Risk factors for death within 90 days of Clostridium difficile infection

Abstract

Abstract Background The conducted analysis emphasizes increasing problem of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in Poland. There are no other publications based on Polish healthcare data that would more precisely indicate the impact of risk factors for death after the infection. The purpose of the analysis was to present the incidence of CDI in the overall population of Poland in the years 2009-2018 and to evaluate the risk factors for death within 90 days after CDI infection. Methods In order to detect the incidence of CDI the data of the National Health Fund from years 2009-2018 were used. Code A04.7 from International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) allowed to identify CDI. Risk factor analysis was based on 14 212 patients' hospitalizations in the year 2017. The risk factors were related to patient's medical history and demographic profile. Logistic regression was applied to estimate the impact of the defined variables on the death within 90 days after CDI infection. Results CDI incidence increased from 952 hospitalizations in 2009 to 14 582 hospitalizations in 2018. Morbidity of CDI infections (48,3/10 000 patient days in 2017) indicated Poland as the country with the highest prevalence in the European Union (average 2,38/10 000 patient days in 2016). 37,1% of the patients died within first 90 days after CDI infection in 2017. The most important factors that increases the chance of death are: age (>85 OR = 25,8, 65-84 OR = 10,5, 50-64 OR = 4,7 in comparison to age <50), AIDS/HIV (OR = 4,6), metastatic cancer (OR = 4,6), weight loss (OR = 2,6) and alcohol abuse (OR = 2,1). Conclusions The results indicated increasing problem of CDI in Poland. It is important to take precautions and use more effective treatment methods particularly in case of the most exposed populations. Furthermore, policy makers should pay attention to compliance with the principles of restricted sanitary procedures and increase awareness of CDI epidemiology among doctors. Key messages CDI is an increasing problem, unmentioned in health policy. Restricted sanitary procedures should be implemented in case of hospitalizations of older patients with comorbidities.