When is Surgery Performed? Trends, Demographic Associations, and Phenotypical Characterization of Baseline Patient-Reported Outcomes Before Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract

Evaluating trends and drivers of baseline patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is critical to understanding when patients and providers elect to undergo surgery. We aimed to assess the following: (1) 5-year trends in baseline PROMs pre-THA (total hip arthroplasty) stratified by patient determinants; (2) patient factor associated with poor preoperative hip pain/function; (3) phenotypes of combined pain/function PROMs at baseline; and (4) intersurgeon variability in PROM thresholds at surgery. A prospective cohort of 6,902 primary THAs was enrolled (January 2016 to December 2020). Patient/surgeon details and PROMs were collected at point of care preoperatively. Outcomes included trends (5 years; 20 quarters) in Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS)-Pain and HOOS-PS (Physical Function Short-Form), stratified by patient demographics. Patients were further classified into phenotype categories of above or equal to median pain/function (P+PS+); below median pain/function (P-PS-); above or equal to median pain but below median function (P+PS-); and below median pain but above or equal to median function (P-PS+). Baseline HOOS-Pain was consistent across the study period (P-trend= .166), while HOOS-PS demonstrated increasing function (P-trend= .015). Such trends were appreciable in males, females, and White (P-trend < .001, each) but not Black patients (P-trend= .67). Higher odds ratio (OR) of low baseline HOOS-Pain and HOOS-PS were detected among females (HOOS-Pain: OR 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55-1.98, P < .001; HOOS-PS: OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.38-1.77, P < .001), Black patients (HOOS-Pain: OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.35-2.82, P < .001; HOOS-PS: OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.34-1.89, P < .001), and smokers (HOOS-Pain: OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.29-1.89, P < .001; HOOS-PS: OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.25-1.85, P < .001). The P-PS- cohort (32.4%) had lowest age (65.2±11.1 years), highest body mass index (31.6±6.9 kg/m2), females (64.8%), Black (15.8%), and current smokers (12.2%). There was significant intersurgeon preoperative PROM variation in HOOS-Pain and HOOS-PS (P < .001, each). In contrast to the general population, Black patients have consistently received THA at lower functional levels throughout the 5-year period. Females, smokers, and Black patients were more likely to have poorer pain and function at THA. PROMs assessment as combined pain-function phenotypes may provide a more comprehensive interpretation of patient status preoperatively.