Median Total Charges Research Articles

NCOG-02. ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF ADJUVANT INTERSTITIAL BRACHYTHERAPY ON MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS: INSIGHTS FROM THE NATIONAL READMISSION DATABASE

Abstract Interstitial brachytherapy (IB) is a form of surgically administered radiotherapy involving the implant of radioactive seeds into the resection cavity after tumor excision. Advances in IB for brain cancers have revived interest in this treatment platform. However, the impact of this therapy on hospital quality measures remains poorly characterized. Here we utilized the National Readmission Database (NRD) to address this gap in knowledge. We identified patients with malignant brain tumors who had undergone either craniotomies (C) for tumor resection or craniotomies augmented with adjuvant interstitial brachytherapy (C+IB) in the National Readmission Database (NRD, 2010-2018). Propensity-score weighting and survey regression techniques were used for analysis. Over the study period, the number of craniotomies with adjuvant interstitial C+IB steadily decreased. For brain metastasis (BM) patients, C+IB and C patients exhibited comparable length of hospital stay (IRR:0.95, CI95:0.61-1.50, p=0.838) and routine discharge to home or self-care (OR:1.01, CI95:0.86-1.18, p=0.918). However, primary brain tumor (PBT) patients who underwent C+IB showed longer hospital stay (IRR:1.43, CI95:1.03-1.99, p=0.032) and are less likely to undergo routine discharge (OR: 0.38, CI95:0.20-0.74, p=0.005) relative to the C cohort. Despite these differences, C+IB and C patients showed comparable 30- or 90- day readmission risk. The profile of readmission diagnoses was also similar. Cost-analysis suggests that IB increased the median total charge by $19,184 (p=0.003). Our analysis suggests that adjuvant interstitial brachytherapy did not alter hospital course/readmission risk for brain metastasis patients. However, PBT patients who underwent this therapy showed longer hospitalization and increased likelihood for non-routine discharge.

Comparative analysis of readmission rates and outcomes: Sleeve gastrectomy with versus without Nissen fundoplication using a National Database.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is the most frequently performed bariatric procedure. To study the safety of LSG done with Nissen Fundoplication (NF) in patients affected by obesity and GERD and assess the complication rate. A retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2016 to 2019. A total of 236111 patients underwent LSG with and without NF. A matched cohort of 1096 without NF and 548 with NF was obtained. The median age of patients was 47 years old. Median length of hospital stay was higher in the LSG with NF group. Median total charge was higher in the LSG with NF group. There was no statistically significant difference in 30-day readmission rates in patients with obesity and GERD who received LSG with NF compared to those who received LSG alone. Complications after both procedures were low, which highlights the safety of both procedures.

Early versus delayed necrosectomy in pancreatic necrosis: A population-based cohort study on readmission, healthcare utilization, and in-hospital mortality.

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis is a severe and life-threatening condition. It poses a considerable challenge for clinicians due to its complex nature and the high risk of complications. Several minimally invasive and open necrosectomy procedures have been developed. Despite advancements in treatment modalities, the optimal timing to perform necrosectomy lacks consensus. To evaluate the impact of necrosectomy timing on patients with pancreatic necrosis in the United States. A national retrospective cohort study was conducted using the 2016-2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Patients with non-elective admissions for pancreatic necrosis were identified. The participants were divided into two groups based on the necrosectomy timing: The early group received intervention within 48 hours, whereas the delayed group underwent the procedure after 48 hours. The various intervention techniques included endoscopic, percutaneous, or surgical necrosectomy. The major outcomes of interest were 30-day readmission rates, healthcare utilization, and inpatient mortality. A total of 1309 patients with pancreatic necrosis were included. After propensity score matching, 349 cases treated with early necrosectomy were matched to 375 controls who received delayed intervention. The early cohort had a 30-day readmission rate of 8.6% compared to 4.8% in the delayed cohort (P = 0.040). Early necrosectomy had lower rates of mechanical ventilation (2.9% vs 10.9%, P < 0.001), septic shock (8% vs 19.5%, P < 0.001), and in-hospital mortality (1.1% vs 4.3%, P = 0.01). Patients in the early intervention group incurred lower healthcare costs, with median total charges of $52202 compared to $147418 in the delayed group. Participants in the early cohort also had a relatively shorter median length of stay (6 vs 16 days, P < 0.001). The timing of necrosectomy did not significantly influence the risk of 30-day readmission, with a hazard ratio of 0.56 (95% confidence interval: 0.31-1.02, P = 0.06). Our findings show that early necrosectomy is associated with better clinical outcomes and lower healthcare costs. Delayed intervention does not significantly alter the risk of 30-day readmission.

Comparing Wise Pattern to Non-Wise Pattern Skin Sparing Mastectomy: A Critical Evaluation of Patient Demographics and Surgical Outcomes.

Multiple skin-sparing incisions are utilized in immediate post-mastectomy breast reconstruction; however, the Wise pattern incision (WPI) may have superior cosmetic outcomes for large ptotic breasts compared to non-Wise pattern incisions (NWPI). We evaluated patient demographics and surgical outcomes with WPI versus NWPI. An electronic medical record search was performed for patients at a single academic institution from 2019 to 2022 with ICD-10-CM diagnosis code "Z42.1: encounter for breast reconstruction following mastectomy." Retrospective chart review evaluated patient demographics, intraoperative factors, postoperative complications, and surgical cost. 288 patients were included; 58 had WPI and 230 had NWPI. Median BMI differed between WPI (30.5) and NWPI (26.4) (P < 0.001). 57% of WPI had preoperative grade 3 ptosis versus 23% of NWPI (P < 0.001). No difference was found in median operative times (WPI: 219 minutes, NWPI: 194 minutes, P = 0.38). Overall rates of postoperative complications differed between WPI (62%) and NWPI (45%) on univariate, but not multivariate, analysis. Median total surgery charge was higher for WPI (WPI: $36,223, NWPI: $31,185, P < 0.001), while implant cost was higher for NWPI (WPI: $2,700, NPWI: $8,040, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in operative time, overall complication rate, or charge between incision types once adjusted for confounding factors. The higher complication rate in the WPI group was likely driven by higher BMI, a known risk factor for surgical complications regardless of approach. Surgeons can consider WPI as a noninferior option for patients with higher BMI and ptosis.

Cost Comparison of Digital Nerve Repair Techniques.

Direct cost comparison of nerve allograft with other techniques for repairing short digital nerve gaps are lacking. This study compares the costs of various techniques for digital nerve repair, anticipating significant cost increases for allograft implants. The State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Database for Florida, New York, and Wisconsin from 2015-2020 was used. Patients with primary repair, short autograft, conduit, and allograft were compared along total, surgical supply, operating room (OR), and anesthesia charges. Among 5,009 patients were 2,967 primary nerve repairs (59.2%), 77 autografts (1.5%), 1,647 conduits (32.9%), and 318 allografts (6.3%). 2,886 patients were male (57.6%) with mean age 40.4 ± 16.3 years. Over the study period, primary repairs decreased (63.9% in 2015 to 56.3% in 2020) while allografts increased significantly (8.8% in 2018 to 12.6% in 2020).Median total charges significantly varied across procedures, with the most expensive being allograft ($35,295), followed by conduit ($25,717), autograft ($24,749), and primary repair ($18,767). On multivariable regression, allograft is significantly more expensive than autograft for total charges by $11,224 (95CI: $4,196-$18,252) and supply charges by $10,484 (95CI: $6,073-$14,896), but not for OR or anesthesia charges. Flexor tendon repair was associated with greater total, OR, and anesthesia charges but similar supply charges. Nerve allograft is the most expensive digital nerve repair technique most likely due to the cost of the implant. To minimize health care expenditure and ensure equitable patient access, surgeons should consider this cost along with clinical factors in choosing digital nerve repair techniques.

TRENDS AND OUTCOMES IN SEPSIS HOSPITALIZATIONS WITH AND WITHOUT ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY: A NATIONWIDE INPATIENT ANALYSIS.

Background: Despite rapid advances in treatment, sepsis currently remains a major public health challenge worldwide. Over the past several years, there has been an increase in the clinical incidence of sepsis, as well as an increase in hospitalization rates, which bear the majority of the economic burden associated with sepsis. Sepsis is a public health burden due to the high fatality rates and accompanying morbidity. However, the sepsis-related mortality rates have fallen steadily over the years. One of the most common organs to fail in patients with sepsis is the kidney, and acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high mortality rates. This study's primary goal was to assess the impact of AKI on the evolution and outcome of hospitalization of patients with sepsis. Methods: Adults (≥18 years) hospitalized for sepsis in the United States between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed using the nationally representative Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Sepsis and AKI were defined using the codes of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification. Results: Of the 4,258,360 outcomes, 3,946,048 met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of AKI among sepsis inpatients increased from 39.10% in 2010 to 41% in 2019, but the impact of AKI on mortality declined over time, with in-hospital mortality from AKI among sepsis inpatients decreasing from 26.30% in 2010 to 16.30% in 2019. Hospitalizations linked to AKI were substantially more likely to involve infection sites such as the urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, and endocarditis. Numerous pathogenic floras, including Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcal , Enterococcus , and Pseudomonas , had greater rates among sepsis-related contacts with AKI. Furthermore, compared to hospitalization without comorbid AKI, the median total hospital charges and length of stay days for sepsis hospitalization with comorbid AKI were greater. Conclusion: With time, patients with sepsis have a higher frequency of AKI and a corresponding decline in mortality.

Racial, biological sex, and geographic disparities of venous thromboembolism in the United States, 2016 to 2019

BackgroundVenous thromboembolism (VTE) stands as the leading cause of preventable death within hospitals in the United States. Although there have been some studies investigating the incidence rates of VTE, there has yet to be a large-scale study elucidating disparities in sex, race, income, region, and seasons in patients with VTE. The goal of this study was to report the disparities in race, sex, income, region, and seasons in patients with VTE, pulmonary embolism (PE), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in hospitalized patients from 2016 to 2019. MethodsWe used the United States National Inpatients Sample database to identify inpatients diagnosed with PE, DVT, and PE and DVT from 2016 to 2019. The inpatient incidence per thousand was calculated for sex and race using the weighted sample model. The regional and monthly incidence of DVT and PE per thousand inpatients and risk of incidence were calculated. Patients' characteristics including hospital type, bed size, median length of stay, median total charges, and mortality were also collected. ResultsWe examined 455,111 cases of VTE, 177,410 cases of DVT, 189,271 cases of PE, and 88,430 cases of both DVT and PE combined. Over the study period, we observed a statistically significant trend among PE hospitalization incidences. There was a strong and positive correlation between DVT and PE inpatients. Black inpatients had the highest cumulative incidence of hospitalizations in all cohorts with 10.36 per 1000 in PE and 9.1 per 1000 in DVT. Asian and Pacific Islander inpatients had the lowest cumulative incidence with 4.42 per 1000 in PE and 4.28 per 1000 in DVT. Females showed the lowest cumulative incidence with 7.47 per 1000 in PE and 6.53 per 1000 in DVT. The Mountain region was the highest among PE hospitalizations with 9.62 per 1000. For DVT, the Middle Atlantic region was the highest at 8.65 per 1000. The in-hospital mortality rate was the highest among the PE hospitalizations at 7.3%. Also, the trend analysis showed significant increases among all groups. ConclusionsOver the study period (2016-2019), we report the racial, biological sex, and geographical disparities from the National Inpatient Sample database, highlighting that Black inpatients had the highest incidence of PE and DVT, whereas Asian/Pacific Islander inpatients had the lowest incidences of PE and DVT. Moreover, women had a lower incidence compared with men. The observed regional variations indicated that the incidence of PE was highest in the Mountain region, whereas the incidence of DVT was lowest in the Middle Atlantic region. There was an increase in the mortality of inpatients diagnosed with VTE reflecting the growing burden of this condition in the US health care system.

Resource Utilization and Risk Factors for Esophageal Injury in Pediatric Esophageal Foreign Bodies.

While management protocols of pediatric esophageal foreign bodies (EFBs) are well-delineated, resource utilization can be improved. This study's objectives were to explore hospital charges/costs for pediatric patients who present with EFBs and to identify patient risk factors associated with esophageal injury. A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing aerodigestive foreign body removal at a tertiary-care children's hospital from 2018 to 2021 was conducted. Data collected included demographics, medical history, presenting symptoms, EFB type, surgical findings, and hospital visit charges/costs. 203 patients were included. 178 of 203 (87.7%) patients were admitted prior to operation. Unwitnessed EFB ingestion (p < 0.001, OR = 15.1, 95% CI = 5.88-38.6), experiencing symptoms for longer than a week (p < 0.001, OR = 11.4, 95% CI = 3.66-38.6) and the following presenting symptoms increased the odds of esophageal injury: dysphagia (p = 0.04, OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.02-5.85), respiratory distress (p = 0.005, OR = 15.5, 95% CI = 2.09-181), coughing (p < 0.001, OR = 10.1, 95% CI = 3.73-28.2), decreased oral intake (p = 0.001, OR = 6.60, 95% CI = 2.49-17.7), fever (p = 0.001, OR = 5.52, 95% CI = 1.46-19.6), and congestion (p = 0.001, OR = 8.15, 95% CI = 2.42-27.3). None of the 51 asymptomatic patients had esophageal injury. The median total charges during the encounter was $20,808 (interquartile range: $18,636-$24,252), with operating room (OR) (median: $5,396; 28.2%) and inpatient admission (median: $5,520; 26.0%) contributing the greatest percentage. Asymptomatic patients with EFBs did not experience esophageal injury. The OR and inpatient observation accounted for the greatest percentage of the hospital charges. These results support developing a potential algorithm to triage asymptomatic patients to be managed on a same-day outpatient basis to improve the value of care. 3 Laryngoscope, 134:4774-4782, 2024.

Hospital usage for oral and dental conditions in Hawaii: A cross-sectional study using the 2021 Hawaii statewide hospital data.

To investigate the frequency of emergency department (ED) usage primarily for oral/dental conditions in Hawaii and to examine social-demographic factors associated with the identified ED visits. This was a cross-sectional study of the 2021 Hawaii Statewide Hospital data. We identified records indicating ED usage and a primary diagnosis of non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDC) and other oral dental conditions (OODC). Descriptive analyses of ED visits for NTDC and OODC were performed to identify vulnerable individuals based on age, sex, race/ethnicity, primary source of payment, county of residence, and total charges per hospital record. A multivariable negative binomial regression model included age, sex, and county of residence was used to obtain adjusted rate ratios (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of ED visits for NTDC. Among hospital records with diagnoses for oral or dental conditions (n = 12,336), 97% indicated ED, of which half had an NTDC diagnosis, and the remaining half had an OODC diagnosis. Distinct differences in the characteristics of ED visits were observed between NTDC and OODC. The median total charges per record indicating ED for NTDC and OODC were $1439 and $2439, respectively. A higher rate of ED visits for NTDC was found for those aged 21-44 (aRR [95%CI] = 3.02 [2.41, 3.80], reference: 0-9 years) and those living in a less populous county (Hawaii: 1.73 [1.43, 2.07]; Kauai: 1.78 [1.45, 2.19], reference: Honolulu). Continued effort to improve dental health is required to reduce ED visits for oral and dental conditions among Hawaii residents, especially for vulnerable individuals.

PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION ASSOCIATED STEATOTIC LIVER DISEASE IN A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT OF PATIENTS WITH ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Abstract BACKGROUND Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is observed in both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease, affecting around 27.5% of cases over an average duration of 4.6 years. However, data on the prevalence, associated predictors, and outcomes of MASLD in UC patients remains scarce. METHODS We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study to assess the prevalence, associated comorbidities, risk determinants, gastrointestinal complications, and hospitalization outcomes related to MASLD in UC patients. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient demographics and manifestations. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the predictors and consequences of MASLD among patients with UC. RESULTS 204,966 hospital discharges diagnosed with UC were extracted, 1.8% (3,733) of the patients had MASLD (Figure 1). Compared to UC patients without MASLD, those with MASLD had a significantly prolonged median length of stay (LOS) (6 days; IQR: 3-9 vs. 4 days; IQR: 2-6, P&amp;lt;0.002) and higher median total charges ($69,547 vs. $65,738, P&amp;lt;0.05) (Table 1). Patients with Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) had notably increased mortality rates (4.8% vs. 2.1%, P=0.004), longer median LOS (8 vs. 6 days, P&amp;lt;0.001), and greater median total charges ($81,152 vs. $65,752, P&amp;lt;0.001) than those without MASH. UC patients with MASLD had a higher prevalence of conditions such as diabetes mellitus (28.1% vs. 19.6%, P&amp;lt;0.001), obesity (26.8% vs. 11.2%, P&amp;lt;0.001), metabolic syndrome (0.7% vs. 0.1%, P&amp;lt;0.001), dyslipidemia (33.2% vs. 28.6%, P&amp;lt;0.001), and vitamin D deficiency (4.1% vs. 2.7%, P&amp;lt;0.001). They also had a higher prevalence of ulcerative pancolitis (22.9% vs. 15.3%, P&amp;lt;0.001) and left-sided colitis (6.8% vs. 4.1%, P&amp;lt;0.001). Conditions such as metabolic syndrome (OR: 3.36; 95% CI: 2.25 – 5.50, P&amp;lt;0.001), abnormal liver function tests (OR: 3.00; 95% CI: 2.01 - 4.48, P&amp;lt;0.001), obesity (OR: 2.51; 95% CI: 2.33 - 2.72, P&amp;lt;0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.22 - 1.43, P&amp;lt;0.001), vitamin D deficiency (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.18 - 1.64, P&amp;lt;0.001), ulcerative pancolitis (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.51 - 1.78, P&amp;lt;0.001), dyslipidemia (OR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.18 - 1.38, P&amp;lt;0.01), gallstone disease (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 3.16 - 4.45, P&amp;lt;0.001), chronic pancreatitis (OR: 3.20; 95% CI: 2.65 - 3.88, P&amp;lt;0.001), thrombocytopenia (OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.41 - 2.81, P&amp;lt;0.001), and the age group 45-64 (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.20-1.42, P&amp;lt;0.001) were significant positive predictors for MASLD in UC patients. CONCLUSIONS MASLD is a common comorbidity in UC patients and significantly influences both morbidity and mortality. We identified multiple positive predictors of MASLD in patients with UC, and further studies are needed to study early detection and improve long-term outcomes among UC patients.

Thigh compartment syndrome: Outcomes in an urban level 1 trauma center

IntroductionThigh compartment syndrome (TCS) is a rare surgical emergency associated with a high risk of morbidity with mortality rates as high as 47 %. There is sparse literature discussing the management as well as outcomes of these injuries. The purpose of this study is to review a consecutive series of patients presenting to a single urban Level 1 trauma center with TCS to identify injury characteristics, clinical presentation, and outcomes associated with this injury. MethodsA trauma database was queried for all patients with a diagnosis of TCS at a single level 1 urban trauma center between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2021. Demographic and injury variables collected included age, sex, BMI, mechanism of injury, and creatine phosphokinase levels (CPK). Hospital quality measures including time from admission to surgery, length of both hospital and ICU stay, complications, and cost of care were collected. Descriptive statistics are reported as median [interquartile range] or N (percent). ResultsThere were 14 patients identified with a diagnosis of TCS. All were men with an average age 33.5 [23.5 - 38] years and an average BMI of 26 [22.9–28.1]. The most common cause of injury was blunt trauma (71.4 %), and the remaining 28.6 % were gunshot wound injuries. Within the cohort, 6 (42.9 %) patients sustained a femoral shaft fracture, and 4 (28.6 %) patients sustained a vascular injury. The median initial CPK of patients within this cohort was 3405 [1232–5339] and reached a peak of 5271 [3013–13,266]. The median time from admission to diagnosis was 6.8 [0–236.9] hours. The median time from admission to the operating room was 8.2 [0.6–236.9] hours, and the median number of operating room visits was 3 [2 - 6]. Five patients (35.7 %) wounds were closed with split thickness skin grafting. There were 12 (85.7 %) patients who required ICU care. The median ICU length of stay was 7.5 days [4–15]. The median hospital length of stay was 16.5 days [13.25–38.0]. The median total charges for a patient with thigh compartment syndrome was $129,159.00 [$24,768.00 - $587,152.00]. The median direct variable cost for these patients was $86,106.00 For comparison, the median direct variable cost for patients with femur fractures without TCS at this institution was $8,497.28 [$1,903.52–$21,893.13]. No patients required readmission within 60 days. There were no mortalities. ConclusionTCS is a rare and life-threatening injury associated with significant morbidity. Despite rapid diagnosis and fasciotomy, the majority of the patients have prolonged hospital courses, ICU lengths of stay, and significant costs of treatment. Providers can reference the outcomes reported in this study when caring for TCS patients.

Outcomes Among Hospitalized Patients with Relapsing Multiple Myeloma Utilizing Palliative Care: A United States Population-Based Cohort Study

Background Multiple myeloma has a limiting effect on quality of life, with pain being a commonly reported symptom secondary to lytic lesions. Palliative care plays an important role in both pain management as well as addressing individualized goals of care. Newer treatment options are often implemented in patients with relapsing multiple myeloma, and have the potential to cause further treatment related adverse effects. The role of palliative care in this subgroup needs further exploration. Methods We utilized the 2018-2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database in conducting a retrospective cohort study. We identified hospitalized patients who have relapsing multiple myeloma and subsequently had a palliative care encounter using appropriate ICD-10 CM codes. We stratified patients based on whether they had a palliative care encounter during the hospitalization or not. A survey multivariable logistic and linear regression analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the primary and secondary outcomes. A p value of &amp;lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. The aim of this study is to investigate the outcomes among hospitalized patients with relapsing multiple myeloma with an in-patient palliative care encounter looking primarily at the in-hospital mortality, hospital LOS as well as total hospital charges. Results We identified a total of 16,726 hospitalized patients with relapsing multiple myeloma, of which 11.30% (1890/16,726) had an in-patient palliative care encounter. The overall in-hospital mortality among those with multiple myeloma was 9.86% (1040/16,726). Among those who had a palliative care encounter, the overall in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher at 29.97% (566/1890) (p=&amp;lt;0.001). Utilizing a stepwise survey multivariable logistic regression model that adjusted for patient and hospital level confounders, the inpatient palliative care encounter among hospitalized multiple myeloma patients significantly increased the risk for in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 11.99, 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.03-17.92; p=&amp;lt;0.001), longer hospital LOS (median LOS 7 days versus 5 days, p=&amp;lt;0.001) and higher total hospital charges (median total hospital charge 76131 vs 48855, p=0.002) Conclusion Our analysis revealed a statistically significant increased risk of in-hospital mortality, hospital LOS, and total hospital charges in hospitalized patients with relapsing multiple myeloma who had a palliative care encounter. Caution should be exercised in interpreting these results as they may reflect uncontrolled and more advanced disease in patients utilizing palliative care. Further prospective studies are needed to better understand short and long-term outcomes in this patient population.

Abstract 19026: Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities Among Inpatients With Pulmonary Hypertension: A Nationwide Study

Introduction: Healthcare-associated racial disparities have become a significant public health concern. Due to the increase in morbidity and mortality associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH), we sought to explore whether race and socioeconomic status impact the disease’s burden. Methods: We identified adults 18 and above, with primary or secondary diagnoses of PH (all groups) using 2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. The ICD-10-CM codes were used. Data were analyzed using Stata 18. Results: Of 5,533,733 adults admitted, 4516 (8%) were diagnosed with PH. Mean age was 64.99 (SEM: ± 0.40), and 2784 (61.6%) were females. The mean length of stay was 5.09 ± 6.61 (SD). Data was missing for 92 patients regarding race. Of the sample of 4424, the majority (2743) were Caucasians (62.0%). The other races were Blacks 1066 (24.1%), Hispanic 398 (9.0%), Asia/Pacific Islanders 89 (2.0%), Native American 14 (0.3%), and others 114 (2.6%). Regarding socioeconomic status, 547 (20.0% of Caucasians), 518 (48.6% of Blacks), 162 (40.7% of Hispanics), 8 (9.0% of Asia/Pacific Islanders), and 35 (27.3% others) had low median household income defined as &lt; $50,000 (p &lt;0.001). The median cost of care was $73,337 ± 156,008. Among these patients with primary or secondary diagnoses of PH, the mortality rate was 2.8% (126/4516). Blacks had higher odds (cOR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.10-2.40, p&lt;0.05) of inpatient mortality compared to Caucasians. However, the multivariate logistic analysis revealed no significant association after adjusting for age, gender, length of stay, median household income, total charges, and Charlson index (comorbidities). Conclusions: Racial disparities exist regarding PH-related admissions, with a higher likelihood of mortality among Blacks and persons with low socioeconomic status. The cost of health care in this population was high. Additional research is needed to focus on reducing disparities in healthcare regarding PH.

Association of Discharge Location Following Pediatric Tracheostomy with Social Determinants of Health: A National Analysis.

To evaluate the breakdown of discharge locations among pediatric tracheostomy patients and determine the impact of demographic variables and social determinants of health. Retrospective review of the 2016 and 2019 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database (HCUP KID). A total of 4000 United States community hospitals, defined as short-term, non-Federal, general, and specialty hospitals. ICD-10-PCS, ICD-10 CM codes, and HCUP data elements were selected for patients and variables of interest. Bivariate comparisons were performed using Rao-Scott Chi-square tests; significance levels in post hoc pairwise testing were adjusted using Bonferroni adjustment. Multinomial generalized logistic regression models were used to determine the average annual odds ratio (OR) of 3 dispositions at discharge relative to discharge home for self-care. Patients aged 11-17, patients from large metropolitan areas, and patients of "Other" race have an increased odds of discharge to a short- or long-term care facility (all P < .001). Weekend admissions, nonelective admissions, patients in Northeast hospitals, and patients at urban nonteaching hospitals are also more likely to be discharged to a short- or long-term care facility (all P < .001). Mean and median total costs of admission were $424,387 and $243,479, respectively, with a median total charge of $854,499. Among pediatric tracheostomy patients, demographic factors that affect discharge disposition include age, community type, and race, and significant hospital factors include day and type of admission, geographic region, and hospital type. Hospitalizations are associated with high overall costs and charges to the patient, which are increasing over time.

Disparities in healthcare utilization by insurance status among patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease

BackgroundPeripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common circulatory disorder associated with increased hospitalizations and significant health care-related expenditures. Among patients with PAD, insurance status is an important determinant of health care utilization, treatment of disease, and treatment outcomes. However, little is known about PAD-costs differences across different insurance providers. In this study we examined possible disparities in length of stay and total charge of inpatient hospitalizations among patients with PAD by insurance type.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of length of stay and total charge by insurance provider for all hospitalizations for individuals with PAD in South Carolina (2010–2018). Cross-classified multilevel modeling was applied to account for the non-nested hierarchical structure of the data, with county and hospital included as random effects. Analyses were adjusted for patient age, race/ethnicity, county, year of admission, admission type, all-patient refined diagnostic groups, and Charlson comorbidity index.ResultsAmong 385,018 hospitalizations for individuals with PAD in South Carolina, the median length of stay was 4 days (IQR: 5) and the median total charge of hospitalization was $43,232 (IQR: $52,405). Length of stay and total charge varied significantly by insurance provider. Medicare patients had increased length of stay (IRR = 1.08, 95 CI%: 1.07, 1.09) and higher total charges (β: 0.012, 95% CI: 0.007, 0.178) than patients with private insurance. Medicaid patients also had increased length of stay (IRR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.24,1.28) but had lower total charges (β: -0.022, 95% CI: -0.003. -0.015) than patients with private insurance.ConclusionsInsurance status was associated with inpatient length of stay and total charges in patients with PAD. It is essential that Medicare and Medicaid individuals with PAD receive proper management and care of their PAD, particularly in the primary care settings, to prevent hospitalizations and reduce the excess burden on these patients.

Mortality and morbidity following initiation of anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment for blunt cerebrovascular injury

ObjectiveCerebrovascular accidents (CVA) are potential sequelae of blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI). To minimize their risk, medical therapy is used commonly. It is unclear if anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications are superior for decreasing CVA risk. It is also unclear as to which confer fewer undesirable side effects specifically in patients with BCVI. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes between nonsurgical patients with BCVI with hospital admission records who were treated with anticoagulant medications and those who were treated with antiplatelet medications. MethodsWe performed a 5-year (2016-2020) analysis of the Nationwide Readmission Database. We identified all adult trauma patients who were diagnosed with BCVI and treated with either anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents. Patients who were diagnosed with index admission CVA, intracranial injury, hypercoagulable states, atrial fibrillation, and or moderate to severe liver disease were excluded. Those who underwent vascular procedures (open and/or endovascular approaches) and or neurosurgical treatment were also excluded. Propensity score matching (1:2 ratio) was performed to control for demographics, injury parameters, and comorbidities. Index admission and 6-month readmission outcomes were examined. ResultsWe identified 2133 patients with BCVI who were treated with medical therapy; 1091 patients remained after applying the exclusion criteria. A matched cohort of 461 patients (anticoagulant, 159; antiplatelet, 302) was obtained. The median patient age was 72 years (interquartile range [IQR], 56-82 years), 46.2% of patients were female, falls were the mechanism of injury in 57.2% of cases, and the median New Injury Severity Scale score was 21 (IQR, 9-34). Index outcomes with respect to (1) anticoagulant treatments followed by (2) antiplatelet treatments and (3) P values are as follows: mortality (1.3%, 2.6%, 0.51), median length of stay (6 days, 5 days; P < .001), and median total charge (109,736 USD, 80,280 USD, 0.12). The 6-month readmission outcomes are as follows: readmission (25.8%, 16.2%, <0.05), mortality (4.4%, 4.6%, 0.91), ischemic CVA (4.9%, 4.1%, P = not significant [NS]), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (4.9%, 10.2%, 0.45), hemorrhagic CVA (0%, 0.41%, P = NS), and blood loss anemia (19.5%, 12.2%, P = NS). ConclusionsAnticoagulants are associated with a significantly increased readmission rate within 6 months. Neither medical therapy is superior to one another in the reduction of the following: index mortality, 6-month mortality, and 6-month readmission with CVA. Notably, antiplatelet agents seem to be associated with increased hemorrhagic CVA and gastrointestinal hemorrhage on readmission, although neither association is statistically significant. Still, these associations underscore the need for further prospective studies of large sample sizes to investigate the optimal medical therapy for nonsurgical patients with BCVI with hospital admission records.

625 The Impact of the Mexico-San Diego Border Wall Extension on Spinal Injuries

INTRODUCTION: San Diego, California has one of the busiest international land borders in the world, and its unauthorized crossing is a contentious issue. The recent border height extension along the San Diego-Mexico border has led to a new set of physical risks to unauthorized individuals traversing the wall. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients who presented to the UC San Diego Trauma Center between 2016 and 2021 were considered. Two different cohorts were compared: pre-height extension (Jan 2016-May 2018), and post-height extension (January 2020-December 2021). Demographics, clinical data (fracture morphology, operative intervention, concurrent injuries, length of stay), and hospital costs were collected. Spinal injuries were normalized using Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehensions to adjust for changing migration rates. Statistical analysis was completed with Stata MP Version 14.1 (Stata Corp LP). RESULTS: A total of 114 patients met inclusion criteria: 12 in the pre-height extension period, and 102 in the post-height extension period. The increase in spine injuries per month (0.8 to 4.25) and operative spine injuries per month (0.3 to 1.7) were statistically significant (P &lt; 0.001). Concurrent extremity injuries were also significantly increased (8.3 vs. 43.1%, p = 0.02). The severity of injuries and economic costs were reflected in median length of stay (6 vs. 9 days; p = 0.006) and median total hospital charges ($150,914 to $293,798; p &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The data support that the San Diego-Mexico border wall extension is correlated with more frequent, severe, and costly spinal injuries. These findings advocate for reevaluating our current border wall infrastructure as this represents a humanitarian and public health crisis.

Reasons for Hospitalization and All-Cause Mortality for Adults with Sarcoidosis

PurposeSarcoidosis is a multisystem immune disease with a high rate of hospitalization. There is a paucity of large population-based studies on sarcoid inpatients. We aimed to examine the reasons for hospitalizations and mortality of adult sarcoid patients utilizing the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. MethodsAdult hospitalizations in 2016-2019 NIS database with sarcoidosis (ICD-10 code D86) were analyzed. The “reason for hospitalization” and “reason for in-hospital death” were divided into 19 organ system/disease categories based on their principal ICD-10 hospital billing diagnosis. ResultsAmong the 330,470 sarcoid hospitalizations, cardiovascular (20.4%) and respiratory (16.9%) diagnoses were the most common reasons for hospitalization. The most common individual diagnoses were sepsis and pneumonia. In-hospital death occurred in 2.4% of sarcoid hospitalizations. The most common reasons for death were infectious (30%), cardiovascular (20.7%), and respiratory (20.3%) diagnoses. The most common individual diagnoses in the deceased group were sepsis and respiratory failure. Finally, the sarcoid group had a higher frequency of complications including arrhythmias/heart blocks, heart failure, cranial neuropathies, hypercalcemia, iridocyclitis, myocarditis, and myositis. Sarcoid inpatients had longer length of stay (4 vs 3 days; p < .001) and higher median total hospital charges ($36,865 vs $31,742; p < .001). ConclusionsThe most common reasons for sarcoid hospitalizations were cardiovascular and respiratory. Nearly 1 in 40 hospitalizations resulted in death, with most common complications being conduction abnormalities and heart failure. The most common causes of in-hospital death were sepsis and respiratory failure. Sarcoid hospitalizations had 16% higher total hospital charges compared to nonsarcoid inpatients.

Meniscus Work and Implant Selection Are Major Cost Drivers of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background The current study examines the financial charges associated with primary anteriorcruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), specifically the contribution of graft choice, graft type, and concomitant meniscus surgery, in the outpatient hospital setting. Methods A retrospective financial billing review was performed on patients who underwent ACLR at a singleacademic medical center from January to December 2019. Age, BMI, insurance, length of operation, regional block, implants, meniscus surgery, graft type, and graft choice were extracted from hospital electronic patient records. Charges attributed with graft, anesthesia services, supplies, implants, surgeon fees, radiology charges, and total charges were collected. Total amount that insurance and patient paid were also obtained. Descriptive and quantitative statistics were performed. Results A total of 28 patients were studied (18 males, 10 females). The average age was 23.8 years. There were 20 concomitant meniscus surgeries. Six allografts and 22 autografts were used [eight bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB), eight hamstrings, six quadriceps]. The average and median total charge was $61,004 and $60,390, respectively (range: $31,403 to $97,914). The average insurance paid was $26,045 while out-of-pocket costs were $402. The average paid by privateinsurance was higher compared to government insurance($31,111 vs. $11,066, p<0.001). Graft choicesuch as allograft vs. autograft (p=0.035) and meniscus surgery (p=0.048) were significant factors to the overall cost. Conclusions Graft choice, specifically the quadrupled hamstring autograft, and concomitant meniscal surgery are major contributors to variations in ACLR charges. Decreasing implant and graft costs and limiting surgical time can decrease charges associated with ACLR.We hope these findings can help guide surgeon financial decisions, by demonstrating the need to take into account the increased total charges and amount paid associated with specific grafts, meniscus surgery, and prolonged OR time.

Rates of operative intervention for infection after synthetic or autologous cranioplasty: a National Readmissions Database analysis.

The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical utilization and associated charges of autologous bone flap (ABF) versus synthetic flap (SF) cranioplasty and to characterize the postoperative infection risk of SF versus ABF using the National Readmissions Database (NRD). The authors used the publicly available NRD to identify index hospitalizations from October 2015 to December 2018 involving elective ABF or SF cranioplasty after traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke. Subsequent readmissions were further characterized if patients underwent neurosurgical intervention for treatment of infection or suspected infection. Survey Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess risk of readmission. An estimated 2295 SF and 2072 ABF cranioplasties were performed from October 2015 to December 2018 in the United States. While the total number of cranioplasty operations decreased during the study period, the proportion of cranioplasties utilizing SF increased (p < 0.001), particularly in male patients (p = 0.011) and those with TBI (vs stroke, p = 0.012). The median total hospital charge for SF cranioplasty was $31,200 more costly than ABF cranioplasty (p < 0.001). Of all first-time readmissions, 20% involved surgical treatment for infectious reasons. Overall, 122 SF patients (5.3%) underwent surgical treatment of infection compared with 70 ABF patients (3.4%) on readmission. After accounting for confounders using a multivariable Cox model, female patients (vs male, p = 0.003), those discharged nonroutinely (vs discharge to home or self-care, p < 0.001), and patients who underwent SF cranioplasty (vs ABF, p = 0.011) were more likely to be readmitted for reoperation. Patients undergoing cranioplasty during more recent years (e.g., 2018 vs 2015) were less likely to be readmitted for reoperation because of infection (p = 0.024). SFs are increasingly replacing ABFs as the material of choice for cranioplasty, despite their association with increased hospital charges. Female sex, nonroutine discharge, and SF cranioplasty are associated with increased risk for reoperation after cranioplasty.