Bevacizumab-induced proteinuria and its association with antihypertensive drugs: A retrospective cohort study using a Japanese administrative database.

Proteinuria is a major side-effect of the anti-tumor drug bevacizumab, although its incidence and risk factors in the real world are still unclear. Although renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors are used clinically to prevent proteinuria, their efficacy remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to reveal the incidence and risk factors of bevacizumab-induced proteinuria and examine the effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs in preventing proteinuria. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Hospital Organization Clinical Data Archives and Medical Information Analysis Databank. Hospitalized patients who received bevacizumab between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2019, were included. The study outcome was proteinuria within 12 months of bevacizumab administration. Patient characteristics, laboratory tests, and medications were compared between patients with and without proteinuria using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Among the 2,458 patients, 27% developed proteinuria after bevacizumab administration. Nursing dependence (odds ratio [OR], 2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.89-3.05; P<0.001) and systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.17-1.79; P<0.001) were identified as risk factors. Patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 60-89, 45-59, and <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 had 29.7%, 76.8%, and 66.0% higher odds of proteinuria, respectively, than those with an eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2. No significant relationship was observed between antihypertensive drugs and the occurrence of proteinuria. More patients may suffer from proteinuria after bevacizumab administration than previously reported. Nursing dependence and systolic blood pressure are predictive risk factors for bevacizumab-induced proteinuria. Patients at risk of proteinuria should be closely monitored.

Risk of Underlying Diseases and Effectiveness of Drugs on COVID-19 Inpatients Assessed Using Medical Claims in Japan: Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Results of earlier studies have demonstrated underlying diseases such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, immunodeficiency, hypertension and heart failure to be risk factors for severe outcomes and mortality. Furthermore, clinical trials have shown that drugs such as antiviral drugs, antibody cocktails, steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs can be expected to prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes and death. Methods: This study, using inpatient records from the Medical Information Analysis Databank covering national hospital organizations in Japan, was conducted to evaluate the effects of underlying diseases and/or administered drugs on mortality. Subjects were all inpatients receiving oxygen administration and inpatients using respiratory ventilators, categorized by three age classes: all ages, patients 65 years old or older, and patients younger than 65 years old. We used logistic regression to analyze outcomes for underlying diseases, administered drugs, age, sex, the proportion of the mutated strains, and vaccine coverage. Results: Patients with hypertension, except for younger inpatients, have a lower risk of mortality (estimated coefficient 0.67 among all inpatients (p < 0.01): 0.77 among inpatients with oxygen therapy (p = 0.02) and 0.57 among inpatients with respiratory ventilation w (p = 0.01)). Except for younger inpatients, antibody cocktail (casirivimab/imdevimab or sotrovimab) administration was associated with a higher probability of survival (estimated coefficient 0.27 among all inpatients (p < 0.01)). It raised the survival probability consistently, although other drugs might have reduced the probability of survival. Conclusion: These findings suggest that antiviral drugs (remdesivir, estimated coefficient 1.44 (p < 0.01)), steroids (dexamethasone, estimated coefficient 1.85 (p < 0.01)), and anti-inflammatory drugs (baricitinib, estimated coefficient 1.62 (p < 0.01), and tocilizumab, estimated coefficient 2.73 (p < 0.01)) might not contribute to survival. These results have not been reported from earlier studies. More sophisticated estimation procedures, such as treatment effect models, are necessary to obtain conclusive results.

Aspiration pneumonia and anesthesia techniques in hip fracture surgery in elderly patients: A retrospective cohort study using administrative data.

Purpose: Aspiration pneumonia is a critical issue. General anesthesia may suppress the airway's protective reflex. However, aspiration pneumonia is also observed in patients who undergo hip fracture surgery under spinal anesthesia. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anesthesia methods and aspiration pneumonia as well as the predictive factors of aspiration pneumonia in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. Methods: The medical records of 19,809 patients aged ≥60 years who underwent hip fracture surgery under general or spinal anesthesia were reviewed. After propensity score matching, the anesthesia methods affecting the occurrences of aspiration pneumonia and other complications were investigated via logistic regression and instrumental variable analyses. Predictive factors of aspiration pneumonia were also investigated in all subjects using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Among the 11,673 general anesthesia patients and 8136 spinal anesthesia patients, aspiration pneumonia occurred in 356 patients (1.8%). Post-propensity score matching the incidences of aspiration pneumonia with general and spinal anesthesia were 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively (p = 0.158); other pulmonary complications were 1.5% and 1.5%, respectively (p = 0.893); and the mortality rates were 1.4% and 1.2%, respectively (p = 0.219). The predictive factors of aspiration pneumonia were advanced age, male sex, lean body, cerebrovascular disease, dementia, and dependency for activities of daily living (eating). Conclusion: Spinal and general anesthesia showed similar incidences of aspiration pneumonia in elderly hip fracture surgery. Regardless of the anesthesia method, great care should be taken, especially in elderly patients with the identified predictive factors.

Validity of a model using routinely collected data for identifying infections following gastric, colon, and liver cancer surgeries.

PURPOSE: Validating outcome measures is a prerequisite for using administrative databases for comparative effectiveness research. Although the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database is widely used in surgical studies, the outcome measure for postsurgical infection has not been validated. We developed a model to identify postsurgical infections using the routinely collected Diagnosis Procedure Combination data. METHODS: We retrospectively identified inpatients who underwent surgery for gastric, colon, or liver cancer between April 2016 and March 2018 at four hospitals. Chart reviews were conducted to identify postsurgical infections. We used bootstrap analysis with backwards variable elimination to select independent variables from routinely collected diagnosis and procedure data. Selected variables were used to create a score predicting the chart review-identified infections, and the performance of the score was tested. RESULTS: Among the 746 eligible patients, 96 patients (13%) had postoperative infections. Three variables were identified as predictors: diagnosis of infectious disease recorded as a complication arising after admission, addition of an intravenous antibiotic, and bacterial microscopy or culture. The prediction model had a C-statistic of 0.885 and pseudo-R2 of 0.358. A cut-off of one point of the score showed a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 72%, and a cut-off of two points showed a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 91%. CONCLUSIONS: Our model using routinely collected administrative data accurately identified postoperative infections. Further external validation would lead to the application of the model for research using administrative databases.

Prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis: A multi-center retrospective observational study.

AIM: Despite advances in the management of liver diseases and changes in the etiology of cirrhosis, few studies have updated the prognosis of cirrhosis. This study aimed to clarify the recent prognosis of cirrhosis and identify risk factors for death. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study by the Hepatic Disease Network of the National Hospital Organization in Japan, chart reviews were performed to follow patients with cirrhosis beginning in 2011. We conducted Kaplan-Meier survival time analyses stratified by Child-Pugh classification and albumin-bilirubin grade. Cox regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for death. RESULTS: We identified 444 eligible patients from 25 hospitals, including 303 (68%), 110 (25%), and 31 (7%) patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C, respectively. Hepatitis C virus infection was the cause of cirrhosis for 63% of the patients. The 1-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C were 90% and 61%, 78% and 42%, and 65% and 25%, respectively. The 1-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates of patients with albumin-bilirubin grades 1, 2, and 3 were 98% and 80%, 91% and 56%, and 58% and 23%, respectively. Cirrhosis classification (Child-Pugh and albumin-bilirubin), age, liver cancer, and untreated esophageal varices were associated with increased hazard of death. CONCLUSIONS: Little improvement was observed in the prognosis of cirrhosis compared with previous reports, and the prognosis of Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis remained poor. Untreated esophageal varices were identified as a risk factor for death.

Comparison of peripheral nerve block with local infiltration analgesia regarding walking ability after total knee replacement: A retrospective, propensity-score matched-pair cohort study.

PURPOSE: It is unclear whether perioperative analgesic techniques affect the functional outcome of total knee replacement (TKR). We investigated the effects of peripheral nerve block (PNB) and local infiltration (LI) on walking ability after TKR. METHODS: The medical records of 7143 patients who underwent TKR using general anesthesia with PNB or LI techniques were reviewed. Factors affecting independence and/or improvement of walking after surgery were investigated using multivariate regression analysis. To adjust for baseline differences and minimize selection bias for the chosen analgesic technique, patients were matched by propensity scores. RESULTS: The multivariate regression analysis showed that PNB was associated with independence and/or improvement of walking. Of the 7143 patients, 2755 (39%) received PNB analgesia and 4388 (61%) LI analgesia. After the propensity score matching, the analgesic types were not associated with walking ability. Independence reflected by the total score of daily living activities was higher in the PNB group than in the LI group. The PNB group started rehabilitation later but performed rehabilitation for longer in the initial period than the LI group. Consumption levels of fentanyl, pentazocine, and antiemetics were lower in the PNB group than in the LI group. The PNB group had fewer hypertensive episodes during surgery than the LI group. There was no significant difference in total hospitalization costs between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference in postoperative walking ability was found between PNB and LI groups. However, PNB offered some advantages over LI. Future detailed investigations to improve TKR surgery are needed.

End-of-life care for cancer patients in Japanese acute care hospitals: A nationwide retrospective administrative database survey.

BACKGROUND: End-of-life (EOL) cancer care in Japanese acute care hospitals has not been well described. METHODS: We aimed to assess the aggressiveness of EOL care and examine common treatments administered to cancer patients using a health administrative database. Subjects are adult cancer patients who died at acute care hospitals between April 2011 and March 2014. Data from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database were analysed to measure the aggressiveness of care (chemotherapy, intensive care unit [ICU] admission and cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR]) and describe procedures and prescriptions administered in the last 14 and 30 days of life, disaggregated by hospital case volume: high, intermediate and low volumes. RESULTS: Of 248,978 cancer decedents, 170,024 died in high-, 70,231 in intermediate- and 8,723 in low-volume hospitals. Aggressive treatment in the last 14 days of life included chemotherapy (9.4%, 7.3%, and 5.4%, respectively), ICU admission (3.0%, 2.0%, and 2.4%) and CPR (5.8%, 6.4%, and 8.3%). Opioids were administered to 66.0%, 59.0% and 49.4% patients, while Palliative Care Team intervention was performed for 8.5%, 2.2% and 2.0% of patients, respectively in the last 30 days. In high-volume hospitals, radiotherapy and certified outpatient chemotherapy fees were more frequent. Catecholamines and hyperalimentation were more frequently administered in low-volume hospitals. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to assess EOL care among Japanese acute care hospitals. More frequent use of chemotherapy at high-volume hospitals may reflect a well-established cancer treatment system. The approach for low-volume hospitals might improve the EOL care for all cancer patients in Japan.

Postoperative daily living activities of geriatric patients administered general or spinal anesthesia for hip fracture surgery: A retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Maintaining independence after hip fracture repair is important for geriatric patients and general welfare. We investigated the effects of anesthetic methods on postoperative activities of daily living (ADLs) following hip fracture surgery in elderly patients. METHODS: The medical records of 12,342 patients aged ≥65 years who underwent typical surgeries for hip fracture using either general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia were reviewed. To adjust for baseline differences and minimize selection bias for the chosen method of anesthesia, patients were matched by propensity scores. Factors affecting the deterioration in ADLs during hospital stay were also investigated in all subjects using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Eating, grooming, toileting, bathing, and walking were selected as the ADL parameters, as they are considered important for an independent life. RESULTS: Of the 12,342 patients, 6918 (56.1%) received general anesthesia and 5424 (43.9%) received spinal anesthesia. After the propensity score matching, the anesthesia types were not associated with ADL scores except toileting at discharge. Results from the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the types of anesthesia were not associated with deterioration in ADL scores. Advanced age, male sex, high Charlson Comorbidity Index scores, psychiatric disease, no administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and short length of hospital stay were associated with deterioration in ADL scores. CONCLUSION: The anesthesia types were not associated with ADL dependency except toileting at discharge. Spinal anesthesia adversely affected toilet use at hospital discharge. However, anesthesia types were not factors that affected deterioration in ADL during hospital stay in elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery.

Mortality and hemorrhagic complications associated with radiofrequency ablation for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients on hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease: A nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Because of the rarity of invasive treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients on hemodialysis (HD) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the risks associated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in such patients remain uncertain. We used a nationwide database to investigate in-hospital mortality and hemorrhagic complications following RFA in patients on HD for ESRD. METHODS: Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, we enrolled patients on HD for ESRD who underwent RFA for HCC. For each patient, we randomly selected up to four non-dialyzed patients using a matched-pair sampling method based on patient age, sex, treatment hospital, and treatment year. In-hospital mortality and hemorrhagic complications were compared between dialyzed and non-dialyzed patients following RFA. RESULTS: We compared matched-pair samples of 437 dialyzed and 1345 non-dialyzed patients. In patients on HD for ESRD, mortality was significantly lower in those aged ≤70 years than in older patients (P = 0.02). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in dialyzed ESRD patients than in non-dialyzed patients (1.1% vs 0.15%, respectively; odds ratio = 7.77, P < 0.001). Hemorrhagic complications differed significantly between dialyzed ESRD patients and non-dialyzed patients (3.4% vs 0.87%, respectively; odds ratio = 4.75, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital mortality following RFA was higher in dialyzed ESRD patients than in non-dialyzed patients. The indications for RFA in dialysis-dependent patients should be considered carefully. Patient age may be a useful indicator when considering RFA for HCC in patients on HD for ESRD.

Seasonal Variations in the Risk of Reoperation for Surgical Site Infection Following Elective Spinal Fusion Surgery: A Retrospective Study Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination Database.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of data abstracted from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) database, a national representative database in Japan. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine seasonal variations in the risk of reoperation for surgical site infection (SSI) following spinal fusion surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although higher rates of infection in the summer than in other seasons were thought to be caused by increasing inexperience of new staff, high temperature, and high humidity, no studies have examined seasonal variations in the risk of SSI following spinal fusion surgery in the country where medical staff rotation timing is not in summer season. In Japan, medical staff rotation starts in April. METHODS: We retrospectively extracted the data of patients who were admitted between July 2010 and March 2013 from the DPC database. Patients were included if they were aged 20 years or older and underwent elective spinal fusion surgery. The primary outcome was reoperation for SSI during hospitalization. We performed multivariate analysis to clarify the risk factors of primary outcome with adjustment for patient background characteristics. RESULTS: We identified 47,252 eligible patients (23,659 male, 23,593 female). The mean age of the patients was 65.4 years (range, 20-101 yrs). Overall, reoperation for SSI occurred in 0.93% of the patients during hospitalization. The risk of reoperation for SSI was significantly higher in April (vs. February; odds ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-3.43, P = 0.03) as well as other known risk factors. In subgroup analysis with stratification for type of hospital, month of surgery was identified as an independent risk factor of reoperation for SSI among cases in an academic hospital, although there was no seasonal variation among those in a nonacademic hospital. CONCLUSION: This study showed that month of surgery is a risk factor of reoperation for SSI following elective spinal fusion surgery, nevertheless, in the country where medical staff rotation timing is not in summer season. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

The ADOPT-LC score: a novel predictive index of in-hospital mortality of cirrhotic patients following surgical procedures, based on a national survey.

AIM: We aimed to develop a model for predicting in-hospital mortality of cirrhotic patients following major surgical procedures using a large sample of patients derived from a Japanese nationwide administrative database. METHODS: We enrolled 2197 cirrhotic patients who underwent elective (n = 1973) or emergency (n = 224) surgery. We analyzed the risk factors for postoperative mortality and established a scoring system for predicting postoperative mortality in cirrhotic patients using a split-sample method. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality rates following elective or emergency surgery were 4.7% and 20.5%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, patient age, Child-Pugh (CP) class, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and duration of anesthesia in elective surgery were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. In emergency surgery, CP class and duration of anesthesia were significant factors. Based on multivariate analysis in the training set (n = 987), the Adequate Operative Treatment for Liver Cirrhosis (ADOPT-LC) score that used patient age, CP class, CCI, and duration of anesthesia to predict in-hospital mortality following elective surgery was developed. This scoring system was validated in the testing set (n = 986) and produced an area under the curve of 0.881. We also developed iOS/Android apps to calculate ADOPT-LC scores to allow easy access to the current evidence in daily clinical practice. CONCLUSION: Patient age, CP class, CCI, and duration of anesthesia were identified as important risk factors for predicting postoperative mortality in cirrhotic patients. The ADOPT-LC score effectively predicts in-hospital mortality following elective surgery and may assist decisions regarding surgical procedures in cirrhotic patients based on a quantitative risk assessment.

Association Between Colorectal Cancer and Atherosclerotic Diseases: A Study Using a National Inpatient Database in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Both colorectal neoplasms and atherosclerosis can be induced by common visceral fat accumulation. However, the association between these diseases at the advanced stage, colorectal cancer and cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases, has not been elucidated. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the association between colorectal cancer and vascular diseases in relation to obesity and metabolic disorders, using a nationwide database of hospitalized patients in Japan. We used non-cardiac gastric cancer patients as a reference, because they were considered to be neutral for obesity or metabolic disorders. METHODS: We identified 54,591 patients with colorectal cancer and 19,565 patients with gastric cancer from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. The data collected included: sex; age; body mass index (BMI); smoking status; comorbidity; and medication data, comprising hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and stroke. We compared these data in a cross-sectional setting by multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that female sex, increased BMI, hypertension [odds ratio (OR) 1.11; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.15; P < 0.0001], and diabetes (OR 1.17; 95 % CI 1.12-1.23; P < 0.0001) were more associated with colorectal cancer than with gastric cancer. Smoking, aspirin use (OR 0.85; 95 % CI 0.79-0.92; P < 0.0001), and coronary artery disease (OR 0.90; 95 % CI 0.86-0.95; P = 0.0001) were inversely associated with colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and metabolic disorders were more associated with colorectal cancer than with non-cardiac gastric cancer, while coronary artery disease (CAD) was inversely associated. Some mechanisms involving separate populations of colorectal cancer and CAD under visceral fat accumulation might be suggested.

Postoperative outcomes of major lower extremity amputations in patients with diabetes and peripheral artery disease: analysis using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to investigate 30-day postoperative outcomes after lower extremity amputation in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) alone, peripheral artery disease (PAD) alone, or both. METHODS: Eight thousand five hundred sixty-five patients with DM alone (n = 2,700), PAD alone (n = 2,919), and both (n = 2,946) who had above-knee amputation or below-knee amputation during 2007 to 2012 from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Overall 30-day mortality was 6.4% (5.1%, 8.5%, and 5.6% in DM alone, PAD alone and both group, respectively). Multivariable regression analysis showed no significant differences in 30-day mortality or overall postoperative complication rates among the 3 groups. Patients with both PAD and DM had a significantly higher proportion of cardiac events than those with DM alone (6.9% vs 3.0%; odds ratio = 2.27; 95% confidence interval = 1.73 to 2.98). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with both DM and PAD were more likely to have postoperative cardiac events.

Pharyngocutaneous fistula and delay in free oral feeding after pharyngolaryngectomy for hypopharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula and associated delay in free oral feeding after pharyngolaryngectomy for patients with hypopharyngeal cancer remain uncertain. METHODS: We used a Japanese national inpatient database to perform a retrospective cohort study between 2007 and 2013. We performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify patient characteristics associated with pharyngocutaneous fistula formation, and Cox regression analysis to evaluate factors affecting the interval from pharyngolaryngectomy to free oral feeding. RESULTS: Among 549 eligible patients, 33 had developed pharyngocutaneous fistula, 19 of whom required surgical closure. Preoperative radiotherapy significantly increased risk of pharyngocutaneous fistula (odds ratio [OR] = 3.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10-9.12; p = .033). Pharyngocutaneous fistula significantly prolonged the interval to oral feeding (median days, 67 vs 20 in those with and without pharyngocutaneous fistula, respectively; hazard ratio [HR], = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.15-0.44; p < .001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative radiotherapy was associated with increased occurrence of pharyngocutaneous fistula and subsequent delay in free oral feeding. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E-E, 2016.

Complications and Postoperative Mortality Rate After Surgery for Pathological Femur Fracture Related to Bone Metastasis: Analysis of a Nationwide Database.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are few reports regarding predictors of postoperative complications and short-term mortality after surgery for pathological femur fracture related to bone metastasis. METHODS: Using data from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination Database from 2007 to 2012, we retrospectively identified 1497 patients who underwent internal fixation (n = 1073) or proximal femur resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction of the proximal femur (n = 424) for pathological femur fracture related to bone metastasis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship of various factors with postoperative complications and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: The overall 30-day mortality after surgery was 2.6%, and the proportion of postoperative complications was 12.1%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that postoperative complications overall were significantly associated with older age [odds ratio (OR), 2.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23-3.74 for age ≥80 vs. ≤59 years]; lung carcinoma (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.47-2.86); esophageal carcinoma (OR 4.41; 95% CI 1.57-12.43); higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.03-2.18 for ≥9 vs. 8); and blood transfusion (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.14-2.15). Thirty-day mortality also was significantly higher in patients with rapid-growth tumors, visceral metastasis, internal fixation, and no postoperative chemotherapy in the univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Older age, type of primary tumor, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, and blood transfusion were associated with higher morbidity. These findings can provide important information to assess perioperative risk in patients with pathological femur fracture related to bone metastasis.

Association between dementia and postoperative complications after hip fracture surgery in the elderly: analysis of 87,654 patients using a national administrative database.

INTRODUCTION: Mortality following hip fracture surgery is higher in patients with dementia than those without; however, few large-scale studies have investigated postoperative in-hospital complications in such patients. The aim of this study was to elucidate the complications that occur after hip fracture surgery in patients with and without dementia using a large national database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients aged ≥70 years who underwent hemiarthroplasty, osteosynthesis for femoral neck fracture or osteosynthesis for intertrochanteric fracture, and compared the occurrence of postoperative complications between patients with and without dementia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for patient characteristics and hospital factors. RESULTS: A total of 87,654 patients were included in this study, including 9419 with dementia. Compared with the non-dementia group, the dementia group showed a higher incidence of overall postoperative complications [odds ratio (OR) 1.45; p < 0.001), surgical site infection (OR 1.58; p = 0.004), urinary tract infection (OR 1.87; p < 0.001) and respiratory complications (OR 1.49; p < 0.001). The rate of postoperative complications was higher for all types of hip fracture surgery. The occurrence of a postoperative complication was significantly higher in patients aged ≥80 years (OR 1.37; p < 0.001) and those with dementia (OR 1.45; p < 0.001), any type of malignancy (OR 1.42; p < 0.001), a history of cardiovascular disease (OR 1.33; p < 0.001), a history of cerebrovascular disease (OR 1.15; p = 0.029), chronic renal failure (OR 1.36; p < 0.001), liver cirrhosis (OR 1.41; p < 0.001) or blood transfusion after surgery (OR 1.49; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the need to pay particular attention to surgical site infection, urinary tract infection and respiratory complications in patients with preoperative dementia after hip fracture surgery. These results provide additional useful evidence to inform the management of these patients.

Perioperative stroke in patients undergoing elective spinal surgery: a retrospective analysis using the Japanese diagnosis procedure combination database.

BACKGROUND: Although a few studies on perioperative stroke following spinal surgery have been reported, differences in the incidence of perioperative stroke among various surgical procedures have not been determined. The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to investigate the incidence of perioperative stroke during hospitalization in patients undergoing elective spinal surgery, and to examine whether the incidence varied according to the surgical procedure. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, a nationwide administrative impatient database in Japan, identified 167,106 patients who underwent elective spinal surgery during 2007-2012. Patient information extracted included age, sex, preoperative comorbidity, administration of blood transfusion, length of hospitalization, and type of hospital. Clinical outcomes included perioperative stroke during hospitalization, and in-hospital death. RESULTS: The overall incidence of perioperative stroke was 0.22 % (371/167,106) during hospitalization. A logistic regression model fitted with a generalized estimating equation showed perioperative stroke was associated with advanced age, a history of cardiac disease, an academic institution, and resection of a spinal tumor. Patients who underwent resection of a spinal cord tumor (reference) had a higher risk of stroke compared with those undergoing discectomy (odds ratio (OR), 0.29; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 0.14-0.58; p = 0.001), decompression surgery (OR, 0.44; 95 % CI, 0.26-0.73; p = 0.001), or arthrodesis surgery (OR, 0.55; 95 % CI, 0.34-0.90); p = 0.02). Advanced age (≥80 years; OR, 5.66; 95 % CI, 3.10-10.34; p ≤ 0.001), history of cardiac disease (OR, 1.58; 95 % CI, 1.10-2.26; p = 0.01), diabetes (OR, 1.73; 95 % CI, 1.36-2.20; p ≤ 0.001), hypertension (OR, 1.53; 95 % CI, 1.18-1.98; p = 0.001), cervical spine surgery (OR, 1.44; 95 % CI, 1.09-1.90; p = 0.01), a teaching hospital (OR, 1.36; 95 % CI, 1.01-1.82; p = 0.04), and length of stay (OR, 1.008; 95 % CI, 1.005-1.010; p ≤ 0.001) were also risk factors for perioperative stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative stroke occurred in 0.22 % of patients undergoing spinal surgery. Resection of a spinal cord tumor was associated with increased risk of perioperative stroke as well as advanced age, comorbidities at admission, cervical spine surgery, surgery in a teaching hospital, and length of stay.

Bleeding after endoscopic sphincterotomy or papillary balloon dilation among users of antithrombotic agents.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Severe bleeding is a potentially lethal complication after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) and endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) for choledocholithiasis. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants on this complication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent EST and EPBD were identified in a Japanese nationwide administrative database covering 1090 hospitals. Adjusting for other potential risk factors, we evaluated the association between oral administration of antiplatelet agents and/or anticoagulants (continuation, discontinuation, and non-use) and clinically significant bleeding within 3 days of the procedure. RESULTS: In total, 61 002 patients were analyzed (EST, 54 493 patients; EPBD, 6509). The rate of severe bleeding was 0.8 % in both groups, but EPBD was performed more frequently than EST in patients with chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, and in those receiving antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants. The impact of continuation/discontinuation of antiplatelet agents on severe bleeding was not statistically significant in the EST or EPBD groups. The use of anticoagulants was associated with a statistically significant increase in severe bleeding compared with non-use for EST (1.6 % 27 of 1688 patients vs. 0.8 % 429 of 52 805 patients; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.70; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.10 - 2.63) and for EPBD (3.0 % [8 of 263 patients] vs. 0.7 % 46 of 6246 patients; adjusted OR 2.91; 95 %CI 1.36 - 6.24). CONCLUSIONS: EST and EPBD can be safely performed in patients receiving antiplatelet agents. Users of anticoagulants are at high risk of bleeding, and the periprocedural management of these should be further investigated.

Current state of continuous renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury in Japanese intensive care units in 2011: analysis of a national administrative database.

BACKGROUND: Nationwide data for the prevalence and outcomes of patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in intensive care units (ICUs) are scarce. This study assessed the status of CRRT in Japanese ICUs using a nationwide administrative claim database. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database for 2011. From a cohort of critically ill patients aged 12 years or older who were admitted to ICUs for 3 days or longer, acute kidney injury (AKI) patients treated with CRRT were identified. The period prevalence of CRRT and in-hospital mortality were calculated. Logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of 165 815 ICU patients, 6478 (3.9%) received CRRT for AKI. The most frequent admission diagnosis category was diseases of the circulatory system (n = 3074). The overall in-hospital mortality rate of the CRRT-treated AKI patients was 50.6%. Clustering patients into four groups by background revealed the lowest in-hospital mortality rate of 41.5% for the cardiovascular surgery group (n = 1043) compared with 53.5% for the nonsurgical cardiovascular group (n = 2031), 51.7% for the sepsis group (n = 1863) and 51.6% for other cases (n = 1541). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of these four group classifications with in-hospital mortality in addition to age, hospital characteristics (type and volume), time from hospital admission to CRRT initiation and interventions performed on the day of CRRT initiation. CONCLUSIONS: Using a large Japanese nationwide database, this study revealed remarkably high in-hospital mortality of CRRT-treated AKI patients, although the period prevalence of CRRT for AKI in ICUs was low.

Hospital volume and cardiac complications of endomyocardial biopsy: a retrospective cohort study of 9508 adult patients using a nationwide inpatient database in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Recent research on complications with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) has been based on single-center or 2-center studies in high-volume cardiovascular centers. No study has examined the association between hospital volume and the complication rate after EMB. HYPOTHESIS: Hospital volume is inversely associated with cardiac complication rate after EMB. METHODS: Using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in Japan, we identified inpatients aged ≥20 years who underwent EMB under fluoroscopic guidance. We assessed cardiac complications requiring the following urgent procedures on the day of EMB or the day after: pericardiocentesis, surgical repair, and temporary pacing. RESULTS: Among 9508 eligible patients in 491 hospitals (male, 68%; mean age, 57.0 years), dilated cardiomyopathy was the most frequently diagnosed condition (35.4%). Twenty-four patients (0.25%) required pericardiocentesis on the day of EMB. Three patients (0.03%) underwent surgical repair on the day of EMB or the day after. Sixty-three patients (0.70%) required temporary pacing on the day of EMB. Higher hospital volume was associated with lower rates of pericardiocentesis (low volume, 0.4%; medium volume, 0.2%; high volume, 0.1%; P for the trend test, 0.019) and temporary pacing (low volume, 1.0%; medium volume, 0.7%; high volume, 0.2%; P for the trend test, < 0.001). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, high hospital volume was significantly associated with a lower rate of the composite outcome of the procedures (reference, low volume; adjusted odds ratio, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.62, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Serious cardiac complications of EMB were rare, but higher hospital volume was associated with lower complication rate.