Potential beneficial effects of long-term aspirin use on the prevalence of colorectal cancer: a population-based study of the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

PURPOSE: Whether long-term aspirin usage is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk needs more evidence. The study evaluated the association between long-term aspirin use and prevalence of CRC in a large, nationally representative database. METHODS: Hospitalized patients aged ≥ 50 years during 2018 were identified in the United States (US) National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Patients without complete information of age, sex, race, income, and insurance status were excluded, as well as those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or malignancies other than CRC. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance the characteristics between patients with and without long-term aspirin use. Logistic regressions were performed to determine the relationship between long-term aspirin use and the presence of CRC. CRC and aspirin use were identified through the administrative International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. RESULTS: Data from 3,490,226 patients were included, in which 688,018 (19.7%) had a record of long-term aspirin use. After 1:1 PSM, there remained 1,376,006 patients, representing 6,880,029 individuals in the US after weighting. After adjusting for confounders, long-term aspirin use was significantly associated with lower CRC odds (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62, 0.67). This association was not changed when stratified by age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: From a national inpatient dataset, US adults ≥ 50 years on long-term aspirin are less likely to have CRC, regardless of age, sex, race, BMI, and smoking status.

Frailty in inflammatory bowel disease: analysis of the National Inpatient Sample 2015-2019.

AIM: Preoperative frailty has been associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in various populations, but of its use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains sparse. The present study aimed to characterize the impact of frailty, as measured by the modified frailty index (mFI), on postoperative clinical and resource utilization outcomes in patients with IBD. METHODS: This retrospective population-based cohort study assessed patients from the National Inpatient Sample database from 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2019. Corresponding International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision Clinical Modification codes were used to identify adult patients (>18 years of age) with IBD, undergoing either small bowel resection, colectomy or proctectomy. Patient demographics and institutional data were collected for each patient to calculate the 11-point mFI. Patients were categorized as either frail or robust using a cut-off of 0.27. Primary outcomes were postoperative in-hospital morbidity and mortality, whilst secondary outcomes included system-specific morbidity, length of stay, in-hospital healthcare costs and discharge disposition. Logistic and linear regression models were used for primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 7144 patients with IBD undergoing small bowel resection, colectomy or proctectomy were identified, 337 of whom were classified as frail (i.e., mFI < 0.27). Frail patients were more likely to be women, older, have lower income and a greater number of comorbidities. After adjusting for relevant covariates, frail patients were at greater odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.42, 95% CI 2.31-12.77, P < 0.001), overall morbidity (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.30-2.28, P < 0.001), increased length of stay (adjusted mean difference 1.3 days, 95% CI 0.09-2.50, P = 0.035) and less likely to be discharged to home (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.45-0.77, P < 0.001) compared to their robust counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Frail IBD patients are at greater risk of postoperative mortality and morbidity, and reduced likelihood of discharge to home, following surgery. This has implications for clinicians designing care pathways for IBD patients following surgery.

Acute non-traffic traumatic spinal cord injury in the aging population: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample 2005-2018.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine risk factors for poor in-hospital outcomes in a large cohort of older adult patients with acute non-traffic traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). METHODS: This is a population-based, retrospective, observational study. Data of older adults ≥65 years with a primary discharge diagnosis of acute non-traffic tSCI were extracted from the US National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database 2005-2018. Traffic-related tSCI admissions or patients lacking complete data on age, sex and outcomes of interest were excluded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between variables and in-hospital outcomes. RESULTS: Data of 49,449 older patients (representing 246,939 persons in the US) were analyzed. The mean age was 79.9 years. Multivariable analyses revealed that severe International Classification of Disease (ICD)-based injury severity score (ICISS) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.77-3.57), quadriplegia (aOR = 2.79, 95%CI: 2.34-3.32), paraplegia (aOR = 2.60, 95%CI:1.89-3.58), cervical injury with vertebral fracture (aOR = 2.19, 95%CI: 1.90-2.52), and severe liver disease (aOR = 2.33, 95%CI: 1.34-4.04) were all strong independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. In addition, malnutrition (aOR = 3.19, 95% CI: 2.93-3.48) was the strongest predictors of prolonged length of stay (LOS). CONCLUSIONS: Several critical factors for in-hospital mortality, unfavorable discharge, and prolonged LOS among US older adults with acute non-traffic tSCI were identified. In addition to the factors associated with initial severity, the presence of severe liver disease and malnutrition emerged as strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes, highlighting the need for special attention for these patient subgroups.

Operative management of rotator cuff tears: identifying disparities in access on a national level.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify nationwide disparities in the rates of operative management of rotator cuff tears based on race, ethnicity, insurance type, and socioeconomic status. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with a full or partial rotator cuff tear from 2006 to 2014 were identified in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample database using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes. Bivariate analysis using chi-square tests and adjusted, multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate differences in the rates of operative vs. nonoperative management for rotator cuff tears. RESULTS: This study included 46,167 patients. When compared with white patients, adjusted analysis showed that minority race and ethnicity were associated with lower rates of operative management for Black (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29-0.33; P < .001), Hispanic (AOR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.45-0.52; P < .001), Asian or Pacific Islander (AOR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61-0.84; P < .001), and Native American patients (AOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.50-0.86; P = .002). In comparison to privately insured patients, our analysis also found that self-payers (AOR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.07-0.10; P < .001), Medicare beneficiaries (AOR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.72-0.81; P < .001), and Medicaid beneficiaries (AOR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.36; P < .001) had lower odds of receiving surgical intervention. Additionally, relative to those in the bottom income quartile, patients in all other quartiles experienced nominally higher rates of operative repair; these differences were statistically significant for the second quartile (AOR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03-1.16; P = .004). CONCLUSION: There are significant nationwide disparities in the likelihood of receiving operative management for rotator cuff tear patients of differing race/ethnicity, payer status, and socioeconomic status. Further investigation is needed to fully understand and address causes of these discrepancies to optimize care pathways.

Effects of frailty on postoperative clinical outcomes of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: results from the National Inpatient Sample database.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of preoperative frailty on postoperative clinical outcomes of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). METHODS: Data of patients aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracerebral hemorrhage, underwent aneurysm repair surgical intervention from 2005 to 2014. A retrospective database analysis was performed based on U.S. National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2005 to 2014. Frailty was determined using the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups (ACG) frailty-defining diagnoses indicator. Patients were stratified into frail and non-frail groups and the study endpoints were incidence of postoperative complications and related adverse clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Among 20,527 included aSAH patients, 2303 (11.2%) were frail and 18,224 (88.8%) were non-frail. Significant differences were found between frailty and non-frailty groups in the four clinical outcomes (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that frailty was associated with significant higher risks of discharge to institutional care (aOR: 2.50, 95%CI: 2.10-2.97), tracheostomy or gastrostomy tube replacement (aOR: 4.41, 95%CI: 3.81-5.10) and postoperative complications (aOR: 3.29, 95%CI: 2.55-4.25) but a lower risk of death in hospital (aOR: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.33-0.49) as compared with non-frailty. Stratified analysis showed the impact of frailty on some of the outcomes were greater among patients younger than 65 years than their older counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty is significantly correlated with the increased risk of discharge to institutional care, tracheostomy or gastrostomy tube placement, and postoperative complications but with the reduced risk of in-hospital mortality outcomes after aneurysm repair. Frailty seems to have greater impact among younger adults than older ones. Baseline frailty evaluation could be applied to risk stratification for aSAH patients who were undergoing surgery.

Length of Stay, Cost, and Outcomes related to Traumatic Subdural Hematoma in inpatient setting in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: In the US, the prevalence of traumatic subdural hematoma (TSDH) continues to increase. Using a nationally representative sample of discharge records of patients with TSDH, the study objectives were to estimate trend in number of TSDH cases, surgical management, inpatient cost, length of stay (LOS), mortality rate, and complication rate; and to identify the association of sociodemographic, clinical and hospital characteristics with complications and mortality. METHOD: We identified patients with a primary diagnosis of TSDH from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2010 to 2017. Quarterly and monthly trends were estimated using interrupted time series design. Multivariate logistic regressions measured association between various factors and inpatient death and complications. RESULTS: Number of cases, mean LOS, rate of complication increased. Proportion of patients undergoing surgery, mean inpatient cost, inpatient mortality decreased. Mean inpatient cost was $23,182.40 and LOS was 6.41 days. Odds of inpatient death and complications increased with injury severity score and comorbid conditions requiring use of anticoagulants. Odds of inpatient death were highest among those ≥85 years old and in south and northeast region. CONCLUSION: Given the increase in prevalence of TSDH in USA, additional resources should be allocated toward improving patient outcomes and lowering healthcare costs.

Effect of HIV infection on pre- and post-liver transplant mortality in patients with organ failure.

OBJECTIVES: Organ failure (OF), a leading cause of death in HIV-positive individuals, is common in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). We examined the impact of HIV infection on pre- and post-LT mortalities in cirrhotic patients stratified by the number and type of OFs. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study and a retrospective cohort study using the US National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry data, respectively. Patients who had not yet undergone LT from the NIS database (2010-2014) and patients undergoing LT from the UNOS database (2003-2016) were included in the study. RESULTS: Analysis of patients (201 348) from the NIS database showed that one [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.531; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.160-2.023], two (aOR 1.624; 95% CI 1.266-2.083) or three or more OFs (aOR 1.349; 95% CI 1.165-1.562) were associated with higher pre-LT mortality in HIV-infected patients compared with HIV-negative patients with the corresponding number of OFs. In patients without OF, HIV infection was not associated with increased pre-LT mortality. UNOS data for patients undergoing LT (38 942) showed that the presence of two or more OFs was associated with increased post-LT 1-year mortality in HIV-infected patients compared with non-HIV-infected patients with the corresponding number of OFs (aOR 2.342; 95% CI 1.576-3.480). However, in patients with no OF or only one OF, HIV infection was not associated with increased post-LT 1-year mortality (aOR 1.372; 95% CI 0.911-2.068). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study emphasize the importance of preventing OF development, and justify LT for HIV-infected patients with no or only one OF.

Clostridioides difficile infection in US hospitals: a national inpatient sample study.

BACKGROUND: Hypervirulent strains of Clostridioides difficile have altered the landscape of hospital and community outbreaks. We aim to examine and compare spatiotemporal trends, incidence, hospital teaching status, mortality, and cost associated with hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection (HCDI) and community-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection (CCDI). METHODS: Retrospective cohorts were studied using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2006 to 2015. RESULTS: A total of 76,124 cases of HCDI and 190,641 cases of CCDI were identified within the study period. The incidence of HCDI decreased from 8555 in 2006 to 7191 in 2015. Mortality also decreased during the same period (5.9% in 2006 to 1.4% 2015, p < 0.0001). Conversely, CCDI cases increased from 13,823 in 2006 to 20,637 in 2015. CCDI mortality decreased during the same period (4.3% in 2006 to 1.9% 2015, p < 0.0001). Rural hospital centers experienced the sharpest decline in HCDI mortality compared to urban and urban teaching centers (3.8%, p < 0.0001 vs 2.8%, p < 0.0001 vs 2.1%, p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that increasing age (p = 0.0001), increasing hospital length of stay (p = 0.0001), and Medicare insurance (p = 0.002) were significant predictors of mortality for CDI mortality. Geospatial mapping of CCDI and HCDI revealed that the Eastern and Southern US experienced the largest incidence of CDI over 10 years. CONCLUSION: The incidence of HCDI has decreased in the past decade while the incidence of CCDI hospitalization is sharply on the rise. While hospital length of stay and mortality has decreased over time, the cost of treating CDI remains high.

Prevalence and factors associated with diagnosed depression among hospitalized cancer patients with metastatic disease.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the factors associated with diagnosed depression among patients with a metastatic cancer. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 39,223 hospital records from 2008 to 2013 National Inpatient Sample for patients with metastatic cancer. Diagnosed depression was defined using ICD-9-CM for major depression. Weighted, multivariable hierarchical regression model was used to examine the association between sociodemographic and clinical factors and depression among patients with a metastatic cancer. RESULTS: The prevalence of clinically diagnosed depression in patients with a metastatic cancer in our study sample was 7.3% (5.9% for males and 8.6% for females). The prevalence rate of diagnosed depression increased from 5.3 to 9.4% between 2008 and 2013. In multivariable analysis, patients were more likely to be diagnosed with depression if they were females (aOR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.25-1.66) compared to males; and had higher number of comorbidities (aOR = 1.11 per 1-unit increase in Elixhauser comorbidity score, 95% CI 1.07-1.15). In contrast, patients were less likely to be diagnosed with depression if they were blacks (aOR = 0.59; 95% CI 0.47-0.74) or other race (aOR = 0.58; 95% CI 0.47-0.72) compared with white patients. CONCLUSIONS: Women and individuals with more comorbidities were diagnosed with depression more frequently, whereas black patients were diagnosed less. Our findings could help providers to identify hospitalized patients with the higher risk of depression and screened patients with signs and symptoms of clinical depression.

Rate and impact of venous thromboembolism in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database 2003-2013.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and coronary artery disease are major health issues that cause substantial morbidity and mortality. New data have emerged suggesting that these two conditions could have a close relationship. Thus, we sought to determine the trends in annual rate of VTE occurrence in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and measure its impact on in-hospital mortality, bleeding complications, and cost and length of hospitalization. We queried the 2003-2013 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases to identify adults with primary diagnosis of STEMI. VTE events were then allocated. Inpatient outcomes of patients with VTE were compared to those without VTE. Out of 2,495,757 hospitalizations for STEMI, VTE was diagnosed in 25,149 (1%) hospitalizations. Patients who experienced VTE were older (mean age: 67.5 vs 64.8, p < 0.01) and had a higher proportion of black patients (10.1% vs 7.7%, p < 0.001) and females (40.1% vs 35%, p < 0.001) compared to patients without VTE. There was an increasing trend in the rate of VTE during the study period (2003: 0.8% vs 2013: 1.0%, p < 0.001). Patients with VTE had a prolonged hospitalization (median: 9 vs 3 days, p < 0.001), increased cost, higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (OR: 2.13, p < 0.001), intracranial hemorrhage (OR: 2.14, p < 0.001), blood transfusions (OR: 1.94, p < 0.001), and mortality (OR: 1.39, p < 0.001). The rate of VTE occurrence in patients with STEMI in our study was 10 per 1000 admissions. VTE was associated with more bleeding complications, longer hospital stays, higher costs, and mortality. These findings suggest that a more aggressive approach for VTE prophylaxis may be warranted in this population.

Post-surgical outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease undergoing radical prostatectomy: 10-year results from the US National Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage renal disease (ESRD) are not well characterized in prostate cancer patients. This study aimed to examine the clinical characteristics and postsurgical outcomes of patients with or without CKD and ESRD undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. METHODS: This population-based, retrospective study used patient data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the largest all-payer US inpatient care database. From 2005 to 2014, 136,790 male patients aged > 20 years diagnosed with prostate cancer and who received radical prostatectomy were included. Postoperative complications, postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) and urinary complications, and length of hospital stay were compared between patients with or without underlying CKD and ESRD. RESULTS: After adjusting for relevant factors, the CKD group had a significantly higher risk of postoperative complications than the non-CKD group. In addition, the CKD group had a 5-times greater risk of postoperative AKI and urinary complications than the non-CKD group. Both CKD and ESRD groups had significantly longer hospital stays than the non-CKD group. Patients receiving RARP had a lower risk of postoperative complications than those who received open radical prostatectomy, regardless of having CKD or not. Both non-CKD and CKD patients receiving RARP had shorter hospital stays than those who received open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate cancer patients with underlying CKD had significantly greater risk of postoperative complications, postoperative AKI and urinary complications, and longer hospital stays than those without CKD. The use of RARP significantly shortened hospital stays and reduced complications for these patients.

National trends in proximal humerus fracture treatment patterns.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of proximal humerus fractures (PHF) is largely surgeon dependent with no clear guidelines for selecting the optimal method of treatment. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate trends and variations in treatment methods of PHF in the United States from 2004 to 2012 and to determine the regional differences in treatment. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was used to identify all patient discharges with diagnosis codes for PHF and the data were classified based on ICD-9 procedure codes. Patient and hospital demographics were also analyzed. Simple linear regression analyses were performed for each treatment modality to evaluate current treatment trends and to extrapolate the future trends of PHF treatment over the next 20 years. RESULTS: A national estimate of 550,116 PHF discharges was identified over the time period. Significant correlations between change over time and treatment modality were found for reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) (r = 0.903, p < 0.001), open reduction internal fixation (r = 0.876, p = 0.002), and closed reduction internal fixation (r = -0.922, p < 0.001). The RSA regression model showed that by the year 2032, PHF treated with RSA will increase 100% from 2012. DISCUSSION: There were significant changes in treatment modalities for PHF from 2004 to 2012; The projected number of RSA used to treat PHF will be about 9115 in 2032, compared to 340 in 2004. CONCLUSION: Overall, there was a growth in proximal humerus fractures treated in an inpatient setting in the United States. RSA had the greatest proportional increase over time, but only accounted for less than 2% of total interventions.

Nationwide variation in outcomes and cost of laparoscopic procedures.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare systems and surgeons are under increasing pressure to provide high-quality care for the lowest possible cost . This study utilizes national data to examine the outcomes and costs of common laparoscopic procedures based on hospital type and location. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was queried from 2008 to 2011 for five laparoscopic procedures: colectomy (LC), inguinal hernia repair, ventral hernia repair (LVHR), Nissen fundoplication (NF), and cholecystectomy (LCh). Outcomes, including complication rate and inpatient mortality, were stratified by region and hospital type. Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed using regression-based survey methods; risk-adjusted mean costs for hospital were calculated after adjusting for patient characteristics. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, the rates of minor complications varied significantly between geographic regions for LCh, LC, NF, and LVHR (p < 0.05). Though LCh and LVHR had statistical variation between regions for rates of major complications (p < 0.05), all regions were equivalent in rates of inpatient mortality for the procedures (p > 0.05). Rural and urban centers had similar rates of complications (p > 0.05), except for higher rates of major complications following IHR and LC in rural centers (p < 0.02) and following Nissen fundoplication in urban facilities(p < 0.0003). Though urban centers were more expensive for all procedures (p < 0.0001), mortality was similar between groups (p > 0.05). For hospital ownership, private investor-owned facilities were substantially more expensive (p < 0.0001), but had no significant differences in complications compared to other hospital types (p > 0.05). In multivariate analysis, while patient factors helped explain differences between outcome differences in different hospital types and locations, in general, the difference in cost remained statistically significant between hospitals. CONCLUSION: Though patient demographics and characteristics accounted for some differences in postoperative outcomes after common laparoscopic procedures, higher cost of care was not associated with better outcomes or more complex patients.

Mortality and in-patient outcomes in pheochromocytoma patients with hypertensive emergency in the United States: A propensity score matched analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Pheochromocytoma is a rare cause of hypertensive emergency. The objective of this analysis was to compare the clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and in-hospital outcomes of patients admitted with hypertensive emergencies with and without co-existing pheochromocytoma. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database from 2016 to 2020 was conducted, encompassing 640,395 patients hospitalized for hypertensive emergencies, including 2535 patients diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. We compared demographics, comorbidities, in-hospital outcomes and resource utilization metrics in patients with and without pheochromocytoma. Propensity-score matching was utilized to account for potential confounders and risk of complications was compared. RESULTS: Among the pheochromocytoma cohort (51.9% female), a significant portion (35.7%) were under 50 years of age, with the majority being Caucasian (47.9%). Comorbid conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and smoking were prevalent, with notable differences in cancer (7.5% vs. 2.3%, p < 0.001) and peripheral vascular disease (17% vs. 8.2%, p < 0.001) rates compared to the non-pheochromocytoma cohort. Pheochromocytoma patients had a longer hospital stay (7.5 vs. 6 days, p = 0.002) and higher odds of acute kidney injury (AKI) (1.54, 1.18-2, p=0.001) but lower odds of requiring hemodialysis (0.52, 0.32-0.79, p < 0.001) or experiencing major cardiovascular events (0.5, 0.36-0.69, p < 0.001). No significant difference in inflation-adjusted hospitalization costs was found between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hypertensive emergencies and pheochromocytoma had a higher incidence of AK, certain comorbidities (cancer, peripheral vascular disease), and more complex hospital courses suggested by longer length of stay. However, the overall cost of hospitalization did not significantly differ between the two cohorts.

Peri-Operative Outcomes Associated With the Placement of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in Patients With Sarcoidosis: A Nationwide Database Analysis.

Rationale Sarcoidosis with cardiac involvement can be associated with serious life-threatening arrhythmias and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) have been used for primary and secondary prevention of sudden death in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). Post-ICD placement complications have been shown to be higher in patients with CS. However, data comparing postoperative ICD complications among sarcoidosis patients with the general population is limited. Here, we evaluated the association of postoperative complications with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in sarcoidosis.  Methods Using the NIS database, we identified cases of adults aged ≥ 18 years undergoing surgical placement of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators between 2010 and 2019. Using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes, we identified patients with sarcoidosis. In all statistical analyses, we applied weights provided by HCUP to produce results representative of national estimates. We compared categorical and continuous covariates in the baseline characteristics using the chi-square test and analysis of variance, respectively. We employed multivariable logistic and linear regression to compare binomial and continuous outcomes to assess differences in mortality rates. Results We analyzed 114073 patients during the study period. Of these, 1012 (0.9%) had sarcoidosis and were found to be significantly younger and female compared to patients without sarcoidosis (56.4 ±11.5 years vs. 65.6 ± 13.9 years, p <0.001) and (39.4% vs. 28.3%, p<0.001) respectively. Further, patients with sarcoidosis were more likely to be African American (45% vs. 16.3%), have private insurance (45.4% vs. 23.8%), and less likely to have Medicare (34.9% vs. 60.9%). Overall, post-ICD placement complications such as lead complications (4.2% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.03), post-procedure hemorrhage (4.1% vs. 5.5%, p=0.048), and requirement for transfusion (2.3% vs. 4.4%) were less likely in patients with sarcoidosis. Regarding post-ICD placement inpatient mortality, sarcoidosis was not associated with any difference (OR: 0.71, 95% CI 0.18-2.88 p=0.634). Conclusions Placement of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in patients with sarcoidosis is a safe procedure and is associated with significantly lower rates of lead complications, post-procedure hemorrhage, and requirement for transfusion. This is of great importance as it is known that patients with underlying sarcoidosis are predisposed to developing more cardiac complications.

Racial and ethnic disparities in heart transplantation for end-stage heart failure: An analysis of the national inpatient sample (NIS) database.

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine disparities among heart transplant recipients in the United States, utilizing the latest data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of NIS discharge data (2017-2020), focusing on adult end-stage heart failure (ESHF) patients, identified using the ICD-10 CM code I50.84. Our analysis included four racial groups: White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian. We employed univariable and multivariate regression analyses to determine the unadjusted and adjusted odds of heart transplantation across these racial groups, using Stata version 14.2 for statistical calculations. RESULTS: Of 110,015 ESHF patients, 3,695 received heart transplants. Predominantly, recipients were male with a Charlson comorbidity index ≥3 and covered by private insurance. Transplants mainly occurred in large, teaching hospitals. Despite minor differences in age and median household income among races, baseline patient and hospital characteristics showed no significant variations. Compared to Whites, Blacks had a significantly lower transplant rate (AOR: 0.6; 95  % CI: 0.46-0.77; p < 0.001), while Hispanics and Asians showed no significant disparities. Mean ages varied slightly across groups (p = 0.0047), yet inpatient length of stay and hospitalization costs did not significantly differ. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight a significant disparity in heart transplant rates between Black and White ESHF patients in the U.S., with Black patients less likely to receive transplants compared to their White counterparts.

Differences in the Impact of Obesity and Bariatric Surgery on Patients Hospitalized for Atrial Flutter and Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Analysis, 2016-2020.

BACKGROUND: The "obesity paradox" claims that although obesity is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, obese patients have lower inpatient mortality when admitted due to atrial fibrillation. This study aims to analyze if the obesity paradox still holds true after weight loss from bariatric surgery.  Methods: This study analyzed discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample, 2016-2020. Patients admitted due to atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, with or without obesity, and with or without a past medical history of bariatric surgery were identified using ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes. The primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, resource utilization, necessity for endotracheal intubation, and necessity for cardioversion. STATA v.13 was used for univariate and multivariate analysis (StataCorp LLC, Texas, USA). RESULTS: Among 2,292,194 patients who had a primary diagnosis of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, 494,830 were obese and 25,940 had bariatric surgery. Mortality was not significantly different in post-bariatric surgery patients when compared to the general population (OR 0.76; 95% [CI 0.482-1.2; p=0.24]). Mortality was significantly lower in obese patients when compared to the general population (OR 0.646; 95% [CI 0.583-0.717; p<0.001]). Therefore, post-bariatric surgery patients had a higher mortality than obese patients when compared to the general population. Obese patients spent more days in the hospital (regression 0.219; 95% [CI 0.19-0.248, p<0.001]), had higher resource utilization (regression 3491.995; 95% [CI 2870.085-4113.905, p<0.001]), more cardioversions (OR 1.434; 95% [CI 1.404-1.465; p<0.001]), and no difference in endotracheal intubation rate (OR 1.02; 95% [CI 0.92-1.127; p=0.724]) when compared to the general population. Post-bariatric patients had no difference in length of stay (regression -0.053; 95% [CI -0.137-0.031; p=0.218]) and resource utilization (regression 577.297; 95% [CI -1069.801-2224.396; p=0.492]), fewer endotracheal intubations (OR 0.583; 95% [CI 0.343-0.99; p=0.046]), and more cardioversions (OR 1.223; 95% [CI 1.134-1.32; p<0.001]) when compared to the general population. CONCLUSION: Compared to the general population, post-bariatric patients had higher inpatient mortality than obese patients when admitted due to atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. This research reinforces the presence of the obesity paradox following bariatric surgery with respect to mortality.

Predictors of Outcomes in Cerebellar Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study From the National Inpatient Sample Data.

Cerebellar strokes have high morbidity and mortality due to bleeding or edema, leading to increased pressure in the posterior fossa. This retrospective cohort study analyzed three outcomes following a cerebellar stroke: in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, and total hospitalization costs. It uses data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and aims to identify the predictors of outcomes in cerebellar stroke patients, including 464,324 patients, 18 years of age and older, hospitalized between 2010 and 2015 in US hospitals with cerebellar strokes. In our study, for every decade age increased beyond 59 years, there was a significant increase in mortality; those aged 80+ years had 5.65 odds of mortality (95% CI: 5.32-6.00; P < 0.0001). Significant differences in patient characteristics were observed between patients who survived to discharge and those who did not, including older age (77.4 vs. 70.3 years; P < 0.0001), female sex (58% vs. 52%; P < 0.0001), and being transferred from another healthcare facility (17% vs. 10%; P < 0.0001). Patients admitted directly rather than through the emergency department were more likely to die (29% vs. 16%; P < 0.0001). The mortality rate was lower for blacks (OR: 0.75; P < 0.0001), Hispanics (OR: 0.91; P = 0.005), and Asians (OR: 0.89; P = 0.03), as compared to the white population, for females in comparison to males, and geographically, in all other areas (Midwest, South, and West) in contrast to the Northeast. Cerebellar stroke incidence and high mortality were seen in the traditional stroke belt. Mortality is also affected by the severity of the disease and increases with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRG) scores, and indirectly by place of receiving care, length of stay (LOS), cost of stay, type of insurance, and emergency department admissions. LOS increased with age, in males in the Northeast, and was less in whites compared to other races. Trend analysis showed a decrease in LOS and costs from 2010 to 2015. Increased costs were seen in non-whites, males, higher household income based on zip code, being covered under Medicaid, transfers, CCI ≥ 5, and discharges in the western US. Median household income based on the patient's zip code was well-balanced between those who lived and those who died (P = 0.091). However, payers were not evenly distributed between the two groups (P < 0.0001 for the overall comparison). A higher proportion of discharges associated with in-hospital mortality were covered under Medicare (70% vs. 65% in the died vs. lived groups, respectively). Fewer discharges were associated with death if they were covered by commercial insurance or paid for out-of-pocket (15% vs. 19% for commercial insurance and 3% vs. 5% for out-of-pocket). In-hospital mortality was associated with a longer length of hospital stay (5.6 days vs. 4.5 days; P < 0.0001) and higher costs ($16,815 vs. $11,859; P < 0.0001). Variables that were significantly associated with lower total costs were older age, having commercial insurance, paying out-of-pocket or other payers, not being admitted through the emergency department, having a lower comorbidity index (CCI = 1-2), and being discharged from a hospital that was small- or medium-sized, located in the Midwest or South, and/or was non-teaching (rural or urban).

Role of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Morbidity and Mortality for Patients Admitted With Pulmonary Hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: The association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and morbidity and mortality in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is unknown. Our objective was to examine the difference in socio-demographics, comorbidities, and morbidity/mortality in PH patients also diagnosed with GERD, compared to PH patients without GERD. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of the large U.S. National Inpatient Sample identifying patients with a primary diagnosis of primary pulmonary hypertension (PH). All patients ≥ 18 years old that were admitted with a primary diagnosis of PH from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2013, in the NIS database were included. We analyzed the socio-demographic and clinical comorbidities in PH patients with and without GERD. We investigated the predictors for complications of PH and differences in hospital utilization in this population. RESULTS: PH patients with GERD were more likely to be older than 18-29 years. They were more likely to be Caucasian and female and less likely to be part of the top 75% median income compared to the bottom 25%. Patients with GERD were more likely insured with Medicare or private insurance but less likely to have Medicaid or be uninsured. Patients were more likely to be obese, and have asthma, chronic bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and hypothyroidism but were less likely to have diabetes or a history of alcohol use. PH Patients with GERD were less likely to have myocardial infarctions, cardiac arrests, pulmonary embolisms, pulmonary hemorrhages, cardiac interventions, acute respiratory failure, acute renal failure, or urinary tract infections compared to those without GERD. Patients with GERD were, however, more likely to have acute heart failure exacerbations and aspiration pneumonia. Patients with a diagnosis of GERD had lower mortality, length of stay (LOS), and hospital costs compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: The concomitant presence of GERD is associated with fewer adverse outcomes in patients with PH. Though it is well understood that treatment of GERD is beneficial for lung disease, the exact role of GERD in PH has not been identified. This study helps characterize the important role appropriately treated GERD may play in preventing morbidity and mortality due to PH.

The Effects of Malnutrition on Inpatient Outcomes in Patients With Gastroparesis: A Nationwide Analysis.

Introduction Gastroparesis (GP) is a chronic debilitating gastric motility disorder defined as delayed emptying of the stomach content without mechanical obstruction. It can result in nutritional deficiencies, leading to poor overall outcomes. We assessed the impact of malnutrition on in-hospital outcomes in patients with gastroparesis. Methods Patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of GP between January 2016 and December 2019 were included in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Data on patient demographics, hospital characteristics, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the etiology of gastroparesis were collected. The association between malnutrition and outcomes, including mortality, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), sepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI), length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization charges (THC), were analyzed using the multivariate regression model. Results A total of 182,580 patients with gastroparesis were included in the analysis. Patients with gastroparesis and malnutrition had a higher risk of mortality (adjusted odds ratio {aOR}, 3.29; p<0.001), sepsis (aOR, 0.43; p<0.001), DVT (aOR, 2.34; p<0.001), and PE (aOR, 2.68; p<0.001) compared to patients with gastroparesis without malnutrition. No significant difference was noted in the rates of AKI. Patients with malnutrition also had a prolonged LOS (2.96 days; p<0.001) and higher THC ($22,890; p<0.001) compared to patients without malnutrition. Conclusion Gastroparesis patients with malnutrition are at a greater risk of worse outcomes than those without malnutrition. The early identification of malnutrition in gastroparesis patients can predict morbidity and mortality and assist in risk stratification to enhance outcomes. Further studies are encouraged to identify factors associated with malnutrition in gastroparesis and the impact of interventions to prevent and treat malnutrition.