Autologous Breast Reconstruction versus Implant-Based Reconstruction: How Do Long-Term Costs and Health Care Use Compare?

BACKGROUND: The authors compared long-term health care use and cost in women undergoing immediate autologous breast reconstruction and implant-based breast reconstruction. METHODS: This study was conducted using the OptumLabs Data Warehouse, which contains deidentified retrospective administrative claims data, including medical claims and eligibility information from a large U.S. health insurance plan. Women who underwent autologous or implant-based breast reconstruction between January of 2004 and December of 2014 were included. The authors compared 2-year use rates and predicted costs of care. Comparisons were tested using the t test. RESULTS: Overall, 12,296 women with immediate breast reconstruction were identified; 4257 with autologous (35 percent) and 8039 with implant-based (65 percent) breast reconstruction. The proportion of autologous breast reconstruction decreased from 47.2 percent in 2004 to 32.7 percent in 2014. The mean predicted reconstruction cost of autologous reconstruction was higher than that of implant-based reconstruction in both unilateral and bilateral surgery. Similar results for mean predicted 2-year cost of care were seen in bilateral procedures. However, in unilateral procedures, the 2-year total costs were higher for implant-based than for autologous reconstruction. Two-year health care use rates were higher for implant-based reconstruction than for autologous reconstruction for both unilateral and bilateral procedures. Women undergoing unilateral implant-based reconstruction had higher rates of hospital admissions (30.3 versus 23.1 per 100; p < 0.01) and office visits (2445.1 versus 2283.6 per 100; p < 0.01) than those who underwent autologous reconstruction. Emergency room visit rates were similar between the two methods. Bilateral procedures yielded similar results. CONCLUSION: Although implant-based breast reconstruction is a less expensive index operation than autologous breast reconstruction, it was associated with higher health care use, resulting in similar total cost of care over 2 years.

Risk of Systemic Adverse Events Associated with Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema in Routine Clinical Practice.

PURPOSE: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pharmacotherapy has become standard of care for the management of diabetic macular edema (DME). The systemic safety profile of this treatment in routine clinical practice remains incompletely understood. We used a large claims database to investigate the risk of systemic serious adverse events (SAEs) in patients receiving anti-VEGF for DME compared with controls treated with macular laser photocoagulation or intravitreal corticosteroid. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: By using a large U.S. insurance database, we identified privately insured and Medicare Advantage patients aged ≥18 years treated with anti-VEGF for DME between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2015, along with control patients receiving macular laser or corticosteroid. We included patients with 1 year of medical coverage before initial DME treatment. METHODS: We assessed associations between treatment modalities and predefined systemic outcomes using Cox proportional hazards regression. We performed 2 separate comparisons, one between anti-VEGF and macular laser and one between anti-VEGF and corticosteroid. We used inverse propensity score weighting for the first comparison to account for treatment selection bias. For the second, we used 2:1 propensity score matching on demographics, year, and baseline comorbidities because of the smaller number of corticosteroid-treated patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk of cerebrovascular disease, myocardial infarction, major bleeding, and all-cause hospitalization occurring within 6 months of initial DME treatment as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 23 348 patients receiving treatment for DME met inclusion criteria; 13 365 received macular laser, 9219 received intravitreal anti-VEGF, and 764 received intravitreal corticosteroid as initial treatment. Anti-VEGF pharmacotherapy was not associated with an increased hazard of cerebrovascular disease (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.65-1.41; P = 0.83), major bleeding (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.76-1.99; P = 0.41), or myocardial infarction (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.73-1.44; P = 0.88) when compared with macular laser for DME; however, there was an increased hazard of post-treatment all-cause hospital admission (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05-1.30; P = 0.01). The rates of all primary systemic SAE outcomes were similar after treatment with anti-VEGF versus corticosteroid (P > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: We identified no increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, myocardial infarction, or major bleeding within 6 months after intravitreal anti-VEGF pharmacotherapy for the treatment of DME in routine clinical practice. A potential difference in all-cause hospitalization may merit further investigation.

Longitudinal Heart Failure Medication Use and Adherence Following Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in Privately Insured Patients.

BACKGROUND: There are few data describing the longitudinal use of and adherence to heart failure medications following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a large US commercial insurance database, patients who received an LVAD (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code 37.66) and survived to hospital discharge without heart transplantation between January 1, 2006, and March 31, 2015, were identified. Heart failure medication use from 3 months before 1-year post-LVAD was examined using linked pharmacy claims. Differences in the proportion of patients taking heart failure medications post LVAD compared with pre LVAD were examined using McNemar test. Predictors of post-LVAD medication use and poor medication adherence (proportion of days covered <0.8) were identified via logistic regression. Among 362 patients (mean age, 57.4 years; 75.1% men), compared with pre LVAD, the proportion of patients taking anticoagulants and antiarrhythmics following LVAD increased; mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, thiazide diuretics, and digoxin decreased; and ß-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, and loop diuretics did not change. Pre-LVAD medication use was associated with post-LVAD use across all medication classes. The proportion of patients with poor medication adherence was 28.8%, 39.0%, and 36.0% for ß-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, and anticoagulants, respectively. Many patients with poor adherence completely discontinued use of the medication. CONCLUSIONS: Neurohormonal antagonist use after LVAD was inconsistent, perhaps reflecting uncertainty of therapeutic benefit in this population. Medication adherence post-LVAD was poor in many patients. Further work is needed to delineate the reasons for nonadherence after LVAD.

Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy with Immediate Breast Reconstruction Increases Healthcare Utilization and Cost.

BACKGROUND: The rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) in women with unilateral breast cancer continue to rise, especially in women undergoing immediate breast reconstruction (IBR). METHODS: We utilized administrative claims data from a large US commercial insurance database (OptumLabs) to identify women age 18-64 years who underwent IBR between January 2004 and December 2013. We compared 2-year unadjusted utilization rates and total costs of care between unilateral mastectomy (UM) and bilateral mastectomy (BM) for implant-based and autologous reconstruction. Comparisons were tested using t-test and differences in cost were estimated using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: Overall, 11,235 women undergoing mastectomy with IBR were identified; 7319 with implant reconstruction [1923 UM (26%) and 5396 BM (74%)] and 3916 with autologous reconstruction [1687 UM (43%) and 2229 BM (57%)]. The overall rate of office visits (2386 vs. 2391 per 100 women, p = 0.42) and hospital readmission rate (29.1 per 100 women vs. 27.4, p = 0.06) were similar between BM + IBR and UM + IBR. Women undergoing BM + IBR had a higher emergency room (ER) visit rate (34.1 per 100 women vs. 29.8, p < 0.0001). The total 2-year cost of care was higher for BM + IBR than UM + IBR for implant reconstruction ($106,711 vs. $97,218, p < 0.0001) and for autologous reconstruction ($114,725 vs. $87,874, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: BM + IBR (autologous or implant) was associated with increased ER visits and higher total cost of care over 2 years compared with UM + IBR. Patients considering CPM should be counseled on the additional risks and costs associated with BM + IBR.

Observation Status or Inpatient Admission: Impact of Patient Disposition on Outcomes and Utilization Among Emergency Department Patients With Chest Pain.

OBJECTIVES: to compare healthcare utilization including coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), rehospitalization, and rate of subsequent acute myocardial infarction (AMI) within 30 days, among patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain admitted as short-term inpatient (≤2 days) versus observation (in-ED observation units combined with in-hospital observation). METHODS: We identified adults diagnosed with acute chest pain in the ED from 2010 to 2014 using administrative claims from privately insured and Medicare Advantage. Patients having AMI during the index visit were excluded. One-to-one propensity-score matching and logistic regression were used. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. RESULTS: A total of 774,017 chest pain visits were included. After matching, healthcare utilization was lower among observation versus short inpatient, with 10.9% versus 24.4% (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.36 to 0.39) undergoing cardiac catheterization and 1.8% versus 7.6% (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.21 to 0.24) having PCI. The incidence of subsequent AMI within the following 30 days was similar in patients admitted as observation versus short inpatient (0.23% vs. 0.21%; OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.84 to 1.42). CONCLUSIONS: There were higher rates of cardiac catheterization and PCI among those admitted as a short inpatient compared to observation, while the incidence of subsequent AMI within 30 days was similar.

Trends in Utilization and Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy in the United States Between 2005 and 2013.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of hip arthroscopy continues to increase in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in hip arthroscopy procedures and outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using Optum Labs Data Warehouse administrative claims data. The cohort comprised 10,042 privately insured enrollees aged 18-64 years who underwent a hip arthroscopy procedure between 2005 and 2013. Utilization trends were examined using age-specific, sex-specific, and calendar-year-specific hip arthroscopy rates. Outcomes were examined using the survival analysis methods and included subsequent hip arthroscopy and total hip arthroplasty (THA). RESULTS: Hip arthroscopy rates increased significantly over time from 3.6 per 100,000 in 2005 to 16.7 per 100,000 in 2013. The overall 2-year cumulative incidence of subsequent hip arthroscopy and THA was 11% and 10%, respectively. In the subset of patients in whom laterality of the subsequent procedure could be determined, about half of the subsequent hip arthroscopy procedures (46%) and almost all of the THA procedures (94%) were on the same side. Decreasing age was significantly associated with the risk of subsequent arthroscopy (P < .01), whereas increasing age was significantly associated with the subsequent risk of THA (P < .01). The 5-year cumulative incidence of THA reached as high as 35% among individuals aged 55-64 years. CONCLUSION: The utilization of hip arthroscopy procedures increased dramatically over the last decade in the 18-64-year-old privately insured population, with the largest increase in younger age-groups. Future studies are warranted to understand the determinants of the large increase in utilization of hip arthroscopy and outcomes.

Comparative Trends and Downstream Outcomes of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography and Cardiac Stress Testing in Emergency Department Patients With Chest Pain: An Administrative Claims Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Coronary computerized tomography angiography (CCTA) is a rapidly emerging technology for the evaluation of chest pain in the emergency department (ED). We assessed trends in CCTA use and compared downstream healthcare utilization between CCTA and cardiac stress testing modalities. METHODS: Using administrative claims data (Optum Labs Data Warehouse) from over 100 million geographically diverse privately insured and Medicare Advantage enrollees across the United States, we identified 2,047,799 ED patients from January 2006 to December 2013 who presented with chest pain and had a CCTA or cardiac stress test within 72 hours. Cohorts were established based on CCTA or functional stress testing (myocardial perfusion scintigraphy [MPS], stress echocardiogram [SE], or treadmill exercise electrocardiogram [TMET]) performed within 72 hours of the ED visit. We tracked subsequent invasive cardiac procedures (invasive coronary angiography [ICA], percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI], and coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG]), repeat noninvasive testing, return ED visits, hospitalization, and the rate of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) within 30 days. We used propensity-score matching to adjust for coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index, and baseline differences between patients selected for CCTA or cardiac stress testing. Logistic regression was used to measure adjusted associations between testing modality and outcomes. RESULTS: During the study period, CCTA use increased from 0.8% to 4.5% of all cardiac testing within 72 hours, a change of 434% (p-value for trend < 0.001), while rates of other cardiac stress testing modalities decreased (-22% for TMET [p < 0.001]; -11% for SE [p = 0.11]; -6% for MPS [p = 0.04]. After matching, there was no difference in the 30-day rate of AMI between testing modalities. Compared to MPS, CCTA was associated with higher rates of PCI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04 to 1.51), and CABG (OR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.03 to 2.13). Compared to SE and treadmill stress testing, CCTA was associated with more invasive procedures, hospitalizations, return ED visits, and repeat noninvasive testing. CONCLUSIONS: CCTA use increased fourfold during the study period and was associated with higher rates of PCI, CABG, repeat noninvasive testing, hospitalization, and return ED visits. The authors have no relevant financial information or potential conflicts to disclose.

Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Agents in Biologic-Naive Patients With Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF agents) are the most effective therapy for Crohn's disease (CD). We evaluated the real-world comparative effectiveness and safety of different anti-TNF agents (infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol) in biologic-naive patients with CD in a retrospective, propensity-matched cohort study using a national administrative claims database (Optum Labs Data Warehouse). METHODS: We identified 3205 biologic-naive patients with CD (mean age, 41 ± 15 years; 45% male; median follow-up period after anti-TNF therapy, 19 months; 44.5% on infliximab and 38.9% on adalimumab) who received their first prescription for an anti-TNF agent (infliximab, adalimumab, or certolizumab pegol) after a 12-month period without any anti-TNF treatment (baseline), and with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months after their initial anti-TNF prescription, between 2006 and 2014. The primary outcomes were all-cause and CD-related hospitalization, abdominal surgery, corticosteroid use, and serious infections. We performed a propensity-matched, Cox proportional hazards analysis, accounting for baseline demographics, health care use, comorbidities, and use of CD-related medication. RESULTS: Compared with adalimumab-treated patients, infliximab-treated patients had a lower risk of CD-related hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66-0.98), abdominal surgery (aHR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.58-0.99), and corticosteroid use (aHR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75-0.96). Compared with certolizumab pegol-treated patients, infliximab-treated patients had a lower risk of all-cause hospitalization (aHR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.52-0.95) and CD-related hospitalization (aHR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.39-0.90). Adalimumab-treated patients had outcomes comparable with those of certolizumab pegol-treated patients. All agents had comparable risk of serious infections. CONCLUSIONS: In a retrospective analysis of a large cohort of biologic-naive patients with CD, we found infliximab to be superior to adalimumab and certolizumab pegol for patient-relevant outcomes, without increased risk of serious infections.

Use of Post-acute Care Services and Readmissions After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in Privately Insured Patients.

BACKGROUND: Very little is known about health care resource utilization, including post-acute care use and hospital readmissions, after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Administrative claims from a database of multiple United States health plans were used to identify patients that received an LVAD (ICD-9 code 37.66) and survived to hospital discharge from January 1-2006, through September 30-2013. Post-acute care use was defined as a skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation stay within 90 days after hospital discharge. Patients were censored at heart transplantation or end of coverage through December 31-2013. Of 583 patients (mean age 55 years, 77% male), 223 (38.3%) used post-acute care services, more commonly in patients with diabetes, who required hemodialysis, and who had LVADs implanted at hospitals in more populated areas, with more beds, and in the northeast region (P < .05 for each). The most common reasons for readmission were device complications, heart failure, and arrhythmia. Readmission risk was higher in patients who had diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and longer hospital length of stay, but it did not differ by post-acute care use. CONCLUSIONS: Use of post-acute care services varies based on hospital characteristics. We found no association between post-acute care use and readmission risk after LVAD implantation.