of the ACA, the prevalence of Medicaid beneficiaries listed for transplant increased by 2.5% (from 7.4% to 9.9%) for kidney and by 2.6% (15.3% to 17.9%) for liver. Expansion states had greater increases than nonexpansion states (kidney 3.8% vs 0.6%, liver 5.3% vs -1.8%). Among wait-listed patients, the magnitude of association of Medicaid insurance vs private insurance with transplant decreased over time for kidney candidates (era 1 subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR), 0.62 [95% CI, 0.60-0.64] vs era 3 SHR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.74-0.70]) but increased for liver candidates (era 1 SHR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.83-0.90] vs era 3 SHR 0.79 [95% CI, 0.77-0.82]). Medicaid-insured kidney and liver recipients had greater hazards of graft failure; this did not change over time (kidney: HR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.06-1.44] liver: HR, 1.05 [95% CI, 0.94-1.17]).

CONCLUSIONS

For the millions of patients with chronic kidney and liver diseases, implementation of the ACA has resulted in only modest increases in access to transplant for the publicly insured vs the privately insured.

National Analysis of Sternal Wound Complications and Readmissions After Coronary Bypass Surgery

BACKGROUND

Wound complications are a cause for readmission after cardiac surgery. Health insurance status has been associated with poor postoperative outcomes. We investigate the association between health insurance status and post-CABG wound dehiscence or infection along with 30-day wound-related readmission using a national database.

METHODS

We queried the National Readmissions Database for the year 2018 for patients aged 18 years or more undergoing multivessel coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Patients were subcategorized by health insurance status (private, Medicaid, Medicare, uninsured). Our primary outcomes were wound dehiscence or infection during the index admission and 30-day readmission after discharge for wound-related complications.

RESULTS

In all, 131,976 patients met inclusion criteria: 32.7% private, 7.6% Medicaid, 59.3% Medicare, and 0.4% uninsured. Compared with patients having private insurance, Medicaid patients had greater odds of readmission for superficial wound dehiscence (odds ratio [OR] 2.11; 1.11-4.00; P = .022) and deep wound dehiscence (OR 2.11; 95% CI, 1.09-4.10; P = .026), as did Medicare patients (OR 2.34; 95% CI, 1.29-3.88; P = .004; and OR 3.23; 95% CI, 1.76-5.90; P = .001, respectively). Medicaid patients additionally had higher odds of readmission for superficial wound infection (OR 1.59; 95% CI, 1.11-4.00; P = .014). Compared with patients with private insurance, Medicaid patients had higher odds of deep wound dehiscence on index admission (OR 1.97; 95% CI, 1.02-3.83; P = .044), and Medicare patients had higher odds of superficial wound dehiscence (OR 2.55; 95% CI, 1.28-5.06; P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with Medicaid and Medicare had greater odds of readmission for wound complications and higher rates of wound dehiscence in their index admission. Further research is warranted to characterize factors driving readmission due to postsurgical wound complications in low socioeconomic status populations.

Medicare and Medicaid insurance status is associated with increased allogeneic red blood cell transfusion in cardiac surgery patients: 2007-2018

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and health insurance status are independently associated with perioperative morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of insurance status on allogeneic and autologous transfusion risk in cardiac surgery patients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study of data spanning 2007-2018 from six states from the State Inpatient Databases. Patients were cohorted by medical insurance type. Rates and risk-adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated for allogenic and autologous RBC transfusions. Interactions between insurance and race/ethnicity were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 710,296 cardiac surgery patients were included. Allogeneic infusions occurred in 34.7% of Medicare patients, 31.9% of Medicaid patients, 24.7% of privately insured patients, and 26.1% of uninsured patients. Autologous rates were 2.3%, 2.5%, 3.4%, and 2.6% for Medicare, Medicaid, privately insured, and uninsured patients, respectively. Medicare and Medicaid patients were more likely to receive allogeneic RBC than privately insured patients (Medicare: aOR: 1.42, 99% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40-1.44, p < .001, Medicaid: aOR: 1.18, 99% CI: 1.14-1.21, p < .001). Nonwhite Medicare patients showed higher odds of allogeneic transfusion compared with White patients with private insurance (Black Medicare: aOR 1.74, 99% CI: 1.65-1.83, p < .001, Hispanic Medicare: aOR 1.92, 99% CI: 1.84-2.00, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Cardiac surgery patients with Medicare and Medicaid insurance demonstrate increased risk of allogeneic RBC transfusion; nonwhite patient groups are particularly vulnerable. Further research is needed to understand the causes and implications of these disparities, and to help ensure equitable care across patient groups.

Association of Insurance Type With Colorectal Surgery Outcomes and Costs at a Safety-Net Hospital: A Retrospective Observational Study

Association of insurance type with colorectal surgical complications, textbook outcomes (TO), and cost in a safety-net hospital (SNH).

Background

SNHs have higher surgical complications and costs compared to low-burden hospitals. How does presentation acuity and insurance type influence colorectal surgical outcomes?

Methods

Retrospective cohort study using single-site National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2013-2019) with cost data and risk-adjusted by frailty, preoperative serious acute conditions (PASC), case status and open versus laparoscopic to evaluate 30-day reoperations, any complication, Clavien-Dindo IV (CDIV) complications, TO, and hospitalization variable costs.

Results

Cases (Private 252; Medicare 207; Medicaid/Uninsured 619) with patient mean age 55.2 years (SD = 13.4) and 53.1% male. Adjusting for frailty, open abdomen, and urgent/emergent cases, Medicaid/Uninsured patients had higher odds of presenting with PASC (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-3.52, P = 0.009) versus Private. Medicaid/Uninsured (aOR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.28-2.55, P < 0.001) patients were more likely to undergo urgent/emergent surgeries compared to Private. Medicare patients had increased odds of any and CDIV complications while Medicaid/Uninsured had increased odds of any complication, emergency department or observations stays, and readmissions versus Private. Medicare (aOR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.33-0.88, P = 0.003) and Medicaid/Uninsured (aOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.30-0.60, P < 0.001) patients had lower odds of achieving TO versus Private. Variable cost %change increased in Medicaid/Uninsured patients to 13.94% (P = 0.005) versus Private but was similar after adjusting for case status. Urgent/emergent cases (43.23%, P < 0.001) and any complication (78.34%, P < 0.001) increased %change hospitalization costs.

Conclusions

Decreasing the incidence of urgent/emergent colorectal surgeries, possibly by improving access to care, could have a greater impact on improving clinical outcomes and decreasing costs, especially in Medicaid/Uninsured insurance type patients.

Addressing racial disparities in surgical care with machine learning

There is ample evidence to demonstrate that discrimination against several population subgroups interferes with their ability to receive optimal surgical care. This bias can take many forms, including limited access to medical services, poor quality of care, and inadequate insurance coverage. While such inequalities will require numerous cultural, ethical, and sociological solutions, artificial intelligence-based algorithms may help address the problem by detecting bias in the data sets currently being used to make medical decisions. However, such AI-based solutions are only in early development. The purpose of this commentary is to serve as a call to action to encourage investigators and funding agencies to invest in the development of these digital tools.

Chances of Mortality Are 3.5-Times Greater in Elderly Patients with Umbilical Hernia Than in Adult Patients: An Analysis of 21,242 Patients

The goal of this study was to identify risk factors that are associated with mortality in adult and elderly patients who were hospitalized for umbilical hernia. A total of 14,752 adult patients (ages 18−64 years) and 6490 elderly patients (ages 65+), who were admitted emergently for umbilical hernia, were included in this retrospective cohort study. The data were gathered from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2005−2014 database. Predictors of mortality were identified via a multivariable logistic regression, in patients who underwent surgery and those who did not for adult and elderly age groups. The mean (SD) ages for adult males and females were 48.95 (9.61) and 46.59 (11.35) years, respectively. The mean (SD) ages for elderly males and females were 73.62 (6.83) and 77.31 (7.98) years, respectively. The overall mortality was low (113 or 0.8%) in the adult group and in the elderly group (179 or 2.8%). In adult patients who underwent operation, age (OR = 1.066, 95% CI: 1.040−1.093, p < 0.001) and gangrene (OR = 5.635, 95% CI: 2.288−13.874, p < 0.001) were the main risk factors associated with mortality. Within the same population, female sex was found to be a protective factor (OR = 0.547, 95% CI: 0.351−0.854, p = 0.008). Of the total adult sample, 43% used private insurance, while only 18% of patients in the deceased population used private insurance. Conversely, within the entire adult population, only about 48% of patients used Medicare, Medicaid, or self-pay, while these patients made up 75% of the deceased group. In the elderly surgical group, the main risk factors significantly associated with mortality were frailty (OR = 1.284, 95% CI: 1.105−1.491, p = 0.001), gangrene (OR = 13.914, 95% CI: 5.074−38.154, p < 0.001), and age (OR = 1.034, 95% CI: 1.011−1.057, p = 0.003). In the adult non-operation group, hospital length of stay (HLOS) was a significant risk factor associated with mortality (OR = 1.077, 95% CI: 1.004−1.155, p = 0.038). In the elderly non-operation group, obstruction was the main risk factor (OR = 4.534, 95% CI: 1.387−14.819, p = 0.012). Elderly patients experienced a 3.5-fold higher mortality than adult patients who were emergently admitted with umbilical hernia. Increasing age was a significant risk factor of mortality within all patient populations. In the adult surgical group, gangrene, Medicare, Medicaid, and self-pay were significant risk factors of mortality and female sex was a significant protective factor. In the adult non-surgical group, HLOS was the main risk factor of mortality. In the elderly population, frailty and gangrene were the main risk factors of mortality within the surgical group, and obstruction was the main risk factor for the non-surgical group.

Association Between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Insurance-Based Disparities in Mortality After Major Surgery Among US Adults

Importance

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in surgical care. Whether these disruptions disproportionately impacted economically disadvantaged individuals is unknown.

Objective

To evaluate the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and mortality after major surgery among patients with Medicaid insurance or without insurance compared with patients with commercial insurance.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study used data from the Vizient Clinical Database for patients who underwent major surgery at hospitals in the US between January 1, 2018, and May 31, 2020.

Exposures

The hospital proportion of patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of COVID-19 cases between March 1 and May 31, 2020, stratified as low (≤5.0%), medium (5.1%-10.0%), high (10.1%-25.0%), and very high (>25.0%).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was inpatient mortality. The association between mortality after surgery and payer status as a function of the proportion of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was evaluated with a quasi-experimental triple-difference approach using logistic regression.

Results

Among 2 950 147 adults undergoing inpatient surgery (1 550 752 female [52.6%]) at 677 hospitals, the primary payer was Medicare (1 427 791 [48.4%]), followed by commercial insurance (1 000 068 [33.9%]), Medicaid (321 600 [10.9%]), other payer (140 959 [4.8%]), and no insurance (59 729 [2.0%]). Mortality rates increased more for patients undergoing surgery during the first wave of the pandemic in hospitals with a high COVID-19 burden (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03-1.24; P = .01) and a very high COVID-19 burden (AOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.24-1.53; P < .001) compared with patients in hospitals with a low COVID-19 burden. Overall, patients with Medicaid had 29% higher odds of death (AOR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.22-1.36; P < .001) and patients without insurance had 75% higher odds of death (AOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.55-1.98; P < .001) compared with patients with commercial insurance. However, mortality rates for surgical patients with Medicaid insurance (AOR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.82-1.30; P = .79) or without insurance (AOR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.47-1.54; P = .60) did not increase more than for patients with commercial insurance in hospitals with a high COVID-19 burden compared with hospitals with a low COVID-19 burden. These findings were similar in hospitals with very high COVID-19 burdens.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study, the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a higher risk of mortality after surgery in hospitals with more than 25.0% of patients with COVID-19. However, the pandemic was not associated with greater increases in mortality among patients with no insurance or patients with Medicaid compared with patients with commercial insurance in hospitals with a very high COVID-19 burden.

Firearm trauma: Race and insurance influence mortality and discharge disposition

BACKGROUND

Health insurance and race impact mortality and discharge outcomes in the general trauma population. It remains unclear if disparities exist by race and/or insurance in outcomes following firearm injuries. The purpose of this study was to assess differences in mortality and discharge based on race and insurance status following firearm injuries.

METHODS

The National Trauma Data Bank (2007-2016) was queried for firearm injuries by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth/Tenth Revision, Ecodes. Patients with known discharge disposition, age (18-64 years), race, and insurance were included in analysis (N = 120,005). To minimize bias due to missing data, we used multiple imputation for variables associated with outcomes following traumatic injury: Injury Severity Score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, and sex. Multivariable regression analysis was additionally adjusted for age, sex, Injury Severity Score, intent, Glasgow Coma Scale score, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, year, and clustered by facility to assess differences in mortality and discharge disposition.

RESULTS

The average age was 31 years, 88.6% were male, and 50% non-Hispanic Blacks. Overall mortality was 11.5%. Self-pay insurance was associated with a significant increase in mortality rates in all racial groups compared with non-Hispanic Whites with commercial insurance. Hispanic commercial, Medicaid, and self-pay patients were significantly less likely to discharge with posthospital care compared with commercially insured non-Hispanic Whites. When examining racial differences in mortality and discharge by individual insurance types, commercially insured non-Hispanic Black and other race patients were significantly less likely to die compared with similarly insured non-Hispanic White patients. Regardless of race, no significant differences in mortality were observed in Medicaid or self-pay patients compared with non-Hispanic White patients.

CONCLUSION

Victims of firearm injuries with a self-pay insurance status have a significantly higher rate of mortality. Hispanic patients regardless of insurance status were significantly less likely to discharge with posthospital care compared with non-Hispanic Whites with commercial insurance. Continued efforts are needed to understand and address the relationship between insurance status, race, and outcomes following firearm violence.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and epidemiologic, Level IV.

The association of payer type and opioid use on functional improvement at short-term follow-up after lumbosacral transforaminal epidural steroid injection: Results of a large registry study

Background

Lumbosacral transforaminal epidural steroid injection (LTFESI) is a commonly performed intervention for treating radicular pain. While factors that predict pain improvement after LTFESI have been evaluated, minimal literature exists regarding predictors of functional improvement.

Purpose

To identify factors that are associated with functional improvement at short-term follow-up after LTFESI.

Study design

Retrospective review of prospectively collected registry data.

Patient sample

Patients undergoing LTFESI at an academic spine center who completed an Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire both pre-procedure and one to three weeks post-procedure.

Outcome measures

The outcomes of interest were the proportions of patients who experienced a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in function defined as ​≥ ​30% improvement in ODI score, as well as ​≥ ​10-point and ≥15-point improvement in ODI score.

Methods

Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations of predictor variables to the ODI responder/non-responder outcome variable. The predictor variables for the analysis included: age, baseline ODI score, Charleston Comorbidity Index (CCI), payer type, prior lumbosacral spine surgery, pre-injection opioid use, two-level injections, bilateral injections, repeat injection, trainee presence during injection, immediate numerical rating scale (NRS) change post-injection. An odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results

A total of 606 patients were included in the analysis. More than half of the patients (56.8%) reported a ≥7.1% improvement in ODI score, and about 30% reported a ≥30% improvement in ODI score. Approximately 36% and 20% of the patients reported ≥10-point and ≥15-point reductions in ODI score, respectively. Medicaid and Medicare payer type and pre-injection opioid use were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of ≥30%, and ≥15-point improvements in ODI, after adjusting for the other factors (p ​< ​0.05).

Conclusions

When using various common definitions of MCID for ODI score improvement, Medicaid, Medicare, and pre-injection opioid use were identified as factors that are negatively associated with functional improvement at short-term follow-up after LTFESIs.

US Nationwide Insight Into All-cause 30-day Readmissions following Inpatient Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is associated with a high risk for morbidity, mortality, and hospital readmission. Data regarding those risks in the United States is scarce. We assessed post-ERCP 30-day readmission rates, their etiologies, and impact on the health care system using national data.

METHODS

Using the National Readmission Database 2016, we identified patients who underwent inpatient ERCP from January 2016 to December 2016 using ICD-10-CM procedure codes. The primary endpoint was all-cause 30-day readmission rate. Etiologies of readmission were identified by tallying primary diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression with complex survey design was used to identify independent risk factors associated with readmission.

RESULTS

A total of 130,145 patients underwent ERCP, 16,278 (12.5%) were readmitted within 30 days, with an associated cost of 268 million dollars. Nearly 40% of readmissions occurred within 7 days, and 47.9% were related to gastrointestinal etiologies. Male gender, increased comorbidities, cirrhosis, Medicare insurance, and pancreatitis or pancreatitis-related indications for ERCP were readmission risk factors. Performance of cholecystectomy on index hospitalization decreased odds of readmission by 50% (adjusted odds ratio: 0.48, 95% confidence interval: 0.45-0.52,P<0.0001). While academic and nonacademic centers had similar readmission rates, high ERCP volume centers had higher rates compared with low-volume centers (adjusted odds ratio:1.10,P=0.008).

CONCLUSION

All-cause 30-day readmission rates after inpatient ERCPs are high, mostly occur shortly postdischarge, and impose a heavy health care system burden. Large, multicenter prospective studies assessing the impact of center procedure volume on complications and readmission rates are needed.

Temporary vs. permanent stoma: factors associated with the development of complications and costs for rectal cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

To compare in-hospital complication rates and treatment costs between rectal cancer patients receiving permanent and temporary stomas. Surgical complications and costs associated with permanent stoma formation are still poorly understood. While choosing between the two stoma options is usually based on clinical and technical factors, disparities exist.

METHODS

Patients with rectal cancer, stoma formation, complications, and cost of care were identified from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Discharge Database. Rectal cancer patients who underwent elective surgery and received a permanent or temporary stoma were identified using ICD-10 codes. Patients who underwent colostomy with resection were included in the "Permanent stoma" group, and those who underwent "resection with ileostomy" were included in the "temporary stoma" group. Multivariable models compared patients receiving temporary vs. permanent stomas.

RESULTS

Regression models revealed no difference in the odds of having a complication between patients who obtained permanent versus temporary stoma (OR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.70-1.32). Further, after adjusting for the number of surgeries, demographic variables, socioeconomic and regional factors, comorbidities, and type of surgery, there was a significant difference between permanent and temporary stomas for rectal cancer (ß - 0.05, p = 0.03) in the log cost of creating a permanent stoma.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest there are no differences associated with complications, and reduced cost for permanent compared to temporary stomas. Increased costs are also associated with receiving minimally invasive surgery. As a result, disparities associated with receipt of MIS could ultimately influence the type of stoma received.

A retrospective study of the effects of minimally invasive colorectal surgery on Patient Safety Indicators across a five-hospital system

BACKGROUND

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality uses Patient Safety Indicators (PSI) to gauge quality of care and patient safety in hospitals. PSI 90 is a weighted combination of several PSIs that primarily comprises perioperative events. This score can affect reimbursement through Medicare and hospital quality ratings. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been shown to decrease adverse events and outcomes. We sought to evaluate individual PSI and PSI 90 outcomes of minimally invasive versus open colorectal surgeries using a large medical database from 5 hospitals.

METHODS

A health system administrative database including all inpatients from 5 acute care hospitals was queried based on ICD 10 PC codes for colon and rectal surgery procedures performed between January 2, 2018 and December 31, 2019. Surgeries were labeled as MIS (laparoscopic) or open colorectal resection surgery. Patient demographics, health information, and case characteristics were analyzed with respect to surgical approach and PSI events. Statistical relationships between surgical approach and PSI were investigated using univariate methods and multivariate logarithmic regression analysis. PSIs of interest were PSI 8, PSI 9 PSI 11, PSI 12, and PSI 13.

RESULTS

There were 1382 operations identified, with 861 (62%) being open and 521 (38%) being minimally invasive. Logistic modeling showed no significant difference between the 2 groups for PSI 3, 6, or 8 through 15.

CONCLUSION

Understanding PSI 90 and its components is important to enhance perioperative patient care and optimize reimbursement rates. We showed that MIS, despite providing known clinical benefits, may not affect scores in the PSI 90. Surgical approach may have little effect on PSIs, and other patient and system components that are more important to these outcome measures should be pursued.