Vascular events in patients with head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence of vascular events in patients with head and neck cancer.

REVIEW METHODS

Primary studies identified through April 2023. Meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS

There were 146 studies included in the systematic review. Rates of events were collected in the overall group, those with chemoprophylaxis, and those that underwent surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Of 1 184 160 patients, 4.3% had a vascular event. Radiation therapy had highest risk of overall events and stroke when compared to surgery and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy had a higher risk of stroke and overall events when compared to surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Vascular events occur in 4%-5% of patients with head and neck cancer. Our data does not support the use of routine anticoagulation. Patients undergoing radiation therapy had the highest frequency of events.

Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Otolaryngologic Patients Using Caprini Assessment

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to determine the utilization of Caprini guideline-indicated venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis and impact on VTE and bleeding outcomes in otolaryngology (ORL) surgery patients.

METHODS

Elective ORL surgeries performed between 2016 and 2021 were retrospectively identified. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between patient characteristics and receiving appropriate prophylaxis, inpatient, 30- and 90-day VTE and bleeding events.

RESULTS

A total of 4955 elective ORL surgeries were analyzed. Thirty percent of the inpatient cohort and 2% of the discharged cohort received appropriate risk-stratified VTE prophylaxis. In those who did not receive appropriate prophylaxis, overall inpatient VTE was 3.5-fold higher (0.73% vs. 0.20%, p = 0.015), and all PE occurred in this cohort (0.47% vs. 0.00%, p = 0.005). All 30- and 90-day discharged VTE events occurred in those not receiving appropriate prophylaxis. Inpatient, 30- and 90-day discharged bleeding rates were 2.10%, 0.13%, and 0.33%, respectively. Although inpatient bleeding was significantly higher in those receiving appropriate prophylaxis, all 30- and 90-day post-discharge bleeding events occurred in patients not receiving appropriate prophylaxis. On regression analysis, Caprini score was significantly positively associated with likelihood of receiving appropriate inpatient prophylaxis (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.07) but was negatively associated in the discharge cohort (OR 0.43, CI 0.36-0.51). Receipt of appropriate prophylaxis was associated with reduced odds of inpatient VTE (OR 0.24, CI 0.06-0.69), but not with risk of bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Although Caprini VTE risk-stratified prophylaxis has a positive impact in reducing inpatient and post-discharge VTE, it must be balanced against the risk of inpatient postoperative bleeding.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 134:1169-1182, 2024.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting gram-negative bacterial infections in patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis

Background

This study aimed to develop a nomogram for predicting gram-negative bacterial (GNB) infections in patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) to identify patients at high risk for GNB infections.

Methods

In this investigation, hospitalization information was gathered retrospectively for patients with PDAP from January 2016 to December 2021. The concatenation of potential biomarkers obtained by univariate logistic regression, LASSO analysis, and RF algorithms into multivariate logistic regression was used to identify confounding factors related to GNB infections, which were then integrated into the nomogram. The concordance index (C-Index) was utilized to assess the precision of the model's predictions. The area under the curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the predictive performance and clinical utility of the nomogram.

Results

The final study population included 217 patients with PDAP, and 37 (17.1%) patients had gram-negative bacteria due to dialysate effluent culture. After multivariate logistic regression, age, procalcitonin, and hemoglobin were predictive factors of GNB infections. The C-index and bootstrap-corrected index of the nomogram for estimating GNB infections in patients were 0.821 and 0.814, respectively. The calibration plots showed good agreement between the predictions of the nomogram and the actual observation of GNB infections. The AUC of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.821, 95% CI: 0.747-0.896, which indicates that the model has good predictive accuracy. In addition, the DCA curve showed that the nomogram had a high clinical value in the range of 1%-94%, which further demonstrated that the nomogram could accurately predict GNB infection in patients with PDAP.

Conclusions

We have created a new nomogram for predicting GNB infections in patients with PDAP. The nomogram model may improve the identification of GNB infections in patients with PDAP and contribute to timely intervention to improve patient prognosis.

Racial Differences in 30-Day Reintubation After Head and Neck Surgery

Background This study aimed to examine the association of race and ethnicity with 30-day unplanned reintubation following head and neck surgery. Methodology A retrospective analysis of head and neck surgery patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years was extracted from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2015 to 2020. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and 30-day reintubation were included in the analysis. Pearson's chi-square and independent samples t-test were used to compare reintubation cohorts. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the association of race and ethnicity with 30-day reintubation. Results Of the total 108,442 head and neck surgery cases included, 74.9% of patients were non-Hispanic White, 17.3% were non-Hispanic Black, and 7.7% were Hispanic. The overall 30-day reintubation rate was 0.33%. After adjusting for age, body mass index, sex, and comorbidities, non-Hispanic Black patients had increased 30-day reintubation compared to non-Hispanic White patients (odds ratio [OR] = 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.70-2.69, and P < 0.0001). There was no difference in 30-day reintubation for Hispanic patients compared to non-Hispanic White patients (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.67-1.65, and P = 0.747). Conclusions This analysis showed that non-Hispanic Black patients disproportionately had higher odds of 30-day reintubation following head and neck surgery. Hispanic ethnicity was not associated with increased odds of 30-day reintubation. More studies are needed to investigate the reasons for these racial differences.

Outcomes for head and neck cancer patients admitted to intensive care in Australia and New Zealand between 2000 and 2016

OBJECTIVE

To report intensive care unit admission outcomes for head and neck cancer patients.

METHODS

A retrospective, observational cohort analysis of all Australian and New Zealander head and neck cancer patient intensive care unit admissions from January 2000 to June 2016, including data from 192 intensive care units.

RESULTS

There were 10 721 head and neck cancer patients, with a median age of 64 years (71.6 per cent male). Of admissions, 76.4 per cent were in public hospitals, 96.9 per cent were post-operative and 43.6 per cent required mechanical ventilation. Annual head and neck cancer admissions increased from 2000 to 2015 (from 348 to 1132 patients), but the overall proportion of intensive care unit admissions remained constant. In-hospital mortality was 2.7 per cent, and intensive care unit mortality was 0.7 per cent. The in-hospital mortality risk decreased three-fold (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Head and neck cancer patients had low mortality in the intensive care unit and in hospital. Risk of dying decreased despite more intensive care unit admissions. This is the first large-scale cohort study quantifying intensive care unit utilisation by head and neck cancer patients. It informs future work investigating alternatives to the intensive care unit for these patients.

Four Lessons Learned from Complications in Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstructions and Prevention Strategies

Free flap reconstruction in the head and neck region is a complex field in which patient comorbidities, radiation therapy, tumor recurrence, and variability of clinical scenarios make some cases particularly challenging and prone to devastating complications. Despite low free flap failure rates, the impact of flap failure has enormous consequences for the patients.

METHODS

Acknowledging and predicting high risk intra- and postoperative situations and having planned strategies on how to deal with them can decrease their rate and improve the patient's reconstructive journey.

RESULTS

Herein, the authors present 4 examples of significant complications in complex microvascular head and neck cancer reconstruction, encountered for the last 10 years: compression and kinking of the vascular pedicle, lack of planning of external skin coverage in osteoradionecrosis, management of the vessel-depleted neck, and vascular donor site morbidity after fibula harvest.

CONCLUSION

The authors reflect on the causes and propose preventative strategies in each peri-operative stage.

National Surgical Quality Improvement Program risk calculator validity in South Australian laryngectomy patients

BACKGROUND

Assessing an individual patient's post-operative risk profile prior to laryngectomy for cancer is difficult. The American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) risk calculator was developed to better inform preoperative decision-making. The calculator uses patient-specific characteristics to estimate the risk of experiencing post-operative complications within 30 days of surgery. We investigated the ACS-NSQIP risk calculator's performance for Australian laryngectomy patients.

METHODS

The ACS-NSQIP risk calculator was used to retrospectively calculate the 30-day post-operative predicted outcomes in patients who underwent laryngectomy for laryngeal, hypopharyngeal and thyroid cancers (with laryngeal involvement) in two institutions in South Australia. These data were compared against the actual mortality, morbidity, complications and length of stay (LOS) collected from a retrospective chart review.

RESULTS

A total of 144 patients underwent surgical intervention for malignancies with laryngeal involvement. The median LOS was 25 days (range 13-197) compared to the predicted LOS of 6.5 days (range 3.5-12.5). Overall mortality was 2.78% with post-operative complications occurring in 63% of patients. The most common complication was wound infection, occurring in 33% of patients. Hosmer-Lemeshow plots demonstrated good agreement between predicted and observed rates for complications.

CONCLUSION

The ACS-NSQIP risk calculator effectively predicted post-operative complication rates in South Australian laryngeal cancer patients undergoing laryngectomy. However, differences in predicted and actual LOS may limit the usefulness of the calculator's LOS predictions for Australian patients.

[In-hospital Myocardial Infarction: Scale of the Problem]

All cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can be divided into outpatient-onset AMI and in-hospital-onset AMI depending on the place and circumstances of their development. In this review we consider the problem of in-hospital AMI. Special attention is paid to specific features of its clinical manifestations and the scale of the clinical problem. Possible causes of difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition are presented in comparison with those in patients with outpatient-onset AMI.

Risk factors of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury: development and validation of a perioperative predictive nomogram

OBJECTIVE

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI), one of the most severe complications in patients with cardiac surgery, is associated with considerable morbidity, mortality and high costs thus placing a heavy burden to society. Therefore, we aimed to build a predictive model based on preoperative features in order to early recognize and intervene for patients with high risk of CSA-AKI.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, baseline perioperative hospitalization information of patients who underwent cardiac surgery from October 2012 to October 2017 were screened. After multivariate logistic regression, identified independent predictive factors associated with CSA-AKI were incorporated into the nomogram and the discriminative ability and predictive accuracy of the model was assessed by concordance index (C-Index). Additionally, internal validation was performed by using bootstrapping technology with 1000 resamples to reduce the over-fit bias.

RESULTS

In all 4395 patients with cardiac surgery October 2012-October 2017, no patients were excluded for the continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) before surgery while 2495 patients were excluded due to only one or less than one Scr assay post-surgery. In the end, a total of 1900 patients were enrolled in the study, of which 698 patients (74.89%) developed AKI stage 1, 158 (16.96%) AKI stage 2 and 76 (8.15%) AKI stage 3. After multivariate logistic regression, age, perioperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), prothrombin time (PT), with a history of surgery, transfusion, cardiac arrhythmia, coronary heart disease (CHD), or chronic kidney disease (CKD), using calcium channel blocker (CCB), proton pump inhibitors (PPI), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), antibiotic or statin before surgery were predictive factors of CSA-AKI. In addition, the nomogram demonstrated a good accuracy in estimating CSA-AKI, with an C-Index and a bootstrap-corrected one of 0.796 (SD = 0.018, 95% CI 0.795-0.797) and 0.789 (SD = 0.015, 95% CI 0.788-0.790), respectively. Moreover, calibration plots showed an optimal consistency with the actual presence of CSA-AKI.

CONCLUSION

The novel predictive nomogram achieved a good preoperative prediction of CSA-AKI within the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Though the model, the risk of an individual patient with "subclinical AKI" undergoing cardiac surgery could be determined earlier and such application was helpful for timely intervention in order to improve patient's prognosis.

Long-term Trends in Head and Neck Surgery Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study is to address the paucity of data on long-term trends in postoperative complication rates in head and neck surgery. Specifically, this study assesses trends in morbidity and mortality following head and neck surgery over a 20-year period from 1995 to 2015 and identifies risk factors for the development of complications.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 1995 to 2015.

SETTING

Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Using the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we selected 44,161 patients undergoing head and neck procedures from 1995 to 2015. Trends in 30-day morbidity and mortality were assessed, and univariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors for complications were performed.

RESULTS

From 1995-2000 to 2011-2015, overall complication rates decreased >45% (from 10.9% to 5.9%), and 30-day postsurgical mortality decreased nearly 70% (from 1.3% to 0.4%). Postoperative hospital stays also significantly declined. Major procedures, such as free flap cases and total laryngectomies, had less change in complication rate as compared with less invasive procedures.

CONCLUSION

Substantial improvement in postoperative morbidity and mortality has taken place in head and neck surgery over the past decades. Static complication rates in some procedures may reflect that the improvement of surgical techniques allow for the treatment of sicker patients. The trends seen in this study speak to the importance of probing further why high rates of complications are still seen in certain procedures and ensuring that effective treatment is balanced with limiting morbidity and mortality.

Antithrombotic Therapy for Venous Thromboembolism and Prevention of Thrombosis in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery: State of the Art Review

Objective

The aim of this report is to present a cohesive evidence-based approach to reducing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. VTE prevention includes deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Despite national efforts in VTE prevention, guidelines do not exist for otolaryngology–head and neck surgery in the United States.

Data Sources

PubMed/MEDLINE.

Review Methods

A comprehensive review of literature pertaining to VTE in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery was performed, identifying data on incidence of thrombotic complications and the outcomes of regimens for thromboprophylaxis. Data were then synthesized and compared with other surgical specialties.

Conclusions

We identified 29 articles: 1 prospective cohort study and 28 retrospective studies. The overall prevalence of VTE in otolaryngology appears lower than that of most other surgical specialties. The Caprini system allows effective individualized risk stratification for VTE prevention in otolaryngology. Mechanical and chemoprophylaxis (“dual thromboprophylaxis”) is recommended for patients with a Caprini score ≥7 or patients with a Caprini score of 5 or 6 who undergo major head and neck surgery, when prolonged hospital stay is anticipated or mobility is limited. For patients with a Caprini score of 5 or 6, we recommend dual thromboprophylaxis or mechanical prophylaxis alone. Patients with a Caprini score ≤4 should receive mechanical prophylaxis alone.

Implications for Practice

Otolaryngologists should consider an individualized and risk-stratified plan for perioperative thromboprophylaxis in every patient. The risk of bleeding must be weighed against the risk of VTE when deciding on chemoprophylaxis.

Complications Associated with Mortality after Head and Neck Surgery: An Analysis of the NSQIP Database

Objective

To determine which complications, as defined by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database, correlate with 30-day mortality in surgery for malignancies of the head and neck.

Study Design

Retrospective review of prospectively collected national database.

Setting

NSQIP.

Subjects and Methods

NSQIP data from 2005 to 2014 were queried for ICD-9 codes head and neck malignancies. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the correlation of individual complications with 30-day mortality.

Results

In total, 15,410 cases met criteria with 3499 complications in 2235 cases. After controlling for patient and surgical variables, postoperative pneumonia ( P = .02; odds ratio [OR], 2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-4.72), progressive renal insufficiency ( P < .001; OR, 21.28; 95% CI, 4.22-87.94), bleeding requiring transfusion ( P = .02; OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.12-3.84), sepsis ( P = .02; OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.15-6.46), septic shock ( P = .045; OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 0.98-7.81), stroke ( P < .001; OR, 19.81; 95% CI, 6.23-56.03), and cardiac arrest ( P < .001; OR, 135.59; 95% CI, 65.00-286.48) were independently associated with increased odds of 30-day mortality.

Conclusion

The NSQIP database has been extensively validated and used to examine surgical complications, yet there is little analysis on which complications are associated with death. This study identified complications associated with increased risk of 30-day mortality following head and neck cancer surgery. These associations may be used as a measure of complication severity and should be considered when using the NSQIP database to evaluate outcomes in head and neck surgery.

Venous thromboembolism in head and neck cancer surgery

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Historically, otolaryngology surgery has been seen as very low risk of VTE, given the relatively short procedures and healthy patient population. However, head and neck surgery patients have multiple additional risk factors for VTE compared to general otolaryngology patients, and only recently has research been directed at examining this population of patients regarding VTE risk.

Review

VTE has long been recognized as a major issue in other surgical specialties, with VTE rates of 15–60 % in some specialties in the absence of prophylaxis with either mechanical compression or anticoagulation. Multiple large-scale retrospective studies have shown that the incidence of VTE in otolaryngology patients is quite low, ranging between 0.1 and 1.6 %. However, these studies indicated that head and neck cancer patients may have an increased risk of VTE. Further retrospective studies focusing on head and neck cancer patients found a VTE rate of approximately 2 %, but one study also found a suspected VTE rate of 5.6 % based on clinical symptoms, indicating that retrospective studies may underreport the true incidence. A single prospective study found a 13 % risk of VTE after major head and neck surgery. Furthermore, risk stratification using the Caprini risk assessment model demonstrates that the highest risk patients may have a VTE risk of 18.3 %, although this may be lowered (but not eliminated) through the use of appropriate prophylactic anticoagulation.

Conclusion

VTE is likely a more significant concern in head and neck surgery patients than previously realized. Appropriate prophylaxis with mechanical compression and anticoagulation is essential; risk stratification may serve as a useful tool to identify head and neck cancer patients at highest risk for VTE.

Quality Indicators for Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery

Objectives

to determine national benchmarks for established quality indicators in head and neck cancer (HNCA) surgery, focusing on differences between academic and nonacademic institutions.

Study Design

Cross-sectional analysis of national database.

Subjects and Methods

HNCA surgery admissions from the 2009-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample were analyzed for preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes. Multivariate analyses were used to identify factors influencing quality indicators after HNCA surgery. Quality metrics—including length of stay (LOS), inpatient death, return to the operating room (OR), wound infection, and transfusion—were compared for academic versus nonacademic institutions.

Results

A total of 38,379 HNCA surgery inpatient admissions (mean age, 56.5 years; 52.4% male) were analyzed (28,288 teaching vs 10,091 nonteaching). Nationally representative quality metrics for HNCA surgery were as follows: mean LOS, 4.26 ± 0.12 days; return to OR, 3.3% ± 0.2%; inpatient mortality, 0.7% ± 0.1%; wound infection rate, 0.9% ± 0.1%; wound complication rate, 4.3% ± 0.2%; and transfusion rate, 4.3% ± 0.3%. HNCA surgery patients at teaching hospitals had a greater proportion of males, radiation history, and high-acuity procedures and greater comorbidity scores (all P < .001). Multivariate analyses adjusting for age, sex, income, payer, prior radiation, comorbidity scores, and procedural acuity demonstrated that teaching hospitals had a slightly increased LOS (+0.30 days; P = .009) and odds ratio for wound infection (1.54; 95% CI: 1.22-1.94) versus nonteaching hospitals. There were no significant differences in return to OR ( P = .271), inpatient mortality ( P = .686), or transfusion rate ( P = .960).

Conclusion

Despite caring for substantially more complex HNCA surgery patients with greater comorbidities, teaching hospitals demonstrate only a marginally increased LOS and wound complication rate versus nonteaching hospitals, while other established quality metrics are similar.

Molecular Aspects of Head and Neck Cancer Therapy

In spite of a rapidly expanding understanding of head and neck tumor biology and optimization of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical treatment modalities, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Although our biologic understanding of these tumors had largely been limited to pathways driving proliferation, survival, and differentiation, the identification of HPV as a major driver of HNSCC and genomic sequencing analyses has dramatically influenced our understanding of tumor biology and approach to therapy. Here, we summarize molecular aspects of HNSCC biology and identify promising areas for potential diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

Inpatient versus outpatient onsets of acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

There are few studies on patients suffering acute myocardial infarction (AMI) when already in hospital for other reasons; therefore, this study aimed to compare patients with in-hospital-onset AMI admitted for either medical or surgical reasons versus patients with outpatient-onset AMI.

METHODS

Patients enrolled in the AMIS Plus registry from 2002 to 2014 were analyzed. The main endpoint was in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Among 35,394 AMI patients, 356 (1%) had inpatient-onset AMI following hospital admission due to other pathologies (surgical 175, non-surgical 181). These patients were older (74 vs. 66 years; P<0.001), more often female (35% vs. 27%; P<0.001), had less frequently ST-elevation myocardial infarction (35.5% vs. 55.5%; P<0.001), but higher risk profiles: hypertension (83% vs. 62%; P<0.001), diabetes (28% vs. 20%; P=0.001), known coronary artery disease (54% vs. 35%; P<0.001), and more comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index above 1 in 51% vs. 22%; P<0.001) than those with outpatient-onset AMI. Percutaneous coronary intervention was less frequently applied (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.36-0.57), and they were less likely to be treated with aspirin (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.37-0.59), P2Y12 blockers (OR 0.42; 0.34-0.52) or statins (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.41-0.63). Crude mortality was higher (14.3% vs. 5.5%; P<0.001) and inpatient-onset AMI was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.63-3.39; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with in-hospital-onset AMI were at greater risk of death than those with outpatient-onset AMI. More work is needed to improve the identification of hospitalized patients at risk of AMI in order to provide the appropriate management.

Characteristics and Trends in Ambulatory Otolaryngology Visits and Practices

Objective

To determine characteristics and trends for outpatient otolaryngology visits and practices in the United States.

Study Design

Cross-sectional analysis of national survey database.

Setting

Ambulatory care settings in the United States.

Methods

Outpatient otolaryngology records from 2005 to 2009 were extracted from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Visit characteristics were assessed for patient type (established versus new), expected source of payment, and average time spent with the physician. Provider characteristic variables were assessed for practice type (solo versus group), employment status of the physician, electronic claims submission, and the use of electronic medical records in the practice. Trends were analyzed for the above and the average number of outpatient visits per otolaryngologist per year.

Results

A total of 98.8 ± 7.0 million outpatient otolaryngology office visits, consisting of 27.9 ± 2.1 million new patient visits and 70.9 ± 5.3 million established patient visits, were studied. Expected sources of payment consisted of private insurance (65.1%), Medicare (21.1%), Medicaid (9.2%), and self-pay (2.0%). These sources did not change over the 5 calendar years ( P = .301). Practitioners consisted of solo (30.7%) and group (69.3%) practices. Electronic medical records were in use in 40.2%. Electronic medical record penetration did significantly increase over the 5 years to 57.7% in 2009 ( P = .002). The number of outpatient visits per otolaryngologist per year remained remarkably consistent over the years at about a mean of 3325 ± 299 visits seen per year ( P = .580).

Conclusion

Characteristics of otolaryngology outpatient visits have remained largely consistent over the past 5 years. Electronic medical record penetration has noticeably increased. These results help validate prior Academy socioeconomic surveys.