The Association of Established Primary Care with Postoperative Outcomes Among Medicare Patients with Digestive Tract Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Primary care (PC) is essential to overall wellness and management of comorbidities. In turn, patients without adequate access to PC may face healthcare disparities. We sought to characterize the impact of established PC on postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing a surgical procedure for a digestive tract cancer. METHODS: Medicare beneficiaries with a diagnosis of hepatobiliary, pancreas, and colorectal cancer between 2005 and 2019 were identified within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and Medicare-linked database. Individuals who did versus did not have PC encounters within 1-year before surgery were identified. A postoperative textbook outcome (TO) was defined as the absence of complications, no prolonged hospital stay, no readmission within 90 days, and no mortality. RESULTS: Among 63,177 patients, 50,974 (80.7%) had at least one established PC visit before surgery. Patients with established PC were more likely to achieve TO (odds ratio [OR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.19) with lower odds for complications (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.72-0.89), extended hospital stay (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.81-0.94), 90-day readmission (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.90-0.99), and 90-day mortality (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79-0.96). In addition, patients with established PC had a 4.1% decrease in index costs and a 5.2% decrease in 1-year costs. Notably, patients who had one to five visits with their PC in the year before surgery had improved odds of TO (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.16-1.27), whereas individuals with more than 10 visits had lower odds of a postoperative TO (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.98). CONCLUSION: Most Medicare beneficiaries with digestive tract cancer had established PC within the year before their surgery. Established PC was associated with a higher probability of achieving ideal outcomes and lower costs. In contrast, patients with more than 10 PC appointments, which was likely a surrogate of overall comorbidity burden, experienced no improvement in postoperative outcomes.

Poor Access to Mental Healthcare is Associated with Worse Postoperative Outcomes Among Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Mental health has an important role in the care of cancer patients, and access to mental health services may be associated with improved outcomes. Thus, poor access to psychiatric services may contribute to suboptimal cancer treatment. We conducted a geospatial analysis to characterize psychiatrist distribution and assess the impact of mental healthcare shortages with surgical outcomes among patients with gastrointestinal cancer. METHODS: Medicare beneficiaries with mental illness diagnosed with complex gastrointestinal cancers between 2004 and 2016 were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare registry. National Provider Identifier-registered psychiatrist locations were mapped and linked to SEER-Medicare records. Regional access to psychiatric services was assessed relative to textbook outcome, a composite assessment of postoperative complications, prolonged length of stay, 90-day readmission and mortality. RESULTS: Among 15,714 patients with mental illness and gastrointestinal cancer, 3937 were classified as having high access to psychiatric services while 3910 had low access. On multivariable logistic regression, areas with low access had higher risk of worse postoperative outcomes. Specifically, individuals residing in areas with low access had increased odds of prolonged length of stay (OR 1.11, 95%CI 1.01-1.22; p = 0.028) and 90-day readmission (OR 1.19, 95%CI 1.08-1.31; p < 0.001), as well as decreased odds of textbook outcome (OR 0.85, 95%CI 0.77-0.93; p < 0.001) and discharge to home (OR 0.89, 95%CI 0.80-0.99; p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Patients with mental illness and lower access to psychiatric services had worse postoperative outcomes. Policymakers and providers should prioritize incorporating mental health screening and access to psychiatric services to address disparities among patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.

The Role of Delirium on Short- and Long-Term Postoperative Outcomes Following Major Gastrointestinal Surgery for Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The growing burden of an aging population has raised concerns about demands on healthcare systems and resources, particularly in the context of surgical and cancer care. Delirium can affect treatment outcomes and patient recovery. We sought to determine the prevalence of postoperative delirium among patients undergoing digestive tract surgery for malignant indications and to analyze the role of delirium on surgical outcomes. METHODS: Medicare claims data were queried to identify patients diagnosed with esophageal, gastric, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers between 2018 and 2021. Postoperative delirium, occurring within 30 days of operation, was identified via International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition codes. Clinical outcomes of interested included "ideal" textbook outcome (TO), characterized as the absence of complications, an extended hospital stay, readmission within 90 days, or mortality within 90 days. Discharge disposition, intensive care unit (ICU) utilization, and expenditures also were examined. RESULTS: Among 115,654 cancer patients (esophageal: n = 1854, 1.6%; gastric: n = 4690, 4.1%; hepatobiliary: n = 6873, 5.9%; pancreatic: n = 8912, 7.7%; colorectal: n = 93,325, 90.7%), 2831 (2.4%) were diagnosed with delirium within 30 days after surgery. On multivariable analysis, patients with delirium were less likely to achieve TO (OR 0.27 [95% CI 0.25-0.30]). In particular, patients who experienced delirium had higher odds of complications (OR 3.00 [2.76-3.25]), prolonged length of stay (OR 3.46 [3.18-3.76]), 90-day readmission (OR 1.96 [1.81-2.12]), and 90-day mortality (OR 2.78 [2.51-3.08]). Furthermore, patients with delirium had higher ICU utilization (OR 2.85 [2.62-3.11]). Upon discharge, patients with delirium had a decreased likelihood of being sent home (OR 0.40 [0.36-0.46]) and instead were more likely to be transferred to a skilled nursing facility (OR 2.17 [1.94-2.44]). Due to increased utilization of hospital resources, patients with delirium incurred in-hospital expenditures that were 55.4% higher (no delirium: $16,284 vs. delirium: $28,742) and 90-day expenditures that were 100.7% higher (no delirium: $2564 vs. delirium: $8226) (both p < 0.001). Notably, 3-year postoperative survival was adversely affected by delirium (no delirium: 55.5% vs. delirium: 37.3%), even after adjusting risk for confounding factors (HR 1.79 [1.70-1.90]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative delirium occurred in one in 50 patients undergoing surgical resection of a digestive tract cancer. Delirium was linked to a reduced likelihood of achieving an optimal postoperative outcome, increased ICU utilization, higher expenditures, and a worse long-term prognosis. Initiatives to prevent delirium are vital to improve postoperative outcomes among cancer surgery patients.

Solid organ transplant patients do well after shoulder arthroplasty: a propensity matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are commonly prescribed immunosuppressive therapies which may predispose patients to higher infection and complication rates following total shoulder arthroplasty. This article aims to analyze the effects SOT and subsequent immunosuppressive regimens have on the functional and patient-reported outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasties. METHODS: A single institution, multisurgeon retrospective case-control study investigating the functional and patient-reported outcomes of shoulder arthroplasty after SOT was conducted between the years of 2010 and 2020. To be included in the study, patients must have undergone SOT prior to primary total shoulder arthroplasty. A 4:1 match-paired control group lacking SOT prior to arthroplasty was then constructed. Thirty-four SOT patients (18 males and 16 females) and 136 control patients (77 male and 59 female) were included in the study. Patients were analyzed who underwent SOT prior to shoulder arthroplasty, with outcomes compared to controls that only underwent arthroplasty. The primary outcomes include range of motion and strength in forward elevation, external rotation, and internal rotation, and patient reported outcomes. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in improvement for range of motion and strength between the 2 cohorts, but within each cohort, improvement was statistically significant. In the SOT patients, forward elevation improved by 56° ± 52°, external rotation increased by 13° ± 20°, and internal rotation increased by 2 vertebral levels. In the non-SOT patients, forward elevation improved by 45° ± 51°, external rotation increased by 16° ± 25°, and internal rotation increased by 3 vertebral levels. SOT patients had equivocal visual analog scale pain and Simple Shoulder Test scores but lower American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (59 ± 13 vs. 79 ± 2; P = .002) and SANE (61 ± 30 vs. 84 ± 17; P < .001) scores than non-SOT patients. Complication rates were not significantly higher in the SOT group (15% vs. 6%; P = .05), but incidence of surgical revisions was not significantly different (SOT = 3%; non-SOT = 5%; P = .59). CONCLUSION: Shoulder arthroplasty is a safe, effective surgical intervention for improving shoulder function in patients with a history of SOT. Despite being on chronic immunosuppressive regimens, our solid organ transplants had comparable clinical outcomes and revision rates, but higher complication rates.

The role of body mass index in survivorship and clinical outcomes in total shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Increased body mass index (BMI) is a potential risk factor for poorer outcomes and complications. However, the influence of BMI on the long-term outcomes of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) remains to be fully elucidated. METHODS: Institutional records were queried to identify patients who underwent primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) between 2009 and 2020 with a minimum of 2 years of clinical follow-up. Retrospective review was performed to collect demographic characteristics; comorbidity status; and range-of-motion and strength measurements in forward elevation, external rotation, and internal rotation. Patients were contacted by telephone to provide patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Patients were stratified into 3 cohorts by BMI: underweight or normal weight (U/NW, BMI ≤25 kg/m2), overweight (OW, BMI >25 to ≤30 kg/m2), and obese (BMI >30 kg/m2). RESULTS: Among 466 TSA patients, 245 underwent aTSA whereas 221 underwent rTSA. In the aTSA cohort, 40 patients were classified as U/NW; 72, as OW; and 133, as obese. Comparatively, the rTSA cohort was composed of 33 U/NW, 79 OW, and 209 obese patients. Patients in the aTSA and rTSA cohorts had an average follow-up period of 5.8 ± 3.2 years and 4.5 ± 2.3 years, respectively. No differences in age at surgery were found in the aTSA group (U/NW vs. obese, 65.2 ± 7.9 years vs. 61.9 ± 8.9 years; P = .133); however, in the rTSA cohort, BMI was found to be inversely related to age at surgery (U/NW vs. obese, 72.4 ± 8.8 years vs. 65.7 ± 8.3 years; P < .001). Across all BMI cohorts, patients saw great improvements in range of motion and strength. Postoperative PROs after TSA did not vary by BMI in terms of Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, Simple Shoulder Test, visual analog scale pain, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores. There was no significant difference in survival rates at 10-year follow-up in the aTSA cohort (U/NW vs. obese, 95.8% vs. 93.2%; P = .753) or rTSA cohort (U/NW vs. obese, 94.7% vs. 94.5%; P = .791). CONCLUSION: With dramatic improvements in range of motion, minimal differences in PROs, and high rates of implant survival, TSA is a safe and effective treatment option for all patients, including overweight and obese patients.

Comparison of tumor response and outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after multimodal treatment including immune checkpoint inhibitors - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and radiotherapy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been well-defined. We performed a meta-analysis to characterize tumor response and survival associated with multimodal treatment of HCC. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Medline, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched (1990-2022). Random-effect meta-analysis was conducted to compare efficacy of treatment modalities. Odds ratios (OR) and standardized mean difference (SMD) were reported. RESULTS: Thirty studies (4170 patients) met inclusion criteria. Triple therapy regimen (ICI + TKI + TACE) had the highest overall disease control rate (DCR) (87%, 95% CI 83-91), while ICI + radiotherapy had the highest objective response rate (ORR) (72%, 95% CI 54%-89%). Triple therapy had a higher DCR than ICI + TACE (OR 4.49, 95% CI 2.09-9.63), ICI + TKI (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.63-5.82), and TKI + TACE (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.61-5.20). Triple therapy demonstrated improved overall survival versus ICI + TKI (SMD 0.72, 95% CI 0.37-1.07) and TKI + TACE (SMD 1.13, 95% CI 0.70-1.48) (both p < 0.05). Triple therapy had a greater incidence of adverse events (AEs) compared with ICI + TKI (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.29-0.91; p = 0.02), but no difference in AEs versus ICI + TACE or TKI + TACE (both p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of ICIs, TKIs and TACE demonstrated superior tumor response and survival and should be considered for select patients with advanced HCC.

Suicidal Ideation Among Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Mental illness (MI) and suicidal ideation (SI) often are associated with a diagnosis of cancer. We sought to define the incidence of MI and SI among patients with gastrointestinal cancers, as well as ascertain the predictive factors associated with SI. METHODS: Patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2016 with stomach, liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer were identified from the SEER-Medicare database. County-level social vulnerability index (SVI) was extracted from the Centers for Disease Control database. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with SI. RESULTS: Among 382,266 patients, 83,514 (21.9%) individuals had a diagnosis of MI. Only 1410 (0.4%) individuals experienced SI, and 359 (0.1%) committed suicide. Interestingly, SI was least likely among patients with pancreatic cancer (ref: hepatic cancer; odds ratio [OR] 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-0.86; p = 0.002), as well as individuals with stage III/IV disease (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.52-067; p < 0.001). In contrast, male (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.19-1.50), White (OR 1.34, CI 1.13-1.59), and single (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.81-2.28) patients were at higher odds of SI risk (all p < 0.001). Furthermore, individuals living in relative privilege (low SVI) had markedly higher risk of SI (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.14-1.54; p < 0.001). Moreover, living in a county with a shortage of mental health professionals was associated with increased odds of developing SI (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.40; p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Oncology care teams should incorporate routine mental health and SI screening in the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal cancers, as well as target suicide prevention towards patients at highest risk.

The impact of recurrence timing and tumor burden score on overall survival among patients undergoing repeat hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 15% of patients experience a resectable intrahepatic recurrence after an index curative-intent hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). We sought to investigate the impact of recurrence timing and tumor burden score (TBS) at the time of recurrence on overall survival among patients undergoing repeat hepatectomy. METHODS: Patients with CRLM who experienced recurrent intrahepatic disease after initial hepatectomy between 2000 and 2020 were identified from an international multi-institutional database. The impact of time-TBS, defined as TBS divided by the time interval of recurrence, was assessed relative to overall survival. RESULTS: Among 220 patients, the median age was 60.9 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 53.0-69.0), and 144 (65.5%) patients were male. Most patients experienced multiple recurrences (n = 120, 54.5%) within 12 months after the initial hepatectomy (n = 139, 63.2%). The median tumor size of the recurrent CRLM was 2.2 cm (IQR: 1.5-3.0 cm) with a median TBS of 3.5 (2.3-4.9) at the time of recurrence. Overall, 121 (55.0%) patients underwent repeat hepatectomy, whereas 99 (45.0%) individuals were treated with systemic chemotherapy or other nonsurgical treatments; repeat hepatectomy was associated with better postrecurrence survival (PRS) (p < 0.001). Three-year PRS incrementally worsened (low time-TBS: 71.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 57.9-88.8 vs. medium: 63.6%, 95% CI, 47.7-84.8 vs. high: 49.2%, 95% CI, 31.1-77.7, p = 0.02) as time-TBS values increased. Each unit increase in time-TBS score was independently associated with a 41% higher possibility of death (hazard ratio: 1.41; 95% CI, 1.04-1.90, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Time-TBS was associated with long-term outcomes after repeat hepatectomy for recurrent CRLM. Time-TBS may be an easy tool to help select patients who may benefit the most from repeat hepatic resection of recurrent CRLM.

Prodromal depression and anxiety are associated with worse treatment compliance and survival among patients with pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of depression or anxiety preceding a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (PC). Further, to examine the association of PC-associated depression or anxiety with treatment compliance and survival. METHODS: 856 patients with PC from a single institution were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. For each case, two non-cancer age- and sex-matched controls were included. Dates of depression or anxiety diagnosis identified using ICD codes were compared to the date of PC diagnosis. The medical record was queried to further explore psychiatric symptoms. Multivariable analyses were performed to examine if prediagnosis depression or anxiety was associated with receipt of treatment or survival. RESULTS: A greater proportion of patients with PC experienced depression or anxiety in the year preceding diagnosis than the overall frequency in controls (4.6% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.005) based on ICD codes. Patients with PC exhibited signs of prodromal depression or anxiety based on ICD codes, clinical documentation of psychiatric symptoms, or initiation of new psychiatric medications more often than controls (20.7% vs. 6.7%, p < 0.001). Prediagnosis depression or anxiety was associated with a reduced likelihood of receiving chemotherapy (OR = 0.58, p = 0.04). There was an associated decrease in overall survival among patients with metastatic disease who experienced depression or anxiety before PC diagnosis (HR = 1.32, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of depression or anxiety among patients with PC was higher than the general population. Prediagnosis psychiatric symptoms were associated with reduced chemotherapy utilization and worse overall survival. Thus, timely identification and treatment of these symptoms may improve outcomes.

Functionality, complications, and survivorship of total shoulder arthroplasty in patients under 60 years old.

Background: As total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) expands to younger patients, it is crucial to weigh the benefits of early intervention against potential complications and implant longevity in patients under 60 years of age. This study examines mid-term outcomes in this patient subset. Methods: Between 2009 and 2019, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 50 patients (25 male, 25 female) who underwent anatomic TSA (TSA) under the age of 60 with minimum 5 years follow-up. Demographic and baseline variables were extracted from medical records. Pre-operative and post-operative outcomes of range of motion (ROM) and strength were recorded. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were obtained. Results: Fifty patients were followed for an average of 8.7 ± 2.4 years, having a mean age of 54.1 ± 8.4 years. Comparison of pre-operative and post-operative measurements revealed significant improvements in active ROM, including external rotation (ER) (p < 0.0001), forward elevation (FE) (p < 0.0001), and internal rotation (IR) (p = 0.0001). There were significant improvements in functional strength scores, including ER (p = 0.0005) and FE (p = 0.0002). PROs included visual analog scale (VAS) (2.2 ± 2.6), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) (80.3 ± 17.6), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score (76.4 ± 22.8), and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) (8.9 ± 3.2). The 5-year and 10-year implant survival rates were found to be 98.0 % and 83.3 %, respectively. There were 7 postoperative complications in 5 patients (14.0 %), including glenoid loosening (n = 2), infection (n = 1), atraumatic instability (n = 1), lesser tuberosity avulsion (n = 1), painful arthroplasty (n = 1) and traumatic rotator cuff insufficiency (n = 1). Subsequently, all 5 patients underwent revision shoulder arthroplasty at an average of 6.5 years after the initial procedure. Conclusion: Positive mid to long-term outcomes, including significant improvements in ROM and strength, along with high 5-year and 10-year implant survival rates support TSA as an effective treatment option for patients under the age of 60.

Functional outcomes and survivorship following aseptic revision shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Revision shoulder arthroplasty (SA) is a surgical procedure performed to address complications or failures of primary total SA. However, limited evidence exists regarding the functional outcomes and longevity of implants following revision. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent revision SA for failed primary arthroplasty at a single institution between 2009 and 2021 with a minimum of 2-years follow-up. Data was collected from medical records, including type of arthroplasty (anatomic total SA [TSA], reverse total SA [RSA], or hemi-SA [HSA]), demographics and patient-specific information, functional measurements, and implant survival. Patient reported outcomes were obtained during follow-up by phone. Results: The mean age at index and revision surgeries was 60.5 ± 12.1 years and 64.8 ± 11.1 years, respectively, and average total follow-up was 5.5 ± 3.5 years. The average time to revision was 4.5 ± 5.2 years (range 0.01-24.5 years). Among 99 revision shoulder arthroplasty procedures, 28 were TSA/HA to TSA/HA, 51 were TSA/HA to RSA, 18 were RSA to RSA, and 2 were RSA to HA. Revision surgery significantly improved functional outcomes in forward elevation (preoperative: 79.8 ± 41.0 vs postoperative: 118.5 ± 38.3; p < 0.001), external rotation (preoperative: 27.8 ± 19.3 vs postoperative: 34.3 ± 16.2; p = 0.028), internal rotation (preoperative: glute vs postoperative: S1; p = 0.002), and forward elevation strength (preoperative: 4+/5 vs postoperative: 5/5; p = 0.002). Postoperative patient reported outcomes included: VAS pain (2.2 ± 2.9), SANE (72.6 ± 21.5), ASES (73.3 ± 20.4), and SST (7.7 ± 2.8) scores. The overall 2-, 5-, and 10-year post-revision implant survival rate was 85.48%, 83.06%, and 79.84%, respectively. Patients who had an initial RSA and were revised to RSA were at higher risk of implant failure and subsequent re-revision (RSA to RSA: 1.5 ± 2.5 years vs. TSA/HA to RSA: 2.5 ± 2.1 years vs. TSA/HA to TSA/HA: 4.0 ± 3.5 years; p = 0.0046). Conclusion: Revision shoulder arthroplasty improved patient outcomes post-index arthroplasty failure. Revisions were more likely to be successful when revising from TSA/HA to RSA. Level of evidence: Level III - retrospective comparative study.

Effect of Behavioral Health Disorders on Surgical Outcomes in Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral health disorders (BHDs) can often be exacerbated in the setting of cancer. We sought to define the prevalence of BHD among cancer patients and characterize the association of BHD with surgical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Patients diagnosed with lung, esophageal, gastric, liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer between 2018 and 2021 were identified within Medicare Standard Analytic Files. Data on BHD defined as substance abuse, eating disorder, or sleep disorder were obtained. Postoperative textbook outcomes (ie no complications, prolonged length of stay, 90-day readmission, or 90-day mortality), as well as in-hospital expenditures and overall survival were assessed. RESULTS: Among 694,836 cancer patients, 46,719 (6.7%) patients had at least 1 BHD. Patients with BHD were less likely to undergo resection (no BHD: 23.4% vs BHD: 20.3%; p < 0.001). Among surgical patients, individuals with BHD had higher odds of a complication (odds ratio [OR] 1.32 [1.26 to 1.39]), prolonged length of stay (OR 1.36 [1.29 to 1.43]), and 90-day readmission (OR 1.57 [1.50 to 1.65]) independent of social vulnerability or hospital-volume status resulting in lower odds to achieve a TO (OR 0.66 [0.63 to 0.69]). Surgical patients with BHD also had higher in-hospital expenditures (no BHD: $16,159 vs BHD: $17,432; p < 0.001). Of note, patients with BHD had worse long-term postoperative survival (median, no BHD: 46.6 [45.9 to 46.7] vs BHD: 37.1 [35.6 to 38.7] months) even after controlling for other clinical factors (hazard ratio 1.26 [1.22 to 1.31], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: BHD was associated with lower likelihood to achieve a postoperative textbook outcome, higher expenditures, as well as worse prognosis. Initiatives to target BHD are needed to improve outcomes of cancer patients undergoing surgery.