Elixhauser Comorbidity Index Score Research Articles

Comorbidities in Hispanic/Latino Veterans with epilepsy

BackgroundHispanic/Latino people with epilepsy may be at a differential risk of medical and psychiatric comorbidities given genetic, environmental, sociocultural, and quality of care factors. In people with epilepsy, comorbidities are especially crucial to investigate given the well-known impact on quality of life and risk of adverse outcomes. Yet, Hispanic/Latino Veterans with Epilepsy (HL-VWE) remain an understudied population. The present nationwide population study sought to investigate medical and psychiatric comorbidities in this group. MethodsData from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Corporate Data Warehouse administrative data were used to identify 56,556 VWE (5.7 % HL-VWE) using a one-year cross-sectional analysis of ICD codes. Elixhauser Comorbidity Index scores and psychiatric diagnoses were calculated based on ICD-9/ICD-10-CM diagnoses using a lookback period. Comparisons were made between HL-VWE and non-HL-VWE using chi-squared and student t-tests. Regression analyses were then performed to examine group differences while accounting for age. ResultsHL-VWE had higher probability of being diagnosed with several psychiatric conditions when accounting for age, including depression (OR 1.21, 95 % CI 1.13–1.31) and schizophrenia (OR 1.56, 95 % CI 1.31–1.84). There were no significant differences in medical comorbidities between the HL-VWE and non-HL-VWE groups. ConclusionsWe present results from the largest known study of HL people with epilepsy examining their psychiatric and medical comorbidities and one of the first to specifically study HL-VWE. Compared to non-HL-VWE, the Hispanic/Latino group had comparable medical comorbidity, but higher rates of multiple psychiatric conditions. Results indicate a need for increased screening and interventions in this population to reduce psychiatric disease burden.

174 Developing Mixed-Effects Models to Optimize Prediction of Postoperative Outcomes in a Modern Sample of Over 450,000 Patients Undergoing Elective Cervical Spine Fusion Surgery

INTRODUCTION: Cervical spine decompression and fusion surgery is commonly used to treat degenerative cervical spine pathologies.However, there is a paucity of high-quality data defining the optimal comorbidity indices specifically in patients undergoing cervical spine fusion surgery. METHODS: Using data from 2016–2019, we queried the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) to identify individuals who had received cervical spine fusion surgery. The Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups (JHACG) frailty-defining indicator was used to assess patient frailty. To measure the level of comorbidity, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) scores were queried. ROC curves were developed utilizing comorbidity indices as predictor variables for pertinent complications such as death, non-routine discharge, top-quartile cost, top-quartile length of stay (LOS), and one-year readmission. RESULTS: A total of 453,717 patients were eligible for analysis. Non-routine discharges occurred in 93,961 (20.7%) patients. The mean adjusted all-payer cost for the procedure was $22,573.14 ± $18,274.86 (Top Quartile: $26,775.80) and the mean LOS was 2.7 days ± 4.4 days (Top Quartile: 4.7 days). After surgery, there were 703 (0.15%) mortalities and 58,254 (12.8%) readmissions within one year post-operatively. Models using Frailty+ECI as the primary predictor consistently outperformed the ECI only model with statistically significant p-values, as determined by comparing respective AUCs, for most of the complications assessed. Cost and mortality were the only outcomes for which this was not the case, as Frailty outperformed both ECI and Frailty+ECI in cost (p < 0.0001 for all) and Frailty+ECI preformed as well as ECI alone in mortality (p = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that Frailty+ECI may most accurately predict clinical outcomes in patients receiving cervical spine surgery. These models may be used to identify high risk populations and patients who may necessitate greater resource utilization.

Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Patients with Osteoporosis Undergoing Spine Fusion Surgery in Japan.

Spinal fusion surgery with instrumentation is a treatment of choice for many spinal disorders; however, there is little data related to factors associated with early and late outcomes, especially among patients with poor bone quality (e.g., osteoporosis). We conducted this study to characterize the epidemiology and outcomes of patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery with instrumentation in Japan, especially in patients with poor bone quality and those needing additional fixation methods. This retrospective observational study used real-world health insurance claims data from the Japanese Medical Data Vision. Adult patients undergoing an index spinal fusion procedure from April 1, 2010, to September 30, 2017, with procedural details, length of stay (LOS), total in-hospital costs, spine-related reoperation, all-cause readmission, and postoperative complications recorded. Data were summarized descriptively overall, by osteoporosis status, and additional fixation method used, and were analyzed in bivariate analyses. Multivariate logistic and linear regressions were used to explore associations between covariates and variables of interest. A total of 22,932 patients (mean age, 67.3 years; 51.2% male) met the study criteria and were included. A total of 5,288 (23.0%) patients had osteoporosis, and 2,507 (10.9%) needed additional fixation methods; these patients were older, more frequently female, and had higher Elixhauser comorbidity index scores. Osteoporosis and additional fixation use were also associated with longer LOS, higher hospital costs, and higher rates of complications. Patients with osteoporosis and those needing additional fixation methods have a higher risk for procedural and postoperative complications, reoperation, longer LOS, and higher total hospital costs.

Effectiveness of an Artificial Intelligence–Enabled Intervention for Detecting Clinical Deterioration

Inpatient clinical deterioration is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality but may be easily missed by clinicians. Early warning scores have been developed to alert clinicians to patients at high risk of clinical deterioration, but there is limited evidence for their effectiveness. To evaluate the effectiveness of an artificial intelligence deterioration model-enabled intervention to reduce the risk of escalations in care among hospitalized patients using a study design that facilitates stronger causal inference. This cohort study used a regression discontinuity design that controlled for confounding and was based on Epic Deterioration Index (EDI; Epic Systems Corporation) prediction model scores. Compared with other observational research, the regression discontinuity design facilitates causal analysis. Hospitalized adults were included from 4 general internal medicine units in 1 academic hospital from January 17, 2021, through November 16, 2022. An artificial intelligence deterioration model-enabled intervention, consisting of alerts based on an EDI score threshold with an associated collaborative workflow among nurses and physicians. The primary outcome was escalations in care, including rapid response team activation, transfer to the intensive care unit, or cardiopulmonary arrest during hospitalization. During the study, 9938 patients were admitted to 1 of the 4 units, with 963 patients (median [IQR] age, 76.1 [64.2-86.2] years; 498 males [52.3%]) included within the primary regression discontinuity analysis. The median (IQR) Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score in the primary analysis cohort was 10 (0-24). The intervention was associated with a -10.4-percentage point (95% CI, -20.1 to -0.8 percentage points; P = .03) absolute risk reduction in the primary outcome for patients at the EDI score threshold. There was no evidence of a discontinuity in measured confounders at the EDI score threshold. Using a regression discontinuity design, this cohort study found that the implementation of an artificial intelligence deterioration model-enabled intervention was associated with a significantly decreased risk of escalations in care among inpatients. These results provide evidence for the effectiveness of this intervention and support its further expansion and testing in other care settings.

A Cost Analysis of Surgical Approach in Total Hip Arthroplasty.

With pressures to decrease the financial burden of total hip arthroplasty (THA), it is imperative to understand the cost drivers of this procedure. This study evaluated operative and total encounter costs for two surgical approaches to THA-posterior (P) and direct anterior (DA). A total of 233 THAs (134 P and 99 DA) performed by two fellowship-trained arthroplasty surgeons from 2017 to 2022 were reviewed. Demographics, comorbidities, mobility status, operative time, length of stay, implants used, discharge location, and complications until final follow-up were recorded. Total encounter cost was collected and itemized. Multivariable regression analyses evaluated predictors of cost. There were differences in age (67 years for DA and 63 years for P; P=.03), body mass index (28.0 kg/m2 for DA and 33.8 kg/m2 for P; P<.01), Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score (4.6 for DA and 5.6 for P; P=.04), and operative time (2.1 hours for DA and 1.9 hours for P; P<.01) between the two cohorts. The DA cohort trended toward shorter length of stay, with the highest percentage of patients discharged home (86.9%; P=.02). The P cohort had the lowest encounter ($9601 for DA and $9100 for P; P=.20) and intraoperative (including implant used) ($7268 for DA and $6792 for P; P<.01) costs. The DA cohort had a significantly higher cost of radiology during the encounter ($244; P<.01). Regression analysis demonstrated that length of stay and DA approach were both predictors of increased encounter cost. The DA cohort had improved measures of health; however, this approach was associated with a higher operative cost and was predictive of increased encounter cost despite a shorter length of stay. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(3):e151-e156.].

Female Patients Undergoing Latarjet Surgery Show Similar 2-Year Secondary Surgery Rates but Greater Risk of Emergency Department Visits Compared With a Matched Cohort of Male Patients

To evaluate sex-based differences in 30-day postoperative emergency department (ED) visits, 90-day complication rates, and 2-year secondary surgery rates after the Latarjet procedure for the treatment of recurrent shoulder instability. A national administrative claims database was used to identify patients with International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnosis codes for shoulder subluxation or dislocation on the day of first-time stabilization with the Latarjet technique between 2015 and 2021. Male patients were matched 4:1 to female patients based on age, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) score, and body mass index class. Rates of 30-day ED visits and 90-day complications were compared between cohorts, and risk factors for ED visits were identified by multivariate regression. The incidence of secondary surgery within 2 years was compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Prior to matching, 1,059 male and 360 female patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subsequent 4:1 (male-to-female) matching controlling for age, ECI score, and body mass index yielded 694 male and 185 female patients who underwent the Latarjet procedure. The overall incidence of 30-day ED visits was 9.3%, with an incidence of 8.2% for male patients and 13.5% for female patients. On the basis of multivariate logistic regression, these 30-day ED visits were associated with female sex (odds ratio, 1.79; P= .029) and incrementally higher ECI scores; relative to an ECI score of 0, ECI scores of 1 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5 or greater were associated with odds ratios of 5.31 (P= .006), 8.12 (P < .001), and 12.84 (P < .001), respectively. Ninety-day complications occurred in 1.5% of the total cohort, and the incidence was not statistically different between sexes. Overall, 2-year secondary surgery rates were similar between male and female patients (5.1% and 6.7%, respectively; P= .4). Female patients undergoing the Latarjet procedure for recurrent shoulder instability showed similar 90-day complication and 2-year secondary surgery rates to a matched cohort of male patients. Female sex, along with ECI score, however, was associated with a greater rate of 30-day ED visits. Level III, retrospective comparative case series.

(242) Medicare Beneficiaries with Erectile Dysfunction Who Receive Inflatable Penile Prosthesis: A Real-World, Downstream Revenue Analysis

Abstract Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients, while also presenting challenges due to the limited access to effective treatment options. Given ED is recognized as a precursor for other chronic health conditions, increasing patient access to ED treatment through men’s health programs may provide economic benefits to a healthcare system through revenue generated from subsequent patient care for other comorbidities. Objective This study quantified the incremental downstream revenue generated from treating men with ED with an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) compared to men without ED. Methods This retrospective study used the 100% Medicare Standard Analytical Files to identify men aged 65 years or older with ED who underwent IPP implantation (Current Procedural Terminology 54405) in a hospital outpatient setting between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021. To capture 5-year downstream revenue, patients were required to have continuous Medicare Parts A and B enrollment for 12 months pre-index IPP and five years post-index IPP discharge date. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match men with ED who received an IPP to men without ED based on demographic and clinical characteristics. Revenue was defined as the sum of the payment for patient services received by hospitals from Medicare, other payor paid amounts, and patient deductibles, copayment, and coinsurance. The total revenue generated was estimated as follows: 1-year pre-IPP, 1-year post-IPP, and 5-year cumulative post-IPP. The 1-year and 5-year downstream revenue was captured post-IPP discharge date and excluded the revenue generated from the index IPP encounter. Revenue was inflated to 2022 US dollars. The mean values and their corresponding standard deviations (SD) were reported. Results Before PSM, the study identified 3,367 men with ED who received IPP and 10,609 men without ED or IPP (mean age: 70; White: 77% vs 79%; Southern region: 53% vs 45%; and Elixhauser comorbidity index score ≥3: 21% vs 20%). Among men undergoing IPP, the average revenue generated was $6,152 (SD: $12,934) at 1-year pre-IPP and $7,898 (SD: $17,794) at 1-year post-IPP. After PSM, the men with ED who received IPP showed a significantly higher 5-year cumulative revenue (n=2,905; mean=$34,571 [SD=$50,234]) compared to the men without ED (n=7,462; mean=$3,189 [SD=$11,527]), respectively. The 5-year cumulative average revenue varied by type of diagnosis: circulatory disease (n=1,597; cost difference=$10,258), urology (n=1,358; cost difference=$2,013), diabetes diagnosis (n=562; cost difference=$2,646), and prostate cancer diagnosis (n=551; cost difference=-$1,043). All statistical analysis results post-PSM are significant at p-value less than 0.05. Conclusions Men with ED who received IPP generated substantially higher revenue for the healthcare system over a 5-year period, nearly ten times as much, compared to men without ED, excluding the initial cost of the IPP procedure. These findings emphasize the financial implications of implementing an advanced ED program aimed at improving access to necessary care for these patients. Healthcare facilities can leverage these insights to effectively allocate resources to deliver critical healthcare to men with ED. Disclosure Yes, this is sponsored by industry/sponsor: Boston Scientific. Clarification: Industry initiated, executed and funded study. Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: This study was funded by Boston Scientific. Abimbola O. Williams, Sirikan Rojanasarot, Gregory Moore, Alysha M. McGovern, Liesl M. Hargens, and Erin Turner are employees of Boston Scientific. Paurush Babbar is a practicing urologist at The Urology Group in Cincinnati, Ohio and discloses no financial interests. Andrew Sun is a practicing urologist at Urology Partners of North Texas and serves as a consultant for Boston Scientific, Endo Pharmaceuticals, and Marius Pharmaceuticals. Paurush Babbar and Andrew Sun were not compensated for their participation in this study.

Reliable Prediction of Discharge Disposition Following Cervical Spine Surgery With Ensemble Machine Learning and Validation on a National Cohort.

A retrospective cohort study. The purpose of this study is to develop a machine learning algorithm to predict nonhome discharge after cervical spine surgery that is validated and usable on a national scale to ensure generalizability and elucidate candidate drivers for prediction. Excessive length of hospital stay can be attributed to delays in postoperative referrals to intermediate care rehabilitation centers or skilled nursing facilities. Accurate preoperative prediction of patients who may require access to these resources can facilitate a more efficient referral and discharge process, thereby reducing hospital and patient costs in addition to minimizing the risk of hospital-acquired complications. Electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed from a single-center data warehouse (SCDW) to identify patients undergoing cervical spine surgeries between 2008 and 2019 for machine learning algorithm development and internal validation. The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried to identify cervical spine fusion surgeries between 2009 and 2017 for external validation of algorithm performance. Gradient-boosted trees were constructed to predict nonhome discharge across patient cohorts. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to measure model performance. SHAP values were used to identify nonlinear risk factors for nonhome discharge and to interpret algorithm predictions. A total of 3523 cases of cervical spine fusion surgeries were included from the SCDW data set, and 311,582 cases were isolated from NIS. The model demonstrated robust prediction of nonhome discharge across all cohorts, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.87 (SD=0.01) on both the SCDW and nationwide NIS test sets. Anterior approach only, age, elective admission status, Medicare insurance status, and total Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score were the most important predictors of discharge destination. Machine learning algorithms reliably predict nonhome discharge across single-center and national cohorts and identify preoperative features of importance following cervical spine fusion surgery.

Factors in Hand Surgery Access for Rheumatoid Arthritis Before vs After the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has severe functional and economic consequences. The implications of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and demographic factors for access to surgical treatment are unclear. To investigate factors associated with time to RA hand surgery, surgical incidence, and cost after implementation of the ACA. This cross-sectional study used insurance data from the IBM MarketScan Research Databases from 2009 through 2020 to compare time to surgery, surgical incidence, and treatment cost for RA of the hand before and after ACA implementations. Included patients were 18 years or older with a new diagnosis for RA of the hand and at least 1 procedural code for arthroplasty, arthrodesis, tenolysis, tendon repair, or tendon transfer. Patients with coexisting inflammatory arthritis diagnoses were excluded. Demographic variables analyzed included patient sex, age at index date, residence within or outside a metropolitan statistical area (MSA; hereafter urban or nonurban), insurance and health plan type, Social Deprivation Index, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score, and Rheumatic Disease Comorbidity Index. Data analysis occurred from October 2022 to April 2023. Surgery for RA of the hand during the pre-ACA (before 2014) vs post-ACA (2014 or later) periods. Time to surgery, surgical incidence, and cost of treating RA in patients undergoing hand surgery for RA. Among 3643 patients (mean [SD] age, 57.6 [12.3] years) who underwent hand surgery for RA, 3046 (83.6%) were women. Post-ACA passage, 595 (86.2%) patients who resided in urban areas had a significantly lower time to surgery than those who did not (-70.5 [95% CI, -112.6 to -28.3] days; P < .001). Among urban patients, the least socially disadvantaged patients experienced the greatest decrease in time to surgery after ACA but the change was not statistically significant. For all patients, greater social disadvantage (ie, a higher SDI score) was associated with a longer time to surgery in the post-ACA period; for example, compared with the least socially disadvantaged group (SDI decile, 0-10), patients in SDI decile 10 to 20 waited an additional 254.0 days (95% CI, 65.2 to 442.9 days; P = .009) before undergoing surgery. Compared with the pre-ACA period, the mean surgical incidence in the post-ACA period was 83.4% lower (162.3 vs 26.9 surgeries per 1000 person-years; P < .001), and surgical incidence was 86.3% lower in nonurban populations (27.2 vs 3.7 surgeries per 1000 person-years; P < .001) but only 82.8% lower in urban populations (135.1 vs 23.2 surgeries per 1000 person-years; P < .001). Per capita total costs of all treatment related to RA of the hand decreased in the post-ACA period but the change was not statistically significant. Insurer-paid costs were lower in the post-ACA period but the change was not statistically significant. Out-of-pocket expenses did not change. Findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that after ACA passage, disparities exist in access to timely, cost-effective hand surgery for RA. Increased access to surgical hand specialists is needed for nonurban residents and those with greater social deprivation, along with insurance policy reforms to further decrease out-of-pocket spending for RA hand surgery.

Risk Factors for Reoperation Following Single-Level Cervical Disc Arthroplasty as Utilized in a Representative Sample of United States Clinical Practice: A Retrospective PearlDiver Study.

Retrospective Cohort. Most data regarding cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) outcomes are from highly controlled clinical trials with strict inclusion/exclusion criteria. This study aimed to identify risk factors for CDA reoperation, in "real world" clinical practice using a national insurance claims database. The PearlDiver database was queried for patients (2010-2020) who underwent a subsequent cervical procedure following a single-level CDA. Patients with less than 2 years follow-up were excluded. Primary outcome was to evaluate risk factors for reoperation. Secondary outcome was to evaluate the types of reoperations. Risk factors were compared using descriptive statistics. Multivariate regression analyses were used to ascertain the association among risk factors and reoperation. Of 14,202 patients who met inclusion criteria, 916 (6.5%) underwent reoperation. Patients undergoing reoperation were slightly older with higher Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) scores, however both were not risk factors for reoperation. Patients with diagnoses such as smoking, myelopathy, inflammatory disorders, spinal deformity, trauma, or a history of prior cervical surgery were at greater risk for reoperation. No association was found between the year of index surgery and reoperation risk. The most common reoperation procedure was cervical fusion. As billed for in the United States since 2010, CDA was associated with a 6.5% reoperation rate over a mean follow-up time of 5.3 years. Smoking, myelopathy, inflammatory disorders, spinal deformity, and a history of prior cervical surgery or trauma are risk factors for reoperation following CDA. Though patients who underwent a reoperation were older, age was not found to be an independent risk factor for a subsequent procedure.

Charlson and Elixhauser Comorbidity Indices for Prediction of Mortality and Hospital Readmission in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Several risk stratification systems aid clinicians in classifying pulmonary embolism (PE) severity and prognosis. We compared 2 clinical PE scoring systems, the PESI and sPESI scores, with 2 comorbidity indices, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the val Walraven Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI), to determine the utility of each in predicting mortality and hospital readmission. Information was collected from 436 patients presenting with PE via retrospective chart review. The PESI, sPESI, CCI, and ECI scores were calculated for each patient. Multivariate analysis was used to determine each system's ability to predict in-hospital mortality, 90-day mortality, overall mortality, and all-cause hospital readmission. The impact of various demographic and clinical characteristics of each patient on these outcomes was also assessed. The PESI score was found to be an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality and 90-day mortality. The PESI score and the CCI were able to independently predict overall mortality. None of the 4 risk scores independently predicted hospital readmission. Other factors including hypoalbuminemia, serum BNP, coagulopathy, anemia, and diabetes were associated with increased mortality and readmission at various endpoints. The PESI score was the best tool for predicting mortality at any endpoint. The CCI may have utility in predicting long-term outcomes. Further work is needed to better determine the roles of the CCI and ECI in predicting patient outcomes in PE. The potential prognostic implications of low serum albumin and anemia at the time of PE also warrant further investigation.

Adverse Events After Isolated Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A National Database Study.

Optimal management after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury remains an active area of research, as reconstruction is technically challenging and poses unique risks in the posterior knee. Studies have reported variable rates of complications. To describe the rates of readmission, emergency department (ED) visits, and postoperative complications within 90 days of isolated PCL reconstruction (PCLR) in a large, national cohort to better understand the perioperative variables that influence a practitioner's decision of whether to pursue operative versus nonoperative management. Descriptive epidemiology study. PCLRs from January 1, 2010, through August 31, 2020, were identified in PearlDiver, a national administrative database. Patients with concomitant ligament surgery and those with fewer than 90 days of postoperative database activity were excluded. Deep vein thromboses, pulmonary embolisms, surgical site infections, compartment syndrome, and vascular events within 90 days of surgery were identified, as were 90-day readmissions and ED visits. Logistic regression models were built in PearlDiver to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for ED utilization. The final cohort consisted of 1154 patients with isolated PCLR (mean age, 34 ± 16 years; 62% male). Most patients were located in the Southern United States (n = 417; 36.1%), and most had commercial insurance (n = 992; 86%). The 90-day rates of adverse events were as follows: deep vein thrombosis (13; 1.1%), pulmonary embolism (19; 1.6%), surgical site infection (<11; <1%), compartment syndrome (<11; <1%), vascular event (<11; <1%), readmission (13, 1.1%), and ED utilization (99; 8.6%). The majority of emergency department visits (52%) occurred in the first 2 weeks postoperatively. Predictive factors for ED utilization included Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score (OR = 1.31 per 2-point increase) and Medicaid insurance (OR = 2.03 relative to commercial insurance). The current study reported rates of adverse events after isolated PCLR in a large, national cohort. The results provide important context for decisions about optimal management of PCL injury.

Utilization of Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty in the Management of Compression Fractures: National Trends and Predictors of Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty.

The purpose of this study is to examine the utilization of kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty procedures in the management of compression fractures. With the growing elderly population and the associated increase in rates of osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures have become a daily encounter for spine surgeons. However, there remains a lack of consensus on the optimal management of this patient population. A retrospective analysis of 91 million longitudinally followed patients from 2016 to 2019 was performed using the PearlDiver Patient Claims Database. Patients with compression fractures were identified using International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision codes, and a subset of patients who received kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty were identified using Common Procedural Terminology codes. Baseline demographic and clinical data between groups were acquired. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of receiving kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty. A total of 348,457 patients with compression fractures were identified with 9.2% of patients receiving kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty as their initial treatment. Of these patients, 43.5% underwent additional kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty 30 days after initial intervention. Patients receiving kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty were significantly older (72.2 vs. 67.9, p < 0.05), female, obese, had active smoking status and had higher Elixhauser Comorbidity Index scores. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that female sex, smoking status, and obesity were the 3 strongest predictors of receiving kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty (odds ratio, 1.27, 1.24, and 1.14, respectively). The annual rate of kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty did not change significantly (range, 8%-11%). The majority of vertebral compression fractures are managed nonoperatively. However, certain patient factors such as smoking status, obesity, female sex, older age, osteoporosis, and greater comorbidities are predictors of undergoing kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty.

CHANGES IN MULTIMORBIDITY AMONG HOSPITALIZED ADULTS IN THE US

Abstract Having multiple chronic health conditions, or multimorbidity, is common among adult inpatients and is associated with risk of death, disability, and reduced quality of life. This investigation examines prevalence trends of multimorbidity over time among inpatients based on age, sex, and race and assesses hospitalization rates for individual diseases over time. Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 2012-2018 US National Inpatient Sample datasets was completed. Participants were hospitalized patients ≥55y from community hospitals. ICD-9 and 10 codes for admitting diagnoses were used to calculate disease burden using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI). Unweighted mean index scores and admission rates for diseases were compared. Mean age for the sample was 72y, and inpatients were mostly female (53%) and White (77%). The mean comorbidity scores increased across the sample: mean CCI increased from 1.69 to 1.97 and mean ECI increased from 3.66 to 4.14. Comorbidity scores were higher over time with increasing age until about age 80-84 (for CCI) and age 85-89 (for ECI) and increased similarly among males and females. Black and Native American inpatients had the largest increase in mean CCI and ECI scores. Comorbidities with increased hospitalization rates included congestive heart failure (+5%), dementia (+6%), complicated diabetes (+14%), complicated hypertension (+17%), renal disease/failure (+5%), and obesity (+5%). Growing disease burden among inpatients supports the continued need for programs aiming to prevent and treat chronic diseases and multimorbidity, especially among underrepresented populations including Black and Native American communities.

Abstract A120: Social risks among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in a US-based integrated delivery system

Abstract Purpose: Adolescent and young adult (AYA; diagnosed between the ages of 15-39) cancer survivors are at increased risk of experiencing social risk factors, including financial toxicity, food, housing, and transportation difficulties associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment. Screening for social risks has been shown to be associated with improved health and healthcare outcomes. There is an increased emphasis on implementing social risk screening as part of routine healthcare. However, oncology practices do not routinely assess for and assist patients with social risks, thereby missing a crucial aspect of cancer care. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of social risks among AYA cancer survivors in a United States-based integrated health system. Methods: We analyzed data from 330 AYA members of Kaiser Permanente Northwest (Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington) who were diagnosed with cancer, either pre- or post-completion of 1 or more social risk screenings between January 1, 2017, to January 30, 2022 (first screening defined as the index date). Four social risk domains (financial hardship, food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation difficulties) were assessed based on patient self-report to indicate the presence or absence of each domain (binary: yes or no). A binary, composite variable was created to assess any social risk (i.e., the presence of any social risk) versus no social risk. Descriptive statistics, including a chi-square test and t-test, were used to compare the prevalence of social risks among AYA cancer survivors overall and by time since cancer diagnosis. Results: Of the 330 patients, the majority were female (n=229, 69%), identified as non-Hispanic white (n=251, 76%), and had an Elixhauser comorbidity index score of 3+ conditions (n=115, 35%). Most AYAs were diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 30-39 (n=181, 59%), and 43% of the AYAs had been diagnosed &amp;lt;1 year (n=141). Overall, the majority of AYA members were diagnosed with cancer prior to their social risk screening (n=301, 91%). We found that nearly one-quarter of patients reported at least one social risk (n=64, 19%), with financial hardship as the most common (14%), followed by food insecurity (9%), housing instability (8%), and transportation difficulties (3%). A greater proportion of patients diagnosed &amp;lt;1 year reported having &amp;gt; 1 social risk (40%), followed by patients diagnosed 1 to &amp;lt;5 years (37%) and patients who had been diagnosed 5+ years (23%). Conclusion: Despite the critical need for strategies to identify and address social risks within the oncology setting, few studies have explored the prevalence and impact of social risks among AYA cancer survivors. Our results suggest that AYA cancer survivors experience the highest burden of social risks proximal to a cancer diagnosis. This work demonstrates the importance of assessing and addressing social risks for AYA cancer survivors. Future studies are needed to evaluate the longitudinal effects of social risks on AYA cancer survivors’ healthcare use and subsequent health outcomes. Citation Format: Carol Y. Ochoa-Dominguez, Kimberly A. Miller, Maria Elena Martinez, David M. Mosen, John F. Dickerson, Ana I. Velázquez Mañana, Matthew P. Banegas. Social risks among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in a US-based integrated delivery system [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A120.

Validation of the DANCAMI, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, and the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index for predicting mortality in patients with infective endocarditis

Abstract Introduction Comorbidity scores are often used to adjusted for confounding by comorbidity burden in population-based research as they increase statistical efficiency in smaller study populations. However, there is currently no comorbidity index available for predicting infective endocarditis prognosis. This gap in the literature hinders the ability to accurately adjust for confounding in studies investigating the prognosis of infective endocarditis, highlighting the need of validating existing comorbidity indices for this purpose. Purpose To validate the discriminatory ability of the Danish Comorbidity Index for Acute Myocardial Infarction (DANCAMI), the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) for predicting in-hospital, 1-year, and 10-year all-cause mortality after infective endocarditis. Methods We used nationwide Danish health registries to identify all patients with a first-time inpatient, primary or secondary diagnosis for infective endocarditis between 1995 and 2021 and their comorbidities. When identifying the comorbidities, we used all in and outpatient hospital information in the 10 years before the infective endocarditis diagnosis. Based on the presence of comorbidities, we estimated the DANCAMI, the CCI, and the ECI scores for each patient. Using a logistic regression model, we calculated area under the receiver operating curves (AUCs) for a baseline model including age and sex and for models including the scores from the comorbidity indices plus age and sex for in-hospital, 1-year, and 10-year all-cause mortality. The AUC describes the probability that for a pair of random patients, the model will assign a greater predicted risk to the patient dying. Results Overall, we identified 12,530 patients with infective endocarditis. The median age was 71 years and 35% were females. For the individual analyses, we had complete follow-up on 12,493 patients when predicting in-hospital mortality, 11,587 when predicting 1-year mortality, and 5,880 patients when predicting 10-year mortality. For in-hospital mortality, the AUCs were 0.62 for the baseline model, 0.65 for the DANCAMI, 0.64 for the CCI, and 0.65 for the ECI. For 1-year mortality, the AUCs were 0.66 for the baseline model, 0.71 for the DANCAMI, 0.70 for the CCI, and 0.70 for the ECI. For 10-year mortality, the AUCs were 0.76 for the baseline model, 0.82 for the DANCAMI, 0.81 for the CCI, and 0.81 for the ECI. Conclusions After accounting for sex and age, adding either the DANCAMI, the CCI, or the ECI did not increase the discriminatory ability for predicting in-hospital all-cause mortality after infective endocarditis but did increase the discriminatory ability for predicting 1-year and 10-year all-cause mortality. Consequently, comorbidity scores might be beneficial in reducing confounding by comorbidity burden when predicting 1-year or 10-year infective endocarditis mortality, depending on their association with the exposure of interest.

Intramedullary vs Plate Fixation of Distal Fibular Fractures: Use Rates, Fracture Patterns, Patient Characteristics, and Complication Rates

Category: Trauma; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: The traditional surgical treatment for distal fibula fractures is open reduction and plate fixation (PF). However, intramedullary fixation (IMF) has been shown to provide advantages over plate fixation, particularly in patients and injuries with higher risks of soft tissue complications. Current evidence comparing the two fixation types remains scarce and is limited by modest sample sizes. Using a large national database, this retrospective cohort study aims to examine differences in use rates, associated fracture patterns, patient characteristics (e.g. age, gender, comorbidities, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI)), and complication rates between fibular IMF and PF within the United States. Methods: Patients (age≥18) with lower leg or ankle fractures treated with fibular IMF or PF between October 2015 and October 2021 were identified using a United States insurance claims database. The monthly ratio of IMF-treated patients to PF-treated patients was tracked over time to compare use rates. Fracture patterns were determined using fracture diagnoses within one month preceding surgery. Further analyses of patient characteristics and complication rates only included fibula fracture patients with 12 months of post-operative follow-up, and patients with concomitant upper tibia or tibia shaft fractures were excluded. To compare complication rates, a 1:4 (IMF:PF) matched comparison was performed, controlling for age, gender, high-energy (i.e. pilon, lower tibia, and trimalleolar) fractures, diabetes, tobacco use, obesity, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Comparisons were conducted using chi-squared tests for categorical variables and t-tests for means. Ordinary least squares regression was used to visualize the trend in monthly relative use rates. Results: In total, 39329 patients (2294 IMF, 37035 PF) were identified. IMF use trended upwards relative to PF use over time (Figure 1). Tibia and fibula shaft fractures were the most common fractures in IMF patients versus trimalleolar and bimalleolar fractures in PF patients. A higher proportion of IMF patients had open fractures (p &lt; 0.01). 627 IMF and 29703 PF patients were included for further analysis of patient characteristics and complications. The IMF cohort was younger, with higher mean ECI, fewer females, and higher rates of CKD (ps &lt; 0.01). No significant differences in diabetes, tobacco use, or obesity rates were identified. Among 316 IMF and 1254 PF matched patients, no significant differences in infection, nonunion, malunion, revision, hardware removal, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis rates were found. Conclusion: The upward trend in the ratio of IMF-treated to PF-treated patients suggests that the popularity of IMF is steadily rising. The higher rate of concomitant tibia shaft fractures and open fractures seen among IMF-treated patients in this study is consistent with the use of fibular IMF in cases involving higher-energy trauma and soft-tissue disruption. Higher ECI scores and rates of CKD in IMF patients also suggest that IMF is used more frequently in medically complex patients with impaired wound healing. Lastly, fibular IMF appears to be a viable alternative to PF when used in similar populations.

Adverse Events After Ankle Fracture Open Reduction Internal Fixation Among Patients With and Without Documented Cannabis and Tobacco Use.

Ankle fractures are common orthopaedic injuries that may be indicated for open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). Although the negative impact of tobacco use on perioperative outcomes of ankle fracture ORIF has been described, the potential impact of cannabis use on related outcomes is not as well established. Retrospective database study of adult patients undergoing ankle ORIF for closed, isolated, ankle fractures from the 2010-2021 Q1 PearlDiver M151 data set. Subcohorts without and with cannabis and/or tobacco use were identified based on coding and matched based on patient age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) scores to yield groups of nonusers, tobacco users, tobacco and cannabis users, and cannabis users. Ninety-day adverse events were assessed between matched subcohorts with multivariable logistic regression controlling for age, sex, and ECI. A total of 149 289 patients met study inclusion criteria for whom tobacco only use was documented for 14 989 (10.0%), tobacco and cannabis use for 2726 (1.8%), and cannabis only use for 867 (0.6%). Matching yielded 823 for each group. On multivariable analyses, isolated tobacco users were at higher odds of 90-day urinary tract infections (UTIs) (odds ratio [OR] 2.64), minor adverse events (OR 2.33), all-cause adverse events (OR 2.17), readmissions (OR 1.85), and severe adverse events (OR 1.84). Tobacco and cannabis comorbid users were at a marginally higher odds of 90-day UTI (OR 2.82), minor adverse events (OR 2.51), readmissions (OR 2.39), and any adverse events (OR 2.22). Cannabis only users were not at greater odds of 90-day adverse events relative to nonusers. Patients with tobacco use (alone or with cannabis) were at greater odds of 90-day adverse events following ankle fracture ORIF, but cannabis only users were not. Level III, Retrospective database study.

Rett Syndrome-Associated Scoliosis: Analysis of National Trends and Treatment Patterns of a Rare Indication for Posterior Instrumented Fusion.

Retrospective database cohort study. To evaluate U.S. treatment trends and inpatient outcomes for children undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for Rett syndrome (RTT)-associated scoliosis (RAS). RTT is a rare, sporadic neurodevelopmental disorder presenting in childhood with developmental regression, ataxia, and seizures. RAS occurs in 50% to 80% of cases of RTT, but little is known about the case volume and perioperative experience for children undergoing PSF. Using the International Classification of Diseases Ninth and 10th revision codes in the national Kids' Inpatient Database, we identified children with RTT who underwent PSF from 2000 to 2019. Annual case volumes were analyzed. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared with those of a cohort of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS). Among 220 patients with RAS, 216 (98.2%) were females (mean age at surgery: 12.3±3.3yr). Surgical case incidence steadily increased over 19 years, with more RAS admissions in the South (31.4%). Overall, patients with RAS demonstrated a higher mean Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score (2 vs . 1, P < 0.001) and had more perioperative complications (41.4% vs . 18%, P < 0.001) than patients with NMS. RTT diagnosis independently predicted higher odds of any complications (odds ratio: 1.98, P < 0.001) and increased length of stay (odds ratio: 1.18, P = 0.009) for admissions for PSF. Surgical treatment for RAS is rare but increased over a 19-year period. Cases appear to be clustering by region, with the highest proportion in the South. The higher Elixhauser Comorbidity Index in RAS patients predicted higher costs, longer hospital stays, more complications (particularly respiratory), and more nonroutine discharge disposition than in other patients with NMS. RTT was independently associated with higher odds of complications and longer length of stay. Because RAS cases appear to be increasing in number, future studies should emphasize methods to reduce morbidity and investigate deformity-specific metrics to help better understand this population.

Thirty-Day Readmission Among Patients With Uncomplicated Choledocholithiasis: A Nationwide Readmission Database Analysis.

We aimed to determine the rate of 30-day hospital readmissions of uncomplicated choledocholithiasis and its impact on mortality and health care use in the United States. Nonelective admissions for adults with uncomplicated choledocholithiasis were selected from the Nationwide Readmission Database 2016-2018. The primary outcome was the all-cause 30-day readmission rate. Secondary outcomes were reasons for readmission, readmission mortality rate, procedures, and resource use (length of stay and total hospitalization costs and charges). Independent risk factors for readmission were identified using Cox regression analysis. The 30-day rate of readmission was 9.3%. Biliary and pancreatic disorders and postprocedural complications accounted for 36.6% and 10.3% of readmission, respectively. The mortality rate among patients readmitted to the hospital was higher than that for index admissions (2.0% vs. 0.4%, P <0.01). Readmitted patients were less likely to receive endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (61% vs. 69%, P <0.01) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (12.5% vs. 26%, P <0.01) during the index admissions. A total of 42,150 hospital days was associated with readmission, and the total health care in-hospital economic burden was $112 million (in costs) and $470 million (in charges). Independent predictors of readmission were male sex, Medicare (compared with private) insurance, higher Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score, no endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or laparoscopic cholecystectomy, postprocedural complications of the digestive system, hemodynamic or respiratory support, urban hospitals, and lower hospital volume of uncomplicated choledocholithiasis. The uncomplicated choledocholithiasis 30-day readmission rate is 9.3%. Readmission was associated with higher mortality, morbidity, and resource use. Multiple independent predictors of readmission were identified.