Impact of hospital safety-net status on clinical outcomes following carotid artery revascularization.

BACKGROUND: High hospital safety-net burden has been associated with inferior clinical outcomes. We aimed to characterize the association of safety-net burden with outcomes in a national cohort of patients undergoing carotid interventions. METHODS: The 2010-2017 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify adults undergoing carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting. Hospitals were classified as low (LBH), medium, or high safety-net burden (HBH) based on the proportion of uninsured or Medicaid patients. Multivariable models were developed to evaluate associations between HBH and outcomes. RESULTS: Of an estimated 540,558 hospitalizations for a carotid intervention, 28.5% were at HBH. Patients treated at HBH were more likely to be admitted non-electively (28.7% vs 20.2%, P < .001), have symptomatic presentation (11.0% vs 7.7%, P < .001), and undergo carotid artery stenting (18.7% vs 8.9%, P < .001). After adjustment, HBH remained associated with increased odds of postoperative stroke (AOR 1.19, P = .023, Ref = LBH), non-home discharge (AOR 1.10, P = .026), 30-day readmissions (AOR 1.14, P < .001), and 31-90-day readmissions (AOR 1.13, P < .001), but not in-hospital mortality (AOR 1.18, P = .27). HBH was linked to increased hospitalization costs (ß +$2,169, P = .016). CONCLUSION: HBH was associated with postoperative stroke, non-home discharge, readmissions, and increased hospitalization costs after carotid revascularization. Further studies are warranted to alleviate healthcare inequality and improve outcomes at safety-net hospitals.

Impact of Payer Status on Delisting Among Liver Transplant Candidates in the United States.

Although socioeconomic disparities persist both pre- and post-transplantation, the impact of payer status has not been studied at the national level. We examined the association between public insurance coverage and waitlist outcomes among candidates listed for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States. All adults (age ≥18 years) listed for LT between 2002 and 2018 in the United Network for Organ Sharing database were included. The primary outcome was waitlist removal because of death or clinical deterioration. Continuous and categorical variables were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests, respectively. Fine and Gray competing-risks regression was used to estimate the subdistribution hazard ratios (HRs) for risk factors associated with delisting. Of 131,839 patients listed for LT, 61.2% were covered by private insurance, 22.9% by Medicare, and 15.9% by Medicaid. The 1-year cumulative incidence of delisting was 9.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3%-9.8%) for patients with private insurance, 10.7% (95% CI, 9.9%-11.6%) for Medicare, and 10.7% (95% CI, 9.8%-11.6%) for Medicaid. In multivariable competing-risks analysis, Medicare (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.17-1.24; P < 0.001) and Medicaid (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.16-1.24; P < 0.001) were independently associated with an increased hazard of death or deterioration compared with private insurance. Additional predictors of delisting included Black race and Hispanic ethnicity, whereas college education and employment were associated with a decreased hazard of delisting. In this study, LT candidates with Medicare or Medicaid had a 20% increased risk of delisting because of death or clinical deterioration compared with those with private insurance. As more patients use public insurance to cover the cost of LT, targeted waitlist management protocols may mitigate the increased risk of delisting in this population.

Acute kidney injury is independently associated with mortality and resource use after emergency general surgery operations.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of severe perioperative renal dysfunction in high-acuity patients has not been well-explored at the national level. The present study aimed to evaluate the trends in the incidence of perioperative acute kidney injury and renal replacement therapy as well as associated mortality among patients undergoing an emergency general surgery operation. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample to identify all adult patients (>18 y) without chronic kidney disease who underwent an emergency general surgery procedure from 2008 to 2016. The study cohort was stratified based on presence of acute kidney injury and need for renal replacement therapy postoperatively. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to predict the odds of mortality and composite morbidity. Nonparametric trend analyses of acute kidney injury and renal replacement therapy incidence and associated mortality were performed. RESULTS: Of an estimated 5,862,657 patients who underwent an emergency general surgery procedure during the study period, 7.4% patients developed an acute kidney injury and 0.48% patients required renal replacement therapy. Overall, the incidence of acute kidney injury (5.3%-19.4%) and renal replacement therapy (0.43%-0.93%) increased (P < .0001) over the study period. Even without need for renal replacement therapy, acute kidney injury was associated with greater odds of mortality and composite morbidity (adjusted odds ratio 5.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.1-5.3) and mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 2.20, 95% CI 2.3-2.4), as well as greater costs of hospitalization and duration of stay. CONCLUSION: In this national study, we found that the incidence of acute kidney injury and renal replacement therapy after an emergency general surgery operation has increased. Both acute renal failure and hemodialysis were associated with much greater odds of morbidity and mortality. The apparent increase in the rate of acute kidney injury and renal replacement therapy warrant further investigation of mechanisms for monitoring and limiting the impact of organ malperfusion associated with emergency general surgery operations.

Understanding lung transplant listing practices: Survival in lung transplant candidates who improve clinically to delisting.

BACKGROUND: Occasionally, lung transplant candidates improve to the point where they are removed from the transplant list. We sought to determine the characteristics and outcomes of lung transplant candidates who improved to delisting both before and after implementation of the lung allocation score. METHODS: Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, we reviewed all adult patients listed for lung transplant between 1987 and 2012. The last permanent status change was classified into transplanted, improved to delisting (improved), or deteriorated to delisting (deteriorated). Survival time was calculated using the linked date of death from the Social Security Administration. Survival analysis was performed via the Kaplan-Meier method, and adjusted multivariable logistic regressions identified characteristics predicting improvement to delisting. RESULTS: Of 13,688 candidates, 12,188 (89.0%) were transplanted, 454 (3.3%) improved, and 1,046 (7.6%) deteriorated. The 5-year mortality was greater in improved (hazard ratio = 1.21 [1.07-1.38], P = .002) and deteriorated (hazard ratio = 3.36 [3.11-3.64], P < .001) candidates relative to those transplanted; however, 1-year survival was greater in improved versus transplanted candidates (75.9% vs 67.2%, log rank P < .001). Older, female patients listed for primary pulmonary hypertension and retransplantation were more likely to improve to delisting. The proportion of improved patients varied by hospital quartile volume (P < .001) and the United Network for Organ Sharing geographic region (P < .001). The number of patients improving to delisting decreased after implementation of the lung allocation score. CONCLUSION: Lung transplant candidates improving to delisting faced less short-term but greater long-term mortality relative to transplanted candidates. Given that the improved population decreased dramatically after implementation of the lung allocation score, redefining patient listing criteria appears to have improved patient appropriateness for transplant.

Rehospitalization and resource use after inpatient admission for extracorporeal life support in the United States.

BACKGROUND: With increasing dissemination and improved survival after extracorporeal life support, also called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, the decrease in readmissions after hospitalization involving extracorporeal life support is an emerging priority. The present study aimed to identify predictors of early readmission after extracorporeal life support at a national level. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Readmissions Database. All patients ≥18 years who underwent extracorporeal life support from 2010 to 2015 were identified. Patients were stratified into the following categories of extracorporeal life support: postcardiotomy, primary cardiogenic shock, cardiopulmonary failure, respiratory failure, transplantation, and miscellaneous. The primary outcome of the study was the rate of 90-day rehospitalization after extracorporeal life support admission. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to predict the odds of unplanned 90-day readmission. Kaplan-Meier analyses were also performed. RESULTS: An estimated 18,748 patients received extracorporeal life support with overall mortality of 50.2%. Of the patients who survived hospitalization, 30.2% were discharged to a skilled nursing facility, and 21.1% were readmitted within 90 days after discharge. After adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics, cardiogenic shock was associated with the greatest odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.46; C-statistic, 0.64). The cohort with respiratory failure had decreased odds of readmission (adjusted odds ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.99). Discharge to skilled nursing facility (adjusted odds ratio 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-1.97) was independently associated with readmission. Cardiac and respiratory-related readmissions comprised the majority of unplanned 90-day rehospitalizations. CONCLUSION: In this large analysis of readmissions after extracorporeal life support in adults, 21% of extracorporeal life support survivors were rehospitalized within 90 days of discharge. Disposition to a skilled nursing facility, but not advanced age nor female sex, was associated with readmission.

Readmissions Following Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in the United States (from the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2010 to 2014).

Readmission following cardiac surgery is associated with poor outcomes and increased healthcare expenditure. However, a nationwide understanding of the incidence, cost, causes, and predictors of 30-day readmission following coronary artery bypass grafting is limited. The Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify all adult patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with no other concomitant surgery between 2010 and 2014. The primary outcome was all-cause readmission within 30 days of discharge after surgery. Risk-adjusted multivariable analyses were used to develop a model of readmission risk. Of 855,836 patients, 95,504 (11.2%) had an emergent 30-day readmission following CABG. The most common causes of readmission were related to respiratory complications (17.1%), infection (13.5%), and heart failure (11.9%). Readmission cost an average of $13,392 per patient, accounting for an estimated annual cost of over $250 million. Independent predictors of 30-day readmission encompassed female gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24 to 1.31), emergent index admission (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.25 to 1.33), and preoperative co-morbidities, including atrial fibrillation (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.28), liver disease (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.41), renal failure (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.34 to 1.43), among others. CABG performed at a high CABG volume hospital was protective of readmission (OR 0.95; 95% CI 0.91 to 0.99). In conclusion, we characterized using a national sample the incidence, causes, costs, and predictors of 30-day readmission following CABG. Targeting modifiable risk factors for readmission should be a priority to reduce rates of readmission and decrease healthcare expenditure.

Clinical Outcomes of Infective Endocarditis in Injection Drug Users.

BACKGROUND: Rising rates of hospitalization for infective endocarditis (IE) have been increasingly tied to rising injection drug use (IDU) associated with the opioid epidemic. OBJECTIVES: This study analyzed recent trends in IDU-IE hospitalization and characterized outcomes and readmissions for IDU-IE patients. METHODS: The authors evaluated the National Readmissions Database (NRD) for IE cases between January 2010 and September 2015. Patients were stratified by IDU status and surgical versus medical management. Primary outcome was 30-day readmission and cause, with secondary outcomes including mortality, length of stay (LOS), adjusted costs, and 180-day readmission. The Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests were used to analyze baseline differences by IDU status. Multivariable regressions were used to analyze mortality, readmissions, LOS, and adjusted costs. RESULTS: The survey-weighted sample contained 96,344 (77.8%) non-IDU-IE and 27,432 (22.2%) IDU-IE cases. IDU-IE increased from 15.3% to 29.1% of IE cases between 2010 and 2015 (p < 0.001). At index hospitalization, IDU-IE was associated with reduced mortality (6.8% vs. 9.6%; p < 0.001) but not 30-day readmission (23.8% vs. 22.9%; p = 0.077) relative to non-IDU-IE. Medically managed IDU-IE patients had higher LOS (ß = 1.36 days; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71 to 2.01), reduced costs (ß = -$4,427; 95% CI: -$7,093 to -$1,761), and increased readmission for endocarditis (18.1% vs. 5.6%; p < 0.001), septicemia (14.0% vs. 7.3%; p < 0.001), and drug abuse (4.3% vs. 0.7%; p < 0.001) compared with medically managed non-IDU-IE. Surgically managed IDU-IE patients had increased LOS (ß = 4.26 days; 95% CI: 2.73 to 5.80) and readmission for septicemia (15.6% vs. 5.2%; p < 0.001) and drug abuse (7.3% vs. 0.9%; p < 0.001) compared with non-IDU-IE. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of IDU-IE continues to rise nationally. Given the increased readmission for endocarditis, septicemia, and drug abuse, IDU-IE presents a serious challenge to current management of IE.

Recipient working status is independently associated with outcomes in heart and lung transplantation.

Employment status may capture elements of patients' physical strength, mental resilience, and socioeconomic status to better prognosticate transplant outcomes. This study characterized the effect of working status on thoracic transplant outcomes by evaluating the United Network for Organ Sharing registry for adult lung or heart transplants from 2005 to 2016. Kaplan-Meier estimates illustrated 5-year and 10-year survival by working status at transplant, while multivariable Cox proportional hazards regressions controlled for baseline differences, including functional and socioeconomic status. Of 17 778 lung transplant recipients, 1700 (9.6%) worked at transplant and experienced significantly lower 5-year mortality than nonworking recipients (38.6% vs 45.5%, P < 0.001). Of 21 394 heart transplant recipients, 1289 (6.0%) were employed and experienced significantly lower 10-year mortality than nonworking recipients (34.1% vs 40.2%, P < 0.001). Adjusted Cox regressions demonstrated that employment significantly reduced mortality independent of functional status for both lung (HR: 0.86 [0.78-0.95], P = 0.003) and heart (HR: 0.84 [0.72-0.97], P = 0.023) recipients. After accounting for insurance status, the effect of working status persisted only in lung transplantation (HR: 0.89 [0.81-0.98], P = 0.023). Since heart and lung transplant candidates employed at transplant face lower long-term mortality, working status must encompass a broad set of physical, psychological, and socioeconomic variables that may prognosticate post-transplant outcomes.

Preoperative Serum Albumin Levels Predict Treatment Cost in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin < 3.5 g/dL) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, costs associated with hypoalbuminemia remain unknown. This study investigated the effect of serum albumin on direct treatment costs, length of stay (LOS), and readmissions for primary and revision THA and TKA patients. METHODS: All adult patients at a single institution undergoing primary or revision THA or TKA between January 2014 and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were stratified by preoperative serum albumin level. The primary outcome was total direct costs at index hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included LOS and readmission within 30 days. Multivariable regressions were utilized to adjust for demographics and comorbidities. RESULTS: Of 3,785 patients, 114 (3.0%) had hypoalbuminemia. After adjustment, hypoalbuminemia was associated with a 16.2% increase in costs (ß = 0.162; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.112 to 0.213; p < 0.001), representing an average cost increase of $3,383 (95% CI, $2,281 to $4,485) relative to costs for serum albumin > 4.5 g/dL. The increased total costs were significantly higher in revision ($4,322, p = 0.034) than in primary ($3,446, p < 0.001) procedures. In adjusted regression, each 1.0 g/dL increase in serum albumin yielded a 6.6% reduction in costs (ß = -0.066; 95% CI, -0.090 to -0.042]; p < 0.001), for average savings of $1,282 (95% CI, $759 to $1,806) per unit albumin. Adjusted regressions demonstrated that a 1-point increase in serum albumin reduced readmissions by 53% (odds ratio, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.31-0.73; p = 0.001) and LOS by 0.6 days (ß = -0.60; 95% CI, -0.76 to -0.44; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hypoalbuminemia is associated with increased total direct costs, LOS, and readmissions following primary and revision THA and TKA. Future efforts to predict and address total costs should take into consideration the patient's preoperative serum albumin levels.

Do illness rating systems predict discharge location, length of stay, and cost after total hip arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: As procedure rates and expenditures for total hip arthroplasty (THA) rise, hospitals are developing models to predict discharge location, a major determinant of total cost. The predictive value of existing illness rating systems such as the American Society for Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Classification System, Severity of Illness (SOI) scoring system, or Mallampati (MP) rating scale on discharge location remains unclear. This study explored the predictive role of ASA, SOI, and MP scores on discharge location, lengths of stay, and total costs for THA patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing elective primary or revision THA was conducted at a single institution. Multivariable regressions were utilized to assess the significant predictive factors for lengths of stay, total costs, and discharge to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), rehabilitation centers, and home. Controls included demographic factors, insurance coverage, and the type of procedure. RESULTS: ASA scores ≥3 are the only significant predictors of discharge to SNFs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.69, confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-2.74) and home (OR = 0.57, CI = 0.34-0.98). Medicaid coverage (OR = 2.61, CI = 1.37-4.96) and African-American race (OR = 2.60, CI = 1.59-4.25) were additional significant predictors of discharge to SNF. SOI scores are the only significant predictors of length of stay (ß = 1.36 days, CI = 0.53-2.19) and total cost for an episode (ß = $6,234, CI = $3577-$8891). MP scores possess limited predictive power over lengths of stay only. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that although ASA classifications predict discharge location and SOI scores predict length of stay and total costs, other factors beyond illness rating systems remain stronger predictors of discharge for THA patients.