Excess prevalence of preexisting chronic conditions in older adults with incident epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: Prior studies have examined chronic conditions in older adults with prevalent epilepsy, but rarely among those with incident epilepsy. Identifying the chronic conditions with which older adults present at epilepsy incidence assists with the evaluation of disease burden in this patient population and informs coordinated care development. The aim of this study was to identify preexisting chronic conditions with excess prevalence in older adults with incident epilepsy compared to those without. METHODS: Using a random sample of 4 999 999 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged >65 years, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of epilepsy incidence in 2019. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic beneficiaries were oversampled. We identified preexisting chronic conditions from the 2016-2018 Medicare Beneficiary Summary Files and compared chronic condition prevalence between Medicare beneficiaries with and without incident epilepsy in 2019. We characterized variations in preexisting excess chronic condition prevalence by age, sex, and race/ethnicity, adjusting for the racial/ethnic oversampling. RESULTS: We observed excess prevalence of most preexisting chronic conditions in beneficiaries with incident epilepsy (n = 20 545, weighted n = 19 631). For stroke, for example, the adjusted prevalence rate ratio (APRR) was 4.82 (99% CI:4.60, 5.04), meaning that, compared to those without epilepsy, beneficiaries with incident epilepsy in 2019 had 4.82 times the stroke prevalence. Similarly, beneficiaries with incident epilepsy had a higher prevalence rate for preexisting neurological conditions (APRR = 3.17, 99% CI = 3.08-3.27), substance use disorders (APRR = 3.00, 99% CI = 2.81-3.19), and psychiatric disorders (APRR = 1.98, 99% CI = 1.94-2.01). For most documented chronic conditions, excess prevalence among beneficiaries with incident epilepsy in 2019 was larger for younger age groups compared to older age groups, and for Hispanic beneficiaries compared to both non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black beneficiaries. SIGNIFICANCE: Compared to epilepsy-free Medicare beneficiaries, those with incident epilepsy in 2019 had a higher prevalence of most preexisting chronic conditions. Our findings highlight the importance of health promotion and prevention, multidisciplinary care, and elucidating shared pathophysiology to identify opportunities for prevention.

Patterns of Diagnostic Evaluation and Determinants of Treatment in Older Patients With Non-transfusion Dependent Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Older patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly those with no or one cytopenia and no transfusion dependence, typically have an indolent course. Approximately, half of these receive the recommended diagnostic evaluation (DE) for MDS. We explored factors determining DE in these patients and its impact on subsequent treatment and outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used 2011-2014 Medicare data to identify patients ≥66 years of age diagnosed with MDS. We used Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis to identify combinations of factors associated with DE and its impact on subsequent treatment. Variables examined included demographics, comorbidities, nursing home status, and investigative procedures performed. We conducted a logistic regression analysis to identify correlates associated with receipt of DE and treatment. RESULTS: Of 16 851 patients with MDS, 51% underwent DE. patients with MDS with no cytopenia (n = 3908) had the lowest uptake of DE (34.7%). Compared to patients with no cytopenia, those with any cytopenia had nearly 3 times higher odds of receiving DE [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 2.81: 95% CI, 2.60-3.04] and the odds were higher for men than for women [AOR, 1.39: 95%CI, 1.30-1.48] and for Non-Hispanic Whites [vs. everyone else (AOR, 1.17: 95% CI, 1.06-1.29)]. The CART showed DE as the principal discriminating node, followed by the presence of any cytopenia for receiving MDS treatment. The lowest percentage of treatment was observed in patients without DE, at 14.6%. CONCLUSION: In this select older patients with MDS, we identified disparities in accurate diagnosis by demographic and clinical factors. Receipt of DE influenced subsequent treatment but not survival.

Excess cancer prevalence in men with HIV: A nationwide analysis of Medicaid data.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is one of the most common comorbidities in men living with HIV (MLWH). However, little is known about the MLWH subgroups with the highest cancer burden to which cancer prevention efforts should be targeted. Because Medicaid is the most important source of insurance for MLWH, we evaluated the excess cancer prevalence in MLWH on Medicaid relative to their non-HIV counterparts. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study using 2012 Medicaid Analytic eXtract data nationwide, we flagged the presence of HIV, 13 types of cancer, symptomatic HIV, and viral coinfections using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. The study population included individuals administratively noted to be of male sex (men), aged 18 to 64 years, with (n = 82,495) or without (n = 7,302,523) HIV. We developed log-binomial models with cancer as the outcome stratified by symptomatic status, age, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Cancer prevalence was higher in MLWH than in men without HIV (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR], 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78-1.90) and was higher among those with symptomatic HIV (APR, 2.74; 95% CI, 2.52-2.97) than among those with asymptomatic HIV (APR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.67-1.79). The highest APRs were observed for anal cancer in younger men, both in the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups: APR, 312.97; 95% CI, 210.27-465.84, and APR, 482.26; 95% CI, 390.67-595.32, respectively. In race/ethnicity strata, the highest APRs were among Hispanic men for anal cancer (APR, 198.53; 95% CI, 144.54-272.68) and for lymphoma (APR, 9.10; 95% CI, 7.80-10.63). CONCLUSIONS: Given the Medicaid program's role in insuring MLWH, the current findings highlight the importance of the program's efforts to promote healthy behaviors and vaccination against human papillomavirus in all children and adolescents and to provide individualized cancer screening for MLWH.

High-risk diagnosis combinations in patients undergoing interhospital transfer: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited research on individual patient characteristics, alone or in combination, that contribute to the higher levels of mortality in post-transfer patients. The purpose of this work is to identify significant combinations of diagnoses that identify subgroups of post-interhospital transfer patients experiencing the highest levels of mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study using structured electronic health record data from a regional health system between 2010-2017. We employed a machine learning approach, association rules mining using the Apriori algorithm to identify diagnosis combinations. The study population includes all patients aged 21 and older that were transferred within our health system from a community hospital to one of three main receiving hospitals. RESULTS: Overall, 8893 patients were included in the analysis. Patients experiencing mortality post-transfer were on average older (70.5 vs 62.6 years) and on average had more diagnoses in 5 of the 6 diagnostic subcategories. Within the diagnostic subcategories, most diagnoses were comorbidities and active medical problems, with hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and acute respiratory failure being the most common. Several combinations of diagnoses identified patients that exceeded 50% post-interhospital transfer mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbid burden, in combination with active medical problems, were most predictive for those experiencing the highest rates of mortality. Further improving patient level prognostication can facilitate informed decision making between providers and patients to shift the paradigm from transferring all patients to higher level care to only transferring those who will benefit or desire continued care, and reduce futile transfers.

Impact of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Limitations on Hospital Readmission: an Observational Study Using Machine Learning.

BACKGROUND: Limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) hinder a person's ability to live independently in the community and self-manage their conditions, but its impact on hospital readmission has not been firmly established. OBJECTIVE: To test the importance of IADL dependency as a predictor of 30-day readmissions and quantify its impact relative to other morbidities. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of the population-based Health and Retirement Study linked to Medicare claims data. Random forest was used to rank each predictor variable in terms of its ability to predict readmission. Classification and regression tree (CART) was used to identify complex multimorbidity combinations associated with high or low risk of readmission. Generalized linear regression was used to estimate the adjusted relative risk of readmission for IADL limitations. SUBJECTS: Hospitalizations of adults age 65 and older (n = 20,007), from 6617 unique subjects. MAIN MEASURES: The main outcome was 30-day all-cause unplanned readmission. The main predictor of interest was self-reported IADL limitation. Other key predictors were self-reported complex multimorbidity including chronic diseases, geriatric syndromes, and activities of daily living (ADL) limitations, along with demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors. KEY RESULTS: The overall 30-day readmission rate in the study was 16.4%. Random forest analysis ranked ADLs and IADL limitations as the two most important predictors of 30-day readmission. CART identified hospitalizations of patients with IADL limitations and diabetes as a subgroup at the highest risk of readmission (26% readmitted). Multivariable regression analyses showed that ADL limitations were associated with 1.17 (1.06-1.29) times higher risk of readmission even after adjusting for other patient covariates. Risk prediction was modest though for even the best model (AUC = 0.612). CONCLUSIONS: IADL limitations are key predictors of 30-day readmission as demonstrated using several machine learning methods. Routine assessment of functional abilities in hospital settings could help identify those most at risk.

Changes in Case-Mix and Health Outcomes of Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries and Managed Care Enrollees During the Years 1992-2011.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that managed care enrollees (MCEs) and fee-for-service beneficiaries (FFSBs) have become similar in case-mix over time; but comparisons of health outcomes have yielded mixed results. OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in differentials between MCEs and FFSBs both in case-mix and health outcomes over time. DESIGN: Temporal study of the linked Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Medicare data, comparing case-mix and health outcomes between MCEs and FFSBs across 3 time periods: 1992-1998, 1999-2004, and 2005-2011. We used multivariable analysis, stratified by, and pooled across the study periods. The unit of analysis was the person-wave (n=167,204). SUBJECTS: HRS participants who were also enrolled in Medicare. MEASURES: Outcome measures included self-reported fair/poor health, 2-year self-rated worse health, and 2-year mortality. Our main covariate was a composite measure of multimorbidity (MM), MM0-MM3, defined as the co-occurrence of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and/or geriatric syndromes. RESULTS: The case-mix differential between MCEs and FFSBs persisted over time. Results from multivariable models on the pooled data and incorporating interaction terms between managed care status and study period indicated that MCEs and FFSBs were as likely to die within 2 years from the HRS interview (P=0.073). This likelihood remained unchanged across the study periods. However, MCEs were more likely than FFSBs to report fair/poor health in the third study period (change in probability for the interaction term: 0.024, P=0.008), but less likely to rate their health worse in the last 2 years, albeit at borderline significance (change in probability: -0.021, P=0.059). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the persistence of selection bias, the differential in self-reported fair/poor status between MCEs and FFSBs seems to be closing over time.

Predictors of 30-day readmissions after gastrectomy for malignancy.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to identify risk factors associated with readmission after gastrectomy to potentially identify potential areas for targeted improvements. Hospital readmission after surgery is a topic of interest in health-care policy among hospitals, payers, and providers. Readmissions are associated with increased costs, morbidity, and mortality. Readmission rates have been proposed as a quality metric for hospitals and quality indicator of individual surgeon's performance. In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has reduced payments to hospitals with excessive readmissions for certain diagnoses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All gastrectomy procedures for malignancy in patients aged ≥18 y from 2005 to 2011 were queried from the California State Inpatient Database. Patients who died during index admission were excluded. Descriptive statistics were examined between all baseline variables and readmission status. Logistic regression models were adjusted for age, race, sex, and insurance status. RESULTS: A total of 6985 patients underwent gastrectomy for malignancy; 16.5% of the patients were readmitted after postoperative discharge. Readmission rate did not change significantly over time. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that the occurrence of any postoperative complications, postoperative length of stay greater than 10 d, discharge to skilled nursing facility or home health care, combined resection with distal pancreatectomy and/or splenectomy, and patient comorbidities like diabetes mellitus and renal failure were independently associated with readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that focusing on quality improvement efforts by targeting reduction of postoperative complications may reduce readmission rates.

Psychiatric disease in surgically treated colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Underlying psychiatric conditions may affect outcomes of surgical treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) because of complex clinical presentation and treatment considerations. We hypothesized that patients with psychiatric illness (PSYCH) would have evidence of advanced disease at presentation, as manifested by higher rates of colorectal surgery performed in the presence of obstruction, perforation, and/or peritonitis (OPP-surgery). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using data from the 2007-2011 National Inpatient Sample, we identified patients with a diagnosis of CRC undergoing colorectal surgery. In addition to somatic comorbid conditions flagged in the National Inpatient Sample, we used the Clinical Classification Software to identify patients with PSYCH, including schizophrenia, delirium/dementia, developmental disorders, alcohol/substance abuse, and other psychiatric conditions. Our study outcome was OPP-surgery. In addition to descriptive analysis, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to analyze the independent association between each of the PSYCH conditions and OPP-surgery, after adjusting for patient demographics and somatic comorbidities. RESULTS: Our study population included 591,561 patients with CRC and undergoing colorectal cancer surgery, of whom 60.6% were aged 65 years or older, 49.4% were women, and 6.3% had five or more comorbid conditions. Then, 17.9% presented with PSYCH. The percent of patients undergoing OPP-surgery was 13.9% in the study population but was significantly higher for patients with schizophrenia (19.3%), delirium and dementia (18.5%), developmental disorders (19.7%), and alcohol/substance abuse (19.5%). In multivariable analysis, schizophrenia, delirium/dementia, and alcohol/substance abuse were each independently associated with increased rates of OPP-surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PSYCH may have obstacles in receiving optimal care for CRC. Those with PSYCH diagnoses had significantly higher rates of OPP-surgery. Additional evaluation is required to further characterize the clinical implications of advanced disease presentation for patients with PSYCH diagnoses and colorectal cancer.

Older Adults Undergoing Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: Chronicling Changes in Their Multimorbidity Profile in the Last Two Decades.

BACKGROUND: Despite the ubiquitous use of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in older adults, little is known about the multimorbidity (MM) profile of this patient population. This study evaluates the temporal trends of MM, hypothesizing that patients with MM have had an increasingly greater representation in THA and TKA patients over time. METHODS: Data on a US representative sample of older adults from the linked Health and Retirement Study and Medicare data from 1993 to 2012 were used. The Health and Retirement Study is a biennial survey that collects data on a broad array of measures, including self-reported chronic conditions and geriatric syndromes, which were used to account for MM. Medicare data were used to identify fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who underwent THA (n = 479) or TKA (n = 998) during the study years, which were grouped into 3 periods: 1993-1999, 2000-2006, and 2007-2012. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to obtain age-, gender-, and race-adjusted time trends for MM. RESULTS: Compared to the earliest study period, and for both THA and TKA patients, there were significantly fewer patients with stroke and/or poor cognitive performance in the most recent study period. In addition, more TKA than THA patients presented with 2+ chronic conditions. Nearly 70% presented with co-occurring chronic conditions and geriatric syndromes, and this percentage did not change significantly over time. CONCLUSION: The high representation of THA and TKA patients presenting with co-occurring chronic conditions and geriatric syndromes in this patient population warrants detailed exploration of the effects of geriatric syndromes on postoperative outcomes.

Cost-effectiveness of MR Imaging-guided Strategies for Detection of Prostate Cancer in Biopsy-Naive Men.

Purpose To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of multiparametric diagnostic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examination followed by MR imaging-guided biopsy strategies in the detection of prostate cancer in biopsy-naive men presenting with clinical suspicion of cancer for the first time. Materials and Methods A decision-analysis model was created for biopsy-naive men who had been recommended for prostate biopsy on the basis of abnormal digital rectal examination results or elevated prostate-specific antigen levels (age groups: 41-50 years, 51-60 years, and 61-70 years). The following three major strategies were evaluated: (a) standard transrectal ultrasonography (US)-guided biopsy; (b) diagnostic MR imaging followed by MR imaging-targeted biopsy, with no biopsy performed if MR imaging findings were negative; and (c) diagnostic MR imaging followed by MR imaging-targeted biopsy, with a standard biopsy performed when MR imaging findings were negative. The following three MR imaging-guided biopsy strategies were further evaluated in each MR imaging category: (a) biopsy with cognitive guidance, (b) biopsy with MR imaging/US fusion guidance, and (c) in-gantry MR imaging-guided biopsy. Model parameters were derived from the literature. The primary outcome measure was net health benefit (NHB), which was measured as quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained or lost by investing resources in a new strategy compared with a standard strategy at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $50 000 per QALY gained. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed by using Monte Carlo simulations. Results Noncontrast MR imaging followed by cognitively guided MR biopsy (no standard biopsy if MR imaging findings were negative) was the most cost-effective approach, yielding an additional NHB of 0.198 QALY compared with the standard biopsy approach. Noncontrast MR imaging followed by in-gantry MR imaging-guided biopsy (no standard biopsy if MR imaging findings were negative) led to the highest NHB gain of 0.251 additional QALY compared with the standard biopsy strategy. All MR imaging strategies were cost-effective in 94.05% of Monte Carlo simulations. Analysis by age groups yielded similar results. Conclusion MR imaging-guided strategies for the detection of prostate cancer were cost-effective compared with the standard biopsy strategy in a decision-analysis model. © RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Identifying Specific Combinations of Multimorbidity that Contribute to Health Care Resource Utilization: An Analytic Approach.

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity affects the majority of elderly adults and is associated with higher health costs and utilization, but how specific patterns of morbidity influence resource use is less understood. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to identify specific combinations of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes associated with direct medical costs and inpatient utilization. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using the Health and Retirement Study (2008-2010) linked to Medicare claims. Analysis used machine-learning techniques: classification and regression trees and random forest. SUBJECTS: A population-based sample of 5771 Medicare-enrolled adults aged 65 and older in the United States. MEASURES: Main covariates: self-reported chronic conditions (measured as none, mild, or severe), geriatric syndromes, and functional limitations. Secondary covariates: demographic, social, economic, behavioral, and health status measures. OUTCOMES: Medicare expenditures in the top quartile and inpatient utilization. RESULTS: Median annual expenditures were $4354, and 41% were hospitalized within 2 years. The tree model shows some notable combinations: 64% of those with self-rated poor health plus activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living disabilities had expenditures in the top quartile. Inpatient utilization was highest (70%) in those aged 77-83 with mild to severe heart disease plus mild to severe diabetes. Functional limitations were more important than many chronic diseases in explaining resource use. CONCLUSIONS: The multimorbid population is heterogeneous and there is considerable variation in how specific combinations of morbidity influence resource use. Modeling the conjoint effects of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes can advance understanding of groups at greatest risk and inform targeted tailored interventions aimed at cost containment.

Racial Disparities in Above-knee Amputations After TKA: A National Database Study.

BACKGROUND: Above-knee amputation (AKA) is a rare but devastating complication of TKA. Although racial disparities have been previously reported in the utilization of TKA, it is unclear whether disparities exist in the rates of AKA after TKA. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Which gender-racial group has the highest rate of AKA from septic and aseptic complications of TKA? (2) Which age groups have higher rates of AKA from septic and aseptic complications of TKA? METHODS: Using National Inpatient Sample data from 2000 to 2011, AKAs resulting from complications of TKA were identified using a combination of International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision procedure and diagnosis codes. Of the 341,954 AKAs identified, 9733 AKAs were the result of complications of TKA (septic complications = 8104, aseptic complications = 1629). Standardized AKA rates were calculated for different age and gender- racial groups by dividing the number of AKAs in each group with the corresponding number of TKAs. Standardized rate ratios were calculated after adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. RESULTS: After adjusting for age and comorbidities, black men had the highest rate of AKA after TKA (adjusted rate in black men = 578 AKAs per 100,000 TKAs, standardized rate ratio [SRR] = 4.32 [confidence interval {CI}, 3.87-4.82], p < 0.001). Black men also had the highest rate of AKA after septic complications of TKA (p < 0.001). The adjusted rates of AKA were higher in patients younger than 50 years (adjusted rate = 473, SRR = 3.14 [CI, 2.94-3.36], p < 0.001) and older than 80 years (adjusted rate = 297, SRR = 1.85 [CI, 1.76-1.95], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The rising demand for TKA has led to an increase in the number of AKAs performed for complications of TKA in the United States. Although we did not find an increase in the rate of AKA during the study period, certain populations, including black men and patients older than 80 years and younger than 50 years, had higher rates of AKA. Further studies are required to understand the reasons for these disparities and measures should be undertaken to eliminate these disparities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

The Impact of Solid Organ Transplant History on Inpatient Complications, Mortality, Length of Stay, and Cost for Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Admissions in the United States.

BACKGROUND: As the prevalence of and life expectancy after solid organ transplantation increases, some of these patients will require total hip arthroplasty (THA). Immunosuppressive therapy, metabolic disorders, and post-transplant medications may place transplant patients at higher risk of adverse events following surgery. The objective of this study was to compare inpatient complications, mortality, length of stay (LOS), and costs for THA patients with and without solid organ transplant history. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using 1998-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Primary THA patients were queried (n = 3,175,456). After exclusions, remaining patients were assigned to transplant (n = 7558) or non-transplant groups (n = 2,772,943). After propensity score matching, adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics, logistic regression and paired t-tests examined the effect of transplant history on outcomes. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2011, THA volume among transplant patients grew approximately 48%. The overall prevalence of one or more complications following THA was greater in the transplant group than in the non-transplant group (32.0% vs 22.1%; P < .001). In-hospital mortality was minimal, with comparable rates (0.1%) in both groups (P = .93). Unadjusted trends show that transplant patients have greater annual and overall mean LOS (4.47 days) and mean admission costs ($18,402) than non-transplant patients (3.73 days; $16,899; P < .001). After propensity score matching, transplant history was associated with increased complication risk (odds ratio, 1.56) after THA, longer hospital LOS (+0.64 days; P < .001), and increased admission costs (+$887; P = .005). CONCLUSION: Transplant patients exhibited increased odds of inpatient complications, longer LOS, and greater admission costs after THA compared with non-transplant patients.

Combinations of Chronic Conditions, Functional Limitations, and Geriatric Syndromes that Predict Health Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The strategic framework on multiple chronic conditions released by the US Department of Health and Human Services calls for identifying homogeneous subgroups of older adults to effectively target interventions aimed at improving their health. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify combinations of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes that predict poor health outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Data from the 2010-2012 Health and Retirement Study provided a representative sample of U.S. adults 50 years of age or older (n = 16,640). MAIN MEASURES: Outcomes were: Self-reported fair/poor health, self-rated worse health at 2 years, and 2-year mortality. The main independent variables included self-reported chronic conditions, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes. We conducted tree-based classification and regression analysis to identify the most salient combinations of variables to predict outcomes. KEY RESULTS: Twenty-nine percent and 23 % of respondents reported fair/poor health and self-rated worse health at 2 years, respectively, and 5 % died in 2 years. The top combinations of conditions identified through our tree analysis for the three different outcome measures (and percent respondents with the outcome) were: a) for fair/poor health status: difficulty walking several blocks, depressive symptoms, and severe pain (> 80 %); b) for self-rated worse health at 2 years: 68.5 years of age or older, difficulty walking several blocks and being in fair/poor health (60 %); and c) for 2-year mortality: 80.5 years of age or older, and presenting with limitations in both ADLs and IADLs (> 40 %). CONCLUSIONS: Rather than chronic conditions, functional limitations and/or geriatric syndromes were the most prominent conditions in predicting health outcomes. These findings imply that accounting for chronic conditions alone may be less informative than also accounting for the co-occurrence of functional limitations and geriatric syndromes, as the latter conditions appear to drive health outcomes in older individuals.

Long-term reduction of health care costs and utilization after epilepsy surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess long-term direct medical costs, health care utilization, and mortality following resective surgery in persons with uncontrolled epilepsy. METHODS: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study of Medicaid beneficiaries with epilepsy from 2000 to 2008. The study population included 7,835 persons with uncontrolled focal epilepsy ages 18-64 years, with an average follow-up time of 5 years. Of these, 135 received surgery during the study period. To account for selection bias, we used risk-set optimal pairwise matching on a time-varying propensity score, and inverse probability of treatment weighting. Repeated measures generalized linear models were used to model utilization and cost outcomes. Cox proportional hazard was used to model survival. RESULTS: The mean direct medical cost difference between the surgical group and control group was $6,806 after risk-set matching. The incidence rate ratio of inpatient, emergency room, and outpatient utilization was lower among the surgical group in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. There was no significant difference in mortality after adjustment. Among surgical cases, mean annual costs per subject were on average $6,484 lower, and all utilization measures were lower after surgery compared to before. SIGNIFICANCE: Subjects that underwent epilepsy surgery had lower direct medical care costs and health care utilization. These findings support that epilepsy surgery yields substantial health care cost savings.

Functional status in older women diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse.

BACKGROUND: Functional status plays an important role in the comprehensive characterization of older adults. Functional limitations are associated with an increased risk of adverse treatment outcomes, but there are limited data on the prevalence of functional limitations in older women with pelvic floor disorders. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence of functional limitations based on health status in older women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). STUDY DESIGN: This pooled, cross-sectional study utilized data from the linked Health and Retirement Study and Medicare files from 1992 through 2008. The analysis included 890 women age ≥65 years with POP. We assessed self-reported functional status, categorized in strength, upper and lower body mobility, activities of daily living (ADL), and instrumental ADL (IADL) domains. Functional limitations were evaluated and stratified by respondents self-reported general health status. Descriptive statistics were used to compare categorical and continuous variables, and logistic regression was used to measure differences in the odds of functional limitation by increasing age. RESULTS: The prevalence of functional limitations was 76.2% in strength, 44.9% in upper and 65.8% in lower body mobility, 4.5% in ADL, and 13.6% in IADL. Limitations were more prevalent in women with poor or fair health status than in women with good health status, including 91.5% vs 69.9% in strength, 72.9% vs 33.5% in upper and 88.0% vs 56.8% in lower body mobility, 11.6% vs 0.9% in ADL, and 30.6% vs 6.7% in IADL; all P < .01. The odds of all functional limitations also increased significantly with advancing age. CONCLUSION: Functional limitations, especially in strength and body mobility domains, are highly prevalent in older women with POP, particularly in those with poor or fair self-reported health status. Future research is necessary to evaluate if functional status affects clinical outcomes in pelvic reconstructive and gynecologic surgery and whether it should be routinely assessed in clinical decision-making when treating older women with POP.

Risk Factors and Outcomes of Patients Requiring a Permanent Pacemaker After Aortic Valve Replacement in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: The need for permanent pacemaker implantation (PCM) following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is uncommon but can lead to increased hospital resource utilization. Using nationwide data, we sought to (1) identify hospital, patient, and procedure-level risk factors for PCM after SAVR and (2) determine incremental resource utilization. METHODS: We identified 659,692 patients from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database who underwent SAVR with or without coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), mitral valvuloplasty (MVr), or mitral valve replacement (MVR) between 1998 and 2009. Patients with pre-existing pacemakers, a concomitant Maze procedure, or endocarditis were excluded. Multivariable regression analysis and propensity matching were used for comparisons of outcomes and costs. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of PCM was 5.1% (n = 34,020; SAVR alone, 4.8%; SAVR + CABG, 4.6%; SAVR + MVr, 7.7%; SAVR + MVR, 10%). Important risk factors for PCM after SAVR were coexisting comorbidities, older age, and addition of mitral valve surgery. Hospital volume and teaching status, location, race, and sex were not associated with PCM. Among matched pairs, patients requiring PCM had lower in-hospital mortality (3.1% vs. 6.4%, p < 0.001) but longer median length of stay (12 vs. 9 days, p < 0.001) and higher hospital costs ($50,000 vs. $37,000, p < 0.001), and they were less likely to be discharged home (33% vs. 36%, p < 0.001). Factors associated with later PCM (postoperative day ≥6) included SAVR + MVR, female sex, fewer comorbidities, northeastern region, and higher hospital volume. Median hospital costs were greater ($57,000 vs. $48,000, p < 0.001) among patients whose pacemakers were implanted later. CONCLUSIONS: PCM following SAVR is associated with lower hospital mortality, but increased cost and length of stay. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12769 (J Card Surg 2016;31:476-485).

Irrigation and Debridement Before a 2-Stage Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Does Not Increase Risk of Failure.

BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested that the success of 2-stage revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) may be compromised by a prior failed irrigation and debridement (I&D). The purpose of this study was to use 2 large state inpatient databases to compare the 2-stage rTKA failure rates for those patients with and without a prior I&D. METHODS: This retrospective, longitudinal study used inpatient discharge data from the State Inpatient Database of 2 states (California and New York) from 2005 to 2011. A combination of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, diagnosis and procedure codes was used to identify rTKA patients and compare failure rates for rTKA patients with and without prior I&D. The primary outcome was failure of the staged revision, which was defined as subsequent surgery due to infection within 4 years of the 2-stage rTKA. RESULTS: Of the 750 patients who underwent 2-stage rTKA, 57 had undergone a prior I&D. In all, 126 patients failed rTKA. After 4 years, the estimated failure rate was 8.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9%-16.9%) in the group with prior I&D and 17.5% (95% CI, 14.7%-20.4%) in the group without prior I&D. After adjusting for sex, race, insurance, median household income, and comorbidities, the hazard ratio for the group with a failed I&D was 0.49 (P = .122; 95% CI, 0.20-1.20), which indicated a lower risk of failure compared to the group without prior I&D. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the failure rate of 2-stage rTKA is not increased by prior failed I&D.

Impact of Cirrhosis on Resource Use and Inpatient Complications in Patients Undergoing Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Cirrhosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and is an important risk factor for complications in surgical patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of cirrhosis with postoperative complications, length of stay (LOS), and costs among patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2000 and 2011, we identified patients who had a primary TKA or primary THA. TKA patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) cirrhosis (n = 41,464) and (2) no cirrhosis (n = 5,721,297) and THA patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) cirrhosis (n = 27,401) and (2) no cirrhosis (n = 2,622,539). Patient demographics, comorbidities, perioperative complications, LOS, and incremental costs were analyzed. An additional subgroup analysis by cirrhosis etiology was performed. RESULTS: Multivariable analysis revealed cirrhosis was associated with 1.55 (95% confidence interval: 1.47-1.63) times higher odds of any complication after TKA and 1.59 (1.50-1.69) higher odds after THA. Adjusted outcomes showed cirrhotic TKA patients had $1857 higher costs and 0.30 days longer LOS and THA cirrhotic patients had $1497 higher costs and 0.48 longer LOS. We found similar results for each cirrhosis subtype but alcohol-related had the highest resource use and complication rate. CONCLUSION: Patients with cirrhosis who are undergoing TKA or THA are at a significantly increased risk for perioperative complications, increased LOS, and higher costs. The perioperative complications and costs were highest among patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis.

NATIONAL INCIDENCE OF MEDICAL TRANSFER: PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS AND REGIONAL VARIATION.

The aim of this descriptive study was to establish and describe the national incidence, cost, and outcomes of patients that undergo medical transfer. Using discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2011, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the dataset was analyzed using weighted frequency distribution. Approximately 1.6 million patients are transferred yearly. Transferred patients experience a mean length of stay of 9.3 days (std dv 13.5) versus 4.3 days for patients not transferred (std dv 6.0), and cost more than twice as much (mean $19,234) versus those not transferred (mean $9,469). Additionally, patients who undergo inter-facility transfer cost an additional $15.8 billion annually. Interhospital patient transfers require closer scrutiny regarding appropriateness and future policy implications.