Long-term patient-reported outcomes among patients undergoing revascularization vs medical therapy for intermittent claudication.

OBJECTIVE: Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines recommend revascularization for patients with intermittent claudication (IC) if it can improve patient function and quality of life. However, it is still unclear if patients with IC achieve a significant functional benefit from surgery compared with medical management alone. This study examines the relationship between IC treatment modality (operative vs nonoperative optimal medical management) and patient-reported outcomes for physical function (PROMIS-PF) and satisfaction in social roles and activities (PROMIS-SA). METHODS: We identified patients with IC who presented for index evaluation in a vascular surgery clinic at an academic medical center between 2016 and 2021. Patients were stratified based on whether they underwent a revascularization procedure during follow-up vs continued nonoperative management with medication and recommended exercise therapy. We used linear mixed-effect models to assess the relationship between treatment modality and PROMIS-PF, PROMIS-SA, and ankle-brachial index (ABI) over time, clustering among repeat patient observations. Models were adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Clinical Frailty Score, tobacco use, and index ABI. RESULTS: A total of 225 patients with IC were identified, of which 40% (n = 89) underwent revascularization procedures (42% bypass; 58% peripheral vascular intervention) and 60% (n = 136) continued nonoperative management. Patients were followed up to 6.9 years, with an average follow-up of 5.2 ± 1.6 years. Patients who underwent revascularization were more likely to be clinically frail (P = .03), have a lower index ABI (0.55 ± 0.24 vs 0.72 ± 0.28; P < .001), and lower baseline PROMIS-PF score (36.72 ± 8.2 vs 40.40 ± 6.73; P = .01). There were no differences in patient demographics or medications between treatment groups. Examining patient-reported outcome trends over time; there were no significant differences in PROMIS-PF between groups, trends over time, or group differences over time after adjusting for covariates (P = .07, P = .13, and P =.08, respectively). However, all patients with IC significantly increased their PROMIS-SA over time (adjusted P = .019), with patients managed nonoperatively more likely to have an improvement in PROMIS-SA over time than those who underwent revascularization (adjusted P = .045). CONCLUSIONS: Patient-reported outcomes associated with functional status and satisfaction in activities are similar for patients with IC for up to 7 years, irrespective of whether they undergo treatment with revascularization or continue nonoperative management. These findings support conservative long-term management for patients with IC.

Opioid tapering after surgery and its association with patient-reported outcomes and behavioral changes: a mixed-methods analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Opioid tapering after surgery is recommended among patients with chronic opioid use, but it is unclear how this process affects their quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate how opioid tapering following surgery was associated with patient-reported outcome measures related to pain control and behavioral changes that affect quality of life. METHODS: We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study at a VA Medical Center among patients with chronic opioid use who underwent a spectrum of orthopedic, vascular, thoracic, urology, otolaryngology, and general surgery procedures between 2018 and 2020. Patients were stratified based on the extent that opioid tapering was successful (complete, partial, and no-taper) by 90 days after surgery, followed by qualitative interviews of 10 patients in each taper group. Longitudinal patient-reported outcome measures related to pain intensity, interference, and catastrophizing were compared using Kruskal Wallis tests over the 90-day period after surgery. Qualitative interviews were conducted among patients in each taper group to identify themes associated with the impact of opioid tapering after surgery on quality of life. RESULTS: We identified 211 patients with chronic opioid use (92% male, median age 66 years) who underwent surgery during the time period, including 42 (20%) individuals with complete tapering, 48 (23%) patients with partial tapering, and 121 (57%) patients with no taper of opioids following surgery. Patients who did not taper were more likely to have a history of opioid use disorder (10%-partial, 2%-complete vs 17%-no taper, p<0.05) and be discharged on a higher median morphine equivalent daily dose (52-partial, 30-complete vs 60-no taper; p<0.05) than patients in the partial and complete taper groups. Pain interference (-7.2-partial taper and -9.8-complete taper vs -3.5-no taper) and pain catastrophizing (-21.4-partial taper and -16.5-complete taper vs -1.7-no taper) scores for partial and complete taper groups were significantly improved at 90 days relative to baseline when compared with patients in the no-taper group (p<0.05 for both comparisons), while pain intensity was similar between groups. Finally, patients achieving complete and partial opioid tapering were more likely to report improvements in activity, mood, thinking, and sleep following surgery as compared with patients who failed to taper. CONCLUSIONS: Partial and complete opioid tapering within 90 days after surgery among patients with chronic opioid use was associated with improved patient-reported measures of pain control as well as behaviors that impact a patient's quality of life.

Impact of frailty on risk of long-term functional decline following vascular surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Frailty is a clinical syndrome associated with slow recovery after vascular surgery. However, the degree and length of functional impairment frail patients experience after surgery is unclear. The objective of this study was to prospectively measure changes in functional status among frail and non-frail patients undergoing a spectrum of different vascular surgery procedures. METHODS: Patients consented to undergo elective minor and major vascular surgery procedures at an academic medical center between May 2018 and March 2019 were prospectively identified. Prior to surgery, all patients underwent provider assessment of frailty using the validated Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), as well as baseline assessment of functional status using the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) index and the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (iADL) index. These same instruments were used to evaluate each patient's functional status at 2-weeks, 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year time points following surgery. Changes in iADL and ADL scores among frail (CFS ≥5) and non-frail patients were compared using paired Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients were assessed before and after minor (55%) and major (45%) vascular procedures, of which 43 patients (34%) were determined to be frail prior to surgery. Frail patients were older and more likely than non-frail patients to have medical comorbidities including chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or diabetes (all P < .05). When compared with the non-frail cohort, frail patients had significantly lower ADL and iADL scores before surgery and experienced a greater decline in ability to independently complete ADL and iADL activities after surgery that was sustained at 2 years (P < .05 and P < .001, respectively). After risk-adjustment, frailty was associated with an increased likelihood of decline in ADLs (odds ratio, 5.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-15.4; P < .05) and iADLs (odds ratio, 6.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.6-15.1; P < .001) at 2 years following surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Frail patients experience a significant decline in ability to perform ADL and iADLs that persists 2 years following vascular surgery. These data highlight the degree of functional decline occurring immediately following surgery, as well as risk for long-term, sustained impairment that should be shared with frail patients before undergoing a procedure.

Complete opioid cessation after surgery improves patient-reported pain measures among chronic opioid users.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative chronic opioid use is common, but it is unclear whether complete opioid tapering can be achieved postoperatively without adversely affecting pain control and quality of life. This study was designed to assess the association between complete opioid tapering after surgery and patient-reported outcomes for pain intensity and pain interference. METHODS: We identified chronic opioid use patients undergoing a spectrum of nonemergency surgical procedures at a single Veterans Affairs medical institution between December 2017 and 2021. All patients were prospectively followed by a transitional pain service that promoted opioid tapering, assessed opioid use (morphine milligram equivalent), and patient-reported outcomes measurement information system for pain intensity (PROMIS-3a) and pain interference (PROMIS-6b). After stratifying based on whether complete versus partial/no opioid tapering was achieved after surgery, longitudinal changes in patient-reported outcomes and morphine milligram equivalents were compared over time. Independent predictors of complete opioid tapering were assessed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: In total, 341 surgical patients (91% male, mean age 64 years) with chronic opioid use underwent surgery during the study period, of which 44 (13%) completely tapered off opioids within 60 days after discharge from the hospital. Patients who completely tapered had significant improvement in the change in patient-reported outcomes for pain intensity and interference with significant differences at 30 and 60 days after discharge for both measures when compared to the partial/no taper group (both P < .05). In risk-adjusted analyses, patients with lower baseline morphine milligram equivalents and those staying longer in the hospital were more likely to achieve complete opioid tapering (both P < .01). CONCLUSION: Complete opioid tapering can be successfully achieved after surgery among patients with chronic opioid use with corresponding improvements in self-reported pain intensity and pain interference. Our results suggest that the highest potential for improving patient-reported outcomes with opioid tapering occurs among patients undergoing orthopedic procedures early after surgical discharge.

Patient-reported physical function as a preoperative predictor of recovery after vascular surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Preoperative risk assessment in vascular surgery often relies on the clinical subjectivity of providers and assessment tools with poor discrimination. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) may provide a more objective assessment of an individual's own health status before surgery and ability to recover after a vascular procedure. We designed this study to determine whether PROMs assessed for physical function (PROM-PF) prior to vascular surgery could be used to predict patient risk for postoperative complications and delayed recovery. METHODS: We identified all patients who completed a PROM-PF survey prior to undergoing a vascular surgery procedure captured in the Society for Vascular Surgery-Vascular Quality Initiative registry (carotid endarterectomy, abdominal aortic aneurysm, endovascular aneurysm repair, thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair, peripheral vascular intervention, infra-inguinal bypass, and supra-inguinal bypass) at a single academic institution between January 2016 and June 2020. PROM-PF assessment was obtained electronically using the validated Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System short form (v1.2) instrument. All patient demographics and comorbidities were collected as part of the Society for Vascular Surgery-Vascular Quality Initiative registry. After stratifying patients based on high vs low preoperative PROM-PF, multivariable regression models were used to assess the risk-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for perioperative complications, extended hospital length of stay (LOS), and discharge to a care facility. RESULTS: A total of 240 patients (mean age, 68 years; 69% male; and 88% Caucasian) completed a PROM-PF assessment <30 days before a vascular surgery intervention, of which 54% had low PF. Patients with high PF were more likely than those with low PF to undergo an open vascular procedure (43% high PF vs 42% low PF; P < .001). Rates of perioperative complications and/or mortality were similar between groups, although patients with low-PF were more likely to have an extended hospital LOS (48% low PF vs 33% high PF; P < .05) and/or be discharged to a care facility (17% low PF vs 7% high PF; P < .05). These results were confirmed in risk-adjusted models showing that patients with low PF scores were significantly more likely to have an extended LOS (adjusted OR, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-3.28) and be discharged to a care facility (adjusted OR, 2.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-7.00). CONCLUSIONS: Low preoperative PROM-PF was associated with a higher risk of extended inpatient LOS and discharge to a care facility following vascular surgery. PROMs allow patients to provide valuable presurgical information about their own health status that can be used to anticipate postoperative recovery.

Long-Term Functional Decline Following Vascular Surgery Among Vulnerable Adults.

BACKGROUND: Identification of high-risk patients that may experience functional decline following surgery poses a challenge to healthcare providers. The Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) is a patient-reported tool designed to identify risk for health deterioration based on age, self-rated health, physical function, and functional disabilities. This study was designed to determine whether VES-13 could predict long-term functional decline among patients undergoing vascular surgery procedures. METHODS: Vascular surgery patients at an academic hospital were administered VES-13 between May 2018 and March 2019, and those scoring ≥3-points were classified as vulnerable. Each patient's functional status was assessed using the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and the Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (iADL) indices preoperatively and at 2-week, 1-month, and 1-year postoperative time points. Logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of functional decline. RESULTS: 126 patients (59% male) were assessed before and after minor (56%) and major (44%) vascular procedures, with 55 (43%) meeting criteria for vulnerability. Vulnerable patients were older, had lower baseline functional status, and were more likely than non-vulnerable patients to experience declines in ADLs and iADLs at all time-points (P < 0.05 for all time points). These findings were confirmed in risk-adjusted regression models where vulnerability was associated with an increased likelihood of decline in ADLs (OR:3.3; 95%CI:1.0-10.6; P < 0.05) and iADLs (OR:2.6; 95%CI:1.0-6.6; P = 0.05) at 1-year following surgery. CONCLUSION: The patient-reported VES-13 survey identifies vulnerable patients who are at risk for long-term functional decline following vascular surgery. This quick preoperative screening tool can allow surgeons to prepare older patients and caretakers for postoperative functional limitations.

Patient-Surgeon Agreement in Assessment of Frailty, Physical Function, & Social Activity.

BACKGROUND: The shared decision-making process between surgical providers and patients relies on a joint understanding about the risks of different treatment options based on a patient's individual health state. However, it is unclear whether a patient's perception of their own condition is congruent with the health state assigned by their surgical providers. This study was designed to compare provider assessment of frailty versus patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures of their own frailty status, physical function, and social activity level. METHODS: We prospectively assessed patients presenting to a vascular surgery clinic at an academic institution between May 2018 and June of 2019. Before clinic examination, patients completed PROs of their frailty status (Frail Non-Disabled survey), physical function (patient-reported outcome measurement information system [PROMIS] v1.2), and social activity level (PROMIS v2.0). Next, each patient's frailty status and overall health were scored by a surgical provider using the 9-point Clinical Frailty Scale, a validated frailty assessment tool that incorporates their functional status and level of activity. The correlation between the provider and PROs for frailty, physical function, and social activity was determined using the Spearman rank test, sensitivity/specificity tests, and receiver operating curves. Logistic regression models were used to predict 1-y mortality after assessment. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were evaluated in clinic (50% male with mean age of 60 y), including 35 (30%) who were categorized as being frail by the surgical provider. In comparison, the same patients were much more likely to self-report as having low physical function (73%), being frail or disabled (79%), and/or unable to engage in social activities (78%). Although there was high sensitivity (89%) between a provider's and PROs for frailty, the specificity was low (26%) resulting in a receiver operating curve area of 0.57. Overall, there was low correlation between PROs for frailty (r = 0.16), physical function (r = 0.21), and social activities (r = 0.21) when compared with a provider's assessment of patient frailty. Models using PROs for frailty had better discrimination for predicting 1-y mortality (c-statistic: 0.72) than those using the Clinical Frailty Scale (c-statistic: 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: Patients are more likely to self-report being frail, having low physical function, and limited social activity than what is detected by their surgical providers. These findings suggest that low levels of patient activity and its associated risk may often be underappreciated by surgical providers. Efforts are needed to improve how PROs are incorporated into surgical decision-making and outcome assessment.