Metformin Use Is Associated with Fewer Complications in Patients with Type-2 Diabetes Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Lower Risk of Postoperative Complications and Rotator Cuff Retear Associated with Semaglutide Use in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

PURPOSE

To investigate the potential impact of preoperative semaglutide use (active agent in Ozempic® and Wegovy®) on ninety-day postoperative outcomes and two-year rotator cuff retear following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) for type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

METHODS

T2DM patients undergoing primary ARCR were identified from the PearlDiver database using administrative billing codes. Exclusion criteria included: patients <18 years old, prior RCR, concurrent non-rotator cuff related arthroscopic shoulder procedures, any traumatic, neoplastic, or infectious diagnoses within 90-days before surgery, and <90-days follow-up. T2DM patients using semaglutide within one-year of ARCR ([+]semaglutide) were matched 1:4 with T2DM patients who did not ([-]semaglutide) by age, sex, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI), diabetes complications, obesity, tobacco, insulin, and metformin use. Occurrence of any, severe, and minor adverse events (AAE, SAEs, MAEs, respectively) within 90-days were compared by multivariable logistic regression. Two-year retear was assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and compared by log-rank test.

RESULTS

There were 1,094 ARCR (+)semaglutide and 4,110 ARCR (-)semaglutide patients meeting inclusion criteria after matching. The incidence of AAE for the ARCR (-)semaglutide vs. ARCR (+)semaglutide patients was 27.4% vs. 11.0%, SAE was 10.5% vs. 3.5%, and MAE was 22.0% vs. 8.5%, respectively (p<0.001 for all). ARCR (-)semaglutide patients had a higher odds ratio (OR) of AAE (3.65, p<0.001) and SAEs (3.62, p<0.001), including surgical-site infection (2.22, p=0.049), venous thromboembolism (3.10, p<0.001), sepsis (3.87, p<0.001), and cardiac events (3.96, p<0.001). Also, greater odds of MAEs (3.59, p<0.001), including urinary tract infection (3.27), pneumonia (3.88), acute kidney injury (3.91), and ED visits (2.51) (p<0.001 for all). Additionally, (-)semaglutide patients revealed higher 2-year retear vs (+)semaglutide patients (18.3% vs 12.5%, respectively) (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative semaglutide use for T2DM patients undergoing ARCR was associated with decreased odds of minor and serious 90-day adverse events, and lower 2-year rotator cuff retear.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Semaglutide Use Prior to Total Hip Arthroplasty Results in Fewer Postoperative Prosthetic Joint Infections and Readmissions

BACKGROUND

Semaglutide, a novel diabetes management medication, is known for its efficacy in inducing weight loss. Despite this, its impact on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate if THA patients on semaglutide demonstrate: (1) fewer medical complications; (2) fewer implant-related complications; (3) fewer readmissions; and (4) lower costs.

METHODS

Using a national claims database from 2010 to 2021, we retrospectively examined diabetic patients prescribed semaglutide who underwent primary THA. This yielded 9,465 patients (Semaglutide = 1,653; Control = 7,812). Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the following outcomes: 90-day postoperative medical complications, 2-year implant-related complications, 90-day readmissions, in-hospital lengths of stay, and day-of-surgery and 90-day episode of care costs.

RESULTS

Semaglutide users exhibited lower 90-day readmission rates (6.2 versus 8.8%; odds ratio 0.68; P < .01) and reduced prosthetic joint infections (1.6 versus 2.9%; odds ratio 0.56; P < .01). However, medical complication rates, hospital stays, same-day surgical costs, and 90-day episode costs showed no significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights semaglutide users undergoing THA with fewer 90-day readmissions and 2-year prosthetic joint infections. Although no variance appeared in medical complications, hospital stays, or costs, the medication's notable glycemic control and weight loss benefits could prompt pre-surgery consideration. Further research is essential for a comprehensive understanding of semaglutide's impact on post-THA outcomes.

Does Semaglutide Use Decrease Complications and Costs Following Total Knee Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity are associated with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) complications. Semaglutide, a medication for DM and weight loss, can potentially affect TKA outcomes. This study investigated whether semaglutide use during TKA demonstrates fewer: (1) medical complications; (2) implant-related complications; (3) readmissions; and (4) costs.

METHODS

A retrospective query was performed using a National database to 2021. Patients undergoing TKA for osteoarthritis with DM and semaglutide use were successfully propensity score-matched to controls semaglutide = 7,051; control = 34,524. Outcomes included 90-day postoperative medical complications, 2-year implant-related complications, 90-day readmissions, in-hospital lengths of stay, and costs. Multivariate logistical regressions calculated odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals, and P values (P < .003 as significance threshold after Bonferroni correction).

RESULTS

Semaglutide cohorts had higher incidence and odds of myocardial infarction (1.0 versus 0.7%; OR 1.49; P = .003), acute kidney injury (4.9 versus 3.9%; OR 1.28; P < .001), pneumonia (2.8 versus 1.7%; OR 1.67; P < .001), and hypoglycemic events (1.9 versus 1.2%; OR 1.55; P < .001), but lower odds of sepsis (0 versus 0.4%; OR 0.23; P < .001). Semaglutide cohorts also had lower odds of prosthetic joint infections (2.1 versus 3.0%; OR 0.70; P < .001) and readmission (7.0 versus 9.4%; OR 0.71; P < .001), and trended toward lower odds of revisions (4.0 versus 4.5%; OR 0.86; P = .02) and 90-day costs ($15,291.66 versus $16,798.46; P = .012).

CONCLUSION

Semaglutide use during TKA decreased risk for sepsis, prosthetic joint infections, and readmissions, but also increased risk for myocardial infarction, acute kidney injury, pneumonia, and hypoglycemic events.

Linkage Between Databases in Joint Arthroplasty and Orthopaedics: The Way Forward?

Each large observational database contains specific data elements. The number of data elements are chosen carefully to cover the essential needs of the database as well as to avoid excessive burden of collection. Frequently, an important study question cannot be answered because one database does not contain some essential data elements. This deficiency may be present because the proposed study is cross-disciplinary, because the study requires more granular information on a specific topic than is practical to collect in a broad-based registry, or because the relevant questions, and hence essential data elements, have changed over time. An obvious way to overcome some such challenges, when one database contains some of the information and another contains the further needed data, is to link different databases. While the prospect of linking databases is appealing, the practicalities of doing so often are daunting. Challenges may be practical (information-technology barriers to crosstalk between the registries), legal, and financial. In the first section of this paper, Dr. Nathanael Heckmann discusses linking large orthopaedic databases, focusing on linking databases with detailed, short-term data to those with longer-term longitudinal data. In the second part of this paper, Nathan Glusenkamp discusses efforts to link the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) to other data sources, an ambition not yet fully realized but one that will bear fruit in the near future.

Fixation vs Arthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fracture in Patients Aged 40-59 Years: A Propensity-Score-Matched Analysis

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trends in rotator cuff repair rates and comorbidity burden among commercially insured patients younger than the age of 65 years, United States 2007-2016

Background

Prior US studies have shown increasing rotator cuff repair rates through 2009. We hypothesize that rotator cuff repair rates are continuing to increase and the comorbidity profiles of patients are becoming more complex over time.

Methods

We identified rotator cuff repairs in a large US cohort of people 18-64 years of age with ≥1 year of commercial insurance coverage. Repair rate trends across time were standardized by age, sex, and geographic region. Procedures were categorized as inpatient vs. outpatient and as arthroscopic vs. open. Prevalent comorbidities were defined as 1 inpatient diagnosis claim or 2 outpatient diagnosis claims during the year before rotator cuff repair. General population comorbidity prevalence was determined based on a random 5% sample of the commercially insured population and compared with patients with rotator cuff repair using standardized morbidity ratios.

Results

From 2007 to 2016, 314,239 rotator cuff repairs were identified (165 repairs per 100,000 person-years). Rotator cuff repairs were performed more frequently in men, older people, and in the Midwest. Across time, cuff repair rates increased by 1.6% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] = +1.4%-1.7%) adjusting for demographics. The highest increases in repair rates were observed among patients aged 50-64 years (+2.0%, 95% CI = +1.8%-2.2%). Rotator cuff repairs were more frequently performed using an arthroscopic approach and in an outpatient setting in later calendar years. In 2016, 83% of rotator cuff repairs were arthroscopic procedures and 99% were performed as outpatient procedures. Comorbidity prevalence in rotator cuff repair patients increased across calendar time by 4.5% per year for hypertension (95% CI = +4.2%-4.7%), 2.3% per year for diabetes (+1.9%-2.7%), 0.9% per year for hypercholesterolemia (+0.3%-1.5%), 2.9% for congestive heart failure (+0.8%-4.9%), 4.2% for peripheral vascular disease (+2.4%-6.0%), and 4.2% for chronic pulmonary disease (+3.6%-4.8%). Comorbidity prevalence in repair patients was higher than prevalence in the general population, and prevalence relative to the general population was most heightened during later calendar years. For example, hypertension prevalence was 1.58 times higher in repair patients than the general population in 2007 (95% CI = 1.53-1.62), and 2.06 times higher in 2016 (95% CI = 2.02-2.11).

Conclusion

Rotator cuff repair is becoming more frequent in the US commercially insured population, particularly in those 50-64 years of age. More rotator cuff repairs are being performed using an arthroscopic approach and in an outpatient setting. Over time, the comorbidity profile of patients undergoing rotator cuff repair is becoming more complex with greater prevalence of numerous conditions, including hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, and chronic pulmonary disease.