Comorbidities Matter as Distressed Communities Index Fails to Predict Mortality in Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection.

Background: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are life-threatening infections requiring prompt intervention. The Distressed Communities Index (DCI) is a comprehensive ranking of socioeconomic well-being based on zip code. We sought to identify the role of DCI in predicting mortality in NSTI, because it remains unknown. Patients and Methods: A retrospective, single-institution analysis of patients diagnosed with NSTI (2011-2020) requiring surgical intervention. The DCI is a composite score based on community-level factors: unemployment, education level, poverty rate, median income, business growth, and housing vacancies. The DCI scores were matched to the patient's zip code and stratification was performed using quintiles. Parametric and non-parametric analyses were performed to evaluate both the demographic and clinical characteristics. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify independent variables associated with outcomes. Results: Six hundred twenty patients met inclusion criteria. Ninety-day mortality was 12.4% (n = 77). Patients who died were more likely to be female (58.4%), older (median age 60.5 ± 11.3 years), have a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 (61.5%), have a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (3; interquartile range [IQR], 2-7). After regression analysis, neither the composite DCI by quintile, nor the individual component scores, were found to correlate with mortality. Interestingly, underlying heart disease, hepatic dysfunction, and renal disease at baseline were found to significantly correlate with mortality from NSTI with p values <0.05. Conclusions: Socioeconomic status and insurance payer are championed for inclusion when constructing risk models, evaluating resource utilization, comparing hospitals, and determining patient management. The severity of community distress measured by DCI did not correlate with mortality for NSTI, despite contrasting evidence in other diseases. This finding is likely caused by a combination of both individual and community-level resources. This is highlighted by the recognition that comorbidities did correlate with mortality. The absence of DCI-related associations observed in this study warrants further investigation, as do mechanisms for the prevention of further organ dysfunction.

Leaving Against Medical Advice After Emergency General Surgery: Avoiding a Two-Hit Effect.

BACKGROUND: Emergency general surgery has higher adverse outcomes than elective surgery. Patients leaving the hospital against medical advice (AMA) have a greater risk for readmission and complications. We sought to identify clinical and demographic characteristics along with hospital factors associated with leaving AMA after EGS operations. METHODS: A retrospective review of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was performed. All patients who underwent an EGS procedure accounting for >80% of the burden of EGS-related inpatient resources were identified. 4:1 propensity score analysis was conducted. Regression analyses determined predictive factors for leaving AMA. RESULTS: 546,856 patients were identified. 1085 (0.2%) patients who underwent EGS left AMA. They were more likely to be men (59% versus 42%), younger (median age 51 y, IQR [37.61] versus 54, IQR [38.69]), qualify for Medicaid (26% versus 13%) or be self-pay (17% versus 9%), and be within the lowest quartile median household income (40% versus 28%) (all P < 0.05). After applying 4:1 propensity score matching, individuals who were self-pay (OR 3.15, 95% CI 2.44-4.06) or insured through Medicare (OR 2.75, 95% CI 2.11-3.57) and Medicaid (OR 3.58, 95% CI 2.83-4.52) had increased odds of leaving AMA compared with privately insured patients. In addition, history of alcohol (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.65-2.98), drug abuse (OR 4.54, 95% CI 3.23-6.38), and psychosis (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.65-3.23) were associated with higher likelihood for leaving AMA. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing EGS have a high risk of complications, and leaving AMA further increases this risk. Interventions to encourage safe discharge encompassing surgical, psychiatric, and socioeconomic factors are warranted to prevent a two-hit effect and compound postoperative risk.