National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 25 of 216 Research Studies DisplayedKalata S, Schaefer SL, Nuliyahu U
Low-volume elective surgery and outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries treated at hospital networks.
This cross-sectional study’s objective was to quantify low-volume surgery and associated outcomes within hospital networks. This study used Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data to examine fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 66 to 99 years who underwent 1 of 10 elective surgical procedures (abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, carotid endarterectomy, mitral valve repair, hip or knee replacement, bariatric surgery, or resection for lung, esophageal, pancreatic, or rectal cancers) in a network hospital from 2016 to 2018. Hospital volume for each procedure (calculated with the use of National Inpatient Sample data) was compared with yearly hospital volume standards for that procedure recommended by The Leapfrog Group. The authors analyzed primary outcomes which were postoperative complications, 30-day readmission, and 30-day mortality, stratified by the volume status of the hospital and network type. Secondary outcome was the availability of a different high-volume hospital within the same network or outside the network and its proximity to the patient (based on hospital referral region and zip code). In all, data were analyzed for 950,079 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries (average age 74.4 years; 621,138 females and 427,931 males) who underwent 1,049,069 procedures at 2469 hospitals within 382 networks. Of these networks, almost 100% [380 (99.5%)] had at least 1 low-volume hospital performing the elective procedure of interest. In 79.8% of procedures that were performed at low-volume hospitals, there was a hospital that met volume standards within the same network and hospital referral region located a median (IQR) distance of 29 (12-60) miles from the patient's home. In adjusted analyses, postoperative outcomes were inferior at low-volume hospitals compared with hospitals meeting volume standards, with a 30-day mortality of 8.1% at low-volume hospitals vs 5.5% at hospitals that met volume standards.
AHRQ-funded; HS028606.
Citation: Kalata S, Schaefer SL, Nuliyahu U .
Low-volume elective surgery and outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries treated at hospital networks.
JAMA Surg 2024 Feb; 159(2):203-10. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.6542.
Keywords: Surgery, Medicare, Hospitals, Outcomes
Danielson EC, Li W, Suleiman L
Social risk and patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement: implications for Medicare policy.
The objective of this study was to determine if county- or patient-level social risk factors are associated with patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement when added to the comprehensive joint replacement risk-adjustment model. Patient and outcomes data from the Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement cohort were merged with the CDC Social Vulnerability Index. The findings indicated that patient-reported race, education, and income were associated with patient-reported pain or functional scores; pain improvement was negatively associated with Black race and positively associated with higher annual incomes. The authors concluded that these findings suggested that patient-level social factors warrant further investigation to promote health equity in patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement.
Citation: Danielson EC, Li W, Suleiman L .
Social risk and patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement: implications for Medicare policy.
Health Serv Res 2024 Feb; 59(1):e14215. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14215.
Keywords: Surgery, Orthopedics, Medicare, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Social Determinants of Health
Roberts ET, Xue L, Lovelace J
Changes in care associated with integrating Medicare and Medicaid for dual-eligible individuals.
This study’s objective was to evaluate changes in care associated with integrating Medicare and Medicaid coverage in a fully integrated dual-eligible special needs plan (FIDE-SNP) in Pennsylvania. This cohort study used a difference-in-differences analysis compared changes in care between 2 cohorts of dual-eligible individuals: (1) an integration cohort composed of Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan enrollees who joined a companion Medicaid plan following a 2018 state reform mandating Medicaid managed care (leading to integration), and (2) a comparison cohort with nonintegrated coverage before and after the start of Medicaid managed care. Analyses were conducted of outcomes in 4 domains: use of home- and community-based services (HCBS), care management and coordination, hospital stays and postacute care, and long-term nursing home stays. The study included 7967 individuals in the integration cohort and 3832 individuals in the comparison cohort. HCBS use increased differentially in the integration vs comparison cohorts by 0.61 days/person-month. However, integration was not associated with changes in care management and coordination, including medication use for chronic conditions (-0.02 fills/person-month) or follow-up outpatient care after a hospital stay (-0.01 visits/hospital stay). There was no significant difference in hospital stays between the cohorts.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Roberts ET, Xue L, Lovelace J .
Changes in care associated with integrating Medicare and Medicaid for dual-eligible individuals.
JAMA Health Forum 2023 Dec; 4(12):e234583. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.4583..
Keywords: Medicare, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Surgery, Outcomes
Zondlak AN, Oh EJ, Neiman PU
Association of intellectual disability with delayed presentation and worse outcomes in emergency general surgery.
Individuals with intellectual disabilities may be at higher risk of delayed presentation and worse outcomes for emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between intellectual disability and both severity of disease and clinical outcomes in patients presenting with typical EGS conditions. The study found that of 1,317,572 adult EGS admissions, 0.38% of patients had an ICD-9/-10 code consistent with current intellectual disability. EGS patients with intellectual disabilities had 31% greater odds of more severe disease at presentation when compared with neurotypical patients. Intellectual disability was also related with a higher likelihood of complications and mortality, longer lengths of stay, lower rate of discharge to home, and higher inpatient costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS028672; HS027788.
Citation: Zondlak AN, Oh EJ, Neiman PU .
Association of intellectual disability with delayed presentation and worse outcomes in emergency general surgery.
Ann Surg 2023 Nov 1; 278(5):e1118-e22. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005863..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Disabilities, Surgery, Outcomes
Bauer TM, Yaser JM, Daramola T
Cardiac rehabilitation reduces two-year mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting.
This study analyzed the outcome of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) use for patients who have undergone coronary revascularization procedures. The study looked at Medicare fee-for-service claims linked to surgical data patients discharged alive following isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from January 2015 to October 2019. A total of 3,848/6,412 (60.0%) of patients were enrolled in CR for an average of 23.2 sessions with 770/6,412 (12.0%) completing all recommended 36 sessions. Predictors of post-discharge CR use included increasing age, discharge to home (vs extended care facility), and shorter length of stay. Unadjusted and inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) analyses showed significant reduction in 2-year mortality in CR users as compared to CR non-users (unadjusted 9.4%).
AHRQ-funded; HS027830.
Citation: Bauer TM, Yaser JM, Daramola T .
Cardiac rehabilitation reduces two-year mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Ann Thorac Surg 2023 Nov; 116(5):1099-105. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.05.044..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Surgery, Mortality, Outcomes
Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW
Association of health professional shortage area hospital designation with surgical outcomes and expenditures among Medicare beneficiaries.
This study’s objective was to compare surgical outcomes and expenditures at hospitals located in Health Professional Shortage Areas to nonshortage area designated hospitals among Medicare beneficiaries. This cross-sectional retrospective study used data from 842,787 Medicare beneficiary patient admissions to hospitals with and without Health Professional Shortage Area designations for common operations including appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, and hernia repair from 2014 to 2018. Primary outcomes measures were 30-day mortality, hospital readmissions, and 30-day surgical episode payments. Patients (mean age=75.6 years, males=44.4%) undergoing common surgical procedures in shortage area hospitals were less likely to be White (84.6% vs 88.4%) and less likely to have≥2 Elixhauser comorbidities (75.5% vs 78.2%). Patients undergoing surgery at Health Professional Shortage Area hospitals had lower risk-adjusted rates of 30-day mortality (6.05% vs 6.69%) and readmission (14.99% vs 15.74%). Medicare expenditures at Health Professional Shortage Area hospitals were also lower than nonshortage designated hospitals ($28,517 vs $29,685).
AHRQ-funded; HS028606; HS028672.
Citation: Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW .
Association of health professional shortage area hospital designation with surgical outcomes and expenditures among Medicare beneficiaries.
Ann Surg 2023 Oct 1; 278(4):e733-e39. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005762..
Keywords: Hospitals, Surgery, Medicare, Healthcare Costs, Workforce, Outcomes
Romijn AC, Rastogi V, Proaño-Zamudio JA
Early versus delayed thoracic endovascular aortic repair for blunt thoracic aortic injury: a propensity score-matched analysis.
This study examined the outcomes of ≤24 h) versus delayed (>24 h) thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI), taking the aortic injury severity into consideration. Current trauma surgery guidelines recommend delayed TEVAR. Patients undergoing TEVAR for BTAI in the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program between 2016 and 2019 were included and then stratified into early (≤24 h) or delayed (>24 h). The cohort looked at included 1339 patients, of whom 1054 (79%) underwent early TEVAR. Compared with the delayed group, the early group had significantly less severe head injuries (early vs delayed; 25% vs 32%), fewer early interventions for AAS grade 1 occurred, and AAS grade 3 aortic injuries often were intervened upon within 24 hours (grade 1: 28% vs 47%; grade 3: 49% vs 23%). Compared with the delayed group, the early group had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (8.8% vs 4.4%, relative risk: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.4), alongside a shorter length of hospital stay (5.0 vs 10 days), a shorter intensive care unit length of stay (4.0 vs 11 days) and fewer days on the ventilator (4.0 vs 6.5 days). Regardless of the higher risk of acute kidney injury in the delayed group (3.3% vs 7.7%), no other differences in in-hospital complications were observed between the early and delayed group.
AHRQ-funded; HS027285.
Citation: Romijn AC, Rastogi V, Proaño-Zamudio JA .
Early versus delayed thoracic endovascular aortic repair for blunt thoracic aortic injury: a propensity score-matched analysis.
Ann Surg 2023 Oct 1; 278(4):e848-e54. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005817..
Keywords: Surgery, Cardiovascular Conditions, Risk, Outcomes
Thumma SR, Dualeh SHA, Kunnath NJ
Outcomes for high-risk surgical procedures across high- and low-competition hospital markets.
The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess whether there is a relationship between hospital market competition and outcomes post high-risk surgery. The study included Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older who electively underwent 1 of 10 high-risk surgical procedures. Procedures included: bariatric surgery, carotid endarterectomy, esophagectomy hip replacement, knee replacement, mitral lung resection valve repair, open aortic aneurysm repair, pancreatectomy, and rectal resection. Hospitals were categorized into high-competition and low-competition markets based on the hospital market Herfindahl-Hirschman index. The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative mortality and readmissions. The study found that when analyzed by procedure, compared with low-competition hospitals, high-competition market hospitals demonstrated higher 30-day mortality for 2 of 10 procedures (mitral valve repair and carotid endarterectomy) and no difference for 5 of 10 procedures (open aortic aneurysm repair, bariatric surgery, esophagectomy, knee replacement, and hip replacement.) High-competition hospitals also demonstrated 30-day readmissions that were higher for 5 of 10 procedures (carotid endarterectomy, knee replacement, mitral valve repair, open aortic aneurysm repair, and rectal resection) and no difference for 3 procedures (bariatric surgery, esophagectomy: and pancreatectomy.) Hospitals in high-competition compared with low-competition markets cared for patients who were older, were more likely to be racial and ethnic minority individuals and had more comorbidities.
AHRQ-funded; HS028963; HS028606.
Citation: Thumma SR, Dualeh SHA, Kunnath NJ .
Outcomes for high-risk surgical procedures across high- and low-competition hospital markets.
JAMA Surg 2023 Oct; 158(10):1041-48. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.3221..
Keywords: Surgery, Outcomes, Hospitals
Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW
High-risk surgery among Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas.
This study’s objective was to compare high-risk surgical outcomes at hospitals located in Health Professional Shortage Areas to nonshortage area designated hospitals among Medicare beneficiaries. The authors performed a retrospective review of Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas and nonshortage areas who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, coronary artery bypass graft, esophagectomy, liver resection, pancreatectomy, or rectal resection between 2014 and 2018. They compared rates of postoperative complications and 30-day mortality between the patient cohorts. They used beneficiary and hospital ZIP codes to quantify travel time to obtain care. Compared with patients living in nonshortage areas, patients living in health professional shortage areas traveled longer (median 60.0 vs 28.0 minutes). There were no differences in risk-adjusted rates of complications (28.5% vs 28.6%) and small differences in rates of 30-day mortality (4.2% vs 4.4%) between beneficiaries living in shortage areas versus those not in shortage areas, respectively.
AHRQ-funded; HS028606; HS028672; HS027788.
Citation: Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW .
High-risk surgery among Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas.
J Rural Health 2023 Sep; 39(4):824-32. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12748..
Keywords: Surgery, Hospitals, Workforce, Medicare, Outcomes
Howard R, Thumma J, Ehlers A, et al.
Trends in surgical technique and outcomes of ventral hernia repair in the United States.
Surgical options for ventral hernia repair (VHR) have expanded considerably over the past 2 decades. Their diffusion and impact on population-level outcomes is not well described. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to characterize national trends in surgical technique and rates of reoperation for recurrence for patients undergoing VHR in the U.S. The researchers conducted a study of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing elective, inpatient umbilical, ventral, or incisional hernia repair between 2007 and 2015. The study found 141,261 patients underwent VHR during the study period. Between 2007 and 2018, the utilization of minimally invasive surgery increased from 2.1% to 22.2%, mesh utilization increased from 63.2% to 72.5%, and myofascial release utilization increased from 1.8% to 16.3%. The 5-year overall incidence of reoperation for recurrence was 14.1%. longitudinally, patients were more likely to remain free from reoperation for hernia recurrence 5 years after surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS025778.
Citation: Howard R, Thumma J, Ehlers A, et al..
Trends in surgical technique and outcomes of ventral hernia repair in the United States.
Ann Surg 2023 Aug 1; 278(2):274-79. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005654..
Keywords: Surgery, Outcomes
Taylor KK, Neiman PU, Bonner S
Unmet social health needs as a driver of inequitable outcomes after surgery: a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health Interview Survey.
The objective of this study was to identify opportunities to improve surgical equity by evaluating unmet social health needs by race, ethnicity, and insurance type. Researchers used the National Health Interview Survey for 2008-2018 to identify adults aged 18 and older who reported surgery in the past year. The results indicated that unmet social health needs varied significantly by race, ethnicity, and insurance, and were independently associated with poor health among surgical populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS028672; HS027788.
Citation: Taylor KK, Neiman PU, Bonner S .
Unmet social health needs as a driver of inequitable outcomes after surgery: a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health Interview Survey.
Ann Surg 2023 Aug 1; 278(2):193-200. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005689.
Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, Surgery, Disparities, Outcomes
Ayers DC, Yousef M, Yang W
Age-related differences in pain, function, and quality of life following primary total knee arthroplasty: results from a FORCE-TJR (Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement) cohort.
The purpose of this prospective, multicenter cohort study was to evaluate the differences in pain, function, and quality of life (QoL) reported 1 year after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) across varying age groups. The researchers preoperatively assessed 11,602 unilateral primary TKA patients, and collected demographic data, comorbid conditions, and patient-reported outcome measures including the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), KOOS-12, KOOS Joint Replacement, and Short-Form health survey (12-item) and then collected again at 1-year postoperatively. The study found that prior to surgery, patients less than 55 years reported worse KOOS pain (39), function (50), and QoL (18) scores with poor mental health score (47) than other older patient groups. At 1 year after TKA, patients less than 55 years reported lower KOOS pain, function, and QoL scores when compared to patients 75 years or older. The differences in score changes among the age groups were statistically significant but clinically irrelevant. Further statistical analyses revealed that age was a significant predictor for pain, but not for function at 1 year where KOOS pain score was predicted to be higher in patients 75 years or older when compared to patients less than 55 years of age.
AHRQ-funded; HS018910.
Citation: Ayers DC, Yousef M, Yang W .
Age-related differences in pain, function, and quality of life following primary total knee arthroplasty: results from a FORCE-TJR (Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement) cohort.
J Arthroplasty 2023 Jul; 38(7 Suppl 2):S169-S76. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2023.04.005..
Keywords: Orthopedics, Surgery, Quality of Life, Outcomes, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Pain
Silver CM, Yang AD, Shan Y
Changes in surgical outcomes in a Statewide Quality Improvement Collaborative with introduction of simultaneous, comprehensive interventions.
Researchers investigated whether a comprehensive quality improvement program implemented simultaneously across hospitals at the formation of a quality improvement collaborative (QIC) would improve patient outcomes. They analyzed risk-adjusted rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality for patients who had undergone surgery at hospitals in the Illinois Surgical Quality Improvement Collaborative (ISQIC); analyses compared ISQIC hospitals with hospitals in the NSQIP Participant Use File (PUF). Although complication rates decreased at both ISQIC and PUF hospitals, findings showed that participation in ISQIC was associated with a significantly greater improvement in death or serious morbidity. The researchers concluded that these results emphasize the potential of QICs to improve patient outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024516.
Citation: Silver CM, Yang AD, Shan Y .
Changes in surgical outcomes in a Statewide Quality Improvement Collaborative with introduction of simultaneous, comprehensive interventions.
J Am Coll Surg 2023 Jul 1; 237(1):128-38. doi: 10.1097/xcs.0000000000000679..
Keywords: Surgery, Outcomes, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Hospitals
Solano QP, Howard R, Mullens CL
The impact of frailty on ventral hernia repair outcomes in a statewide database.
Researchers examined the association of frailty with short-term postoperative outcomes after ventral hernia repair (VHR). They retrospectively reviewed the Michigan Surgery Quality Collaborative Hernia Registry (MSQC-HR) for adult patients who underwent VHR. : After controlling for patient, operative, and hernia characteristics, frailty was found to be independently associated with increased odds of postoperative complications. The researchers concluded that their findings highlight the importance of preoperative frailty assessment for risk stratification and to inform patient counseling.
AHRQ-funded; HS025778.
Citation: Solano QP, Howard R, Mullens CL .
The impact of frailty on ventral hernia repair outcomes in a statewide database.
Surg Endosc 2023 Jul; 37(7):5603-11. doi: 10.1007/s00464-022-09626-8..
Keywords: Surgery, Outcomes
Herb J, Rodriguez-Ormaza N, Cunningham C
Gastrostomy tube outcomes among surgical and non-surgical services: a retrospective review.
The purpose of this retrospective analysis study was to evaluate variations in baseline characteristics, complications, and mortality in patients receiving a gastrostomy tube (GT) by surgical or non-surgical services. The researchers assessed adult patients who underwent GT placement from 2014 to 2017 at a single institution. The study found that of the 1,339 adults who underwent GT placement, surgical and non-surgical services performed 45 percent and 55 percent of procedures, respectively. Gastrostomy tube-related complications were similar with 29.6% surgical vs 28.8% non-surgical. The thirty-day mortality rate of 23.7 percent among non-surgical services than the 16.5 percent rate for surgical services.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Herb J, Rodriguez-Ormaza N, Cunningham C .
Gastrostomy tube outcomes among surgical and non-surgical services: a retrospective review.
Am Surg 2023 Apr; 89(4):813-20. doi: 10.1177/00031348211047173..
Keywords: Surgery, Digestive Disease and Health, Outcomes
Bartels K, Howard-Quijano K, Prin M
Meeting report: first Cardiovascular Outcomes Research in Perioperative Medicine conference.
This article summarized the background and objectives of the first Cardiovascular Outcomes Research in Perioperative Medicine (COR-PM) conference. It also described the conduct of the conference and outlined future directions for scientific meetings which are focused on the fostering of high-quality clinical research in the broader perioperative medicine community.
AHRQ-funded; HS027795.
Citation: Bartels K, Howard-Quijano K, Prin M .
Meeting report: first Cardiovascular Outcomes Research in Perioperative Medicine conference.
Anesth Analg 2023 Feb; 136(2):418-20. doi: 10.1213/ane.0000000000006248..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Surgery, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Anjorin AC, Marcaccio CL, Rastogi V
Statin therapy is associated with improved perioperative outcomes and long-term mortality following carotid revascularization in the Vascular Quality Initiative.
This study evaluated the outcomes of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) patients using statin therapy before undergoing carotid revascularization in the Vascular Quality Initiative registry. The authors identified all patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA), transfemoral carotid artery stenting (tfCAS), or transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) in the Vascular Quality Initiative registry from January 2016 to September 2021. Compared with statin use, no statin use was associated with a higher risk of in-hospital stroke or death and 5-year mortality among CEA and tfCAS patients, although there was no significant difference in outcomes among TCAR patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS027285.
Citation: Anjorin AC, Marcaccio CL, Rastogi V .
Statin therapy is associated with improved perioperative outcomes and long-term mortality following carotid revascularization in the Vascular Quality Initiative.
J Vasc Surg 2023 Jan;77(1):158-69.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.08.019..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Medication, Stroke, Surgery, Outcomes
Rastogi V, Marcaccio CL, Kim NH
The effect of supraceliac versus infraceliac landing zone on outcomes following fenestrated endovascular repair of juxta-/pararenal aortic aneurysms.
The purpose of this study was to assess perioperative outcomes in patients in the Vascular Quality Initiative who underwent juxta-/pararenal FEVAR with supraceliac vs infraceliac sealing. 1,486 Patients who received an elective FEVAR for juxta-/pararenal aortic aneurysms in the Vascular Quality Initiative between 2014 and 2021were identified and included.
The researchers defined supraceliac sealing as proximal sealing in aortic zone 5, or zone 6 with a celiac scallop/fenestration/branch or celiac occlusion. The study’s primary outcomes were perioperative and 3-year mortality, and secondary outcomes were completion endoleaks, in-hospital complications, and variables related with 3-year mortality. The study found that of the included patients, 84% underwent infraceliac sealing, and 16% underwent supraceliac sealing. Of the supraceliac patients, 60% had a celiac fenestration/branch, 31% had a celiac scallop, and 9.2% had a celiac occlusion (intentional or unintentional). Compared with infraceliac sealing, there were no differences after risk-adjusted analysis in perioperative mortality following supraceliac sealing. Supraceliac sealing was associated with lower odds of type-IA completion endoleaks, but higher odds of any complication including cardiac complications, lower extremity ischemia and acute kidney injury when compared with infraceliac sealing. The researchers concluded that supraceliac sealing was associated with lower risk of type IA endoleaks and similar mortality compared with sealing at an infraceliac level. The researchers advise that providers should be aware that supraceliac sealing was related with higher perioperative morbidity.
The researchers defined supraceliac sealing as proximal sealing in aortic zone 5, or zone 6 with a celiac scallop/fenestration/branch or celiac occlusion. The study’s primary outcomes were perioperative and 3-year mortality, and secondary outcomes were completion endoleaks, in-hospital complications, and variables related with 3-year mortality. The study found that of the included patients, 84% underwent infraceliac sealing, and 16% underwent supraceliac sealing. Of the supraceliac patients, 60% had a celiac fenestration/branch, 31% had a celiac scallop, and 9.2% had a celiac occlusion (intentional or unintentional). Compared with infraceliac sealing, there were no differences after risk-adjusted analysis in perioperative mortality following supraceliac sealing. Supraceliac sealing was associated with lower odds of type-IA completion endoleaks, but higher odds of any complication including cardiac complications, lower extremity ischemia and acute kidney injury when compared with infraceliac sealing. The researchers concluded that supraceliac sealing was associated with lower risk of type IA endoleaks and similar mortality compared with sealing at an infraceliac level. The researchers advise that providers should be aware that supraceliac sealing was related with higher perioperative morbidity.
AHRQ-funded; HS027285.
Citation: Rastogi V, Marcaccio CL, Kim NH .
The effect of supraceliac versus infraceliac landing zone on outcomes following fenestrated endovascular repair of juxta-/pararenal aortic aneurysms.
J Vasc Surg 2023 Jan;77(1):9-19.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.08.007..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Surgery, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Comparative Effectiveness, Treatments
Solomon Y, Rastogi V, Marcaccio CL
Outcomes after transcarotid artery revascularization stratified by preprocedural symptom status.
In this study, researchers examined contemporary perioperative outcomes in patients who underwent transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) stratified by specific preprocedural symptom status. Using data from the Vascular Quality Initiative, they found that, after TCAR, compared with asymptomatic status, a recent stroke and a recent hemispheric TIA were associated with higher stroke/death rates, whereas a recent ocular TIA was associated with similar stroke/death rates. In addition, a formerly symptomatic status was associated with higher stroke/death rates compared with an asymptomatic status. The researchers concluded that their findings suggested that classifying patients undergoing TCAR as symptomatic versus asymptomatic may be an oversimplification and that patients' specific preoperative neurologic symptoms should instead be used in risk assessment and outcome reporting for TCAR.
AHRQ-funded; HS027285.
Citation: Solomon Y, Rastogi V, Marcaccio CL .
Outcomes after transcarotid artery revascularization stratified by preprocedural symptom status.
J Vasc Surg 2022 Nov;76(5):1307-15.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.05.024..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Surgery, Stroke, Outcomes
Anjorin AC, Marcaccio CL, Patel PB
Racial and ethnic disparities in 3-year outcomes following infrainguinal bypass for chronic limb-threatening ischemia.
This study’s objective was to determine the differences in 3-year outcomes after open infrainguinal bypass for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) stratified by race/ethnicity and explored the potential factors contributing to these differences to help determine reasons why outcomes are worse for racial and ethnic minorities. The authors identified all CLTI patients who had undergone primary open infrainguinal bypass in the Vascular Quality Initiative registry from 2003 to 2017 with linkage to Medicare claims through 2018 for the 3-year outcomes. Primary outcomes were the 3-year rates of major amputation, reintervention, and mortality. They also recorded 30-day major adverse limb events (MALE) defined as major amputation or reintervention. Of the 7108 patients with CLTI 79% were non-Hispanic White, 15% were Black, 1% were Asian, and 6% were Hispanic. Compared with White patients, Black patients had higher rates of 3-year major amputation (Black vs White, 32% vs 19%), reintervention (Black vs White, 61% vs 57%), and 30-day MALE (Black vs White, 8.1% vs 4.9%) but lower mortality (Black vs White, 38% vs 42%). Hispanic patients also experienced higher rates of amputation (Hispanic vs White, 27% vs 19%), reintervention (Hispanic vs White, 70% vs 57%), and MALE (Hispanic vs White, 8.7% vs 4.9%). However, mortality was similar between Hispanic vs White groups. A higher presence of comorbidities in Black and Hispanic patients with CLTI is considered the greatest contributing factors to higher amputation and reintervention rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS027285.
Citation: Anjorin AC, Marcaccio CL, Patel PB .
Racial and ethnic disparities in 3-year outcomes following infrainguinal bypass for chronic limb-threatening ischemia.
J Vasc Surg 2022 Nov;76(5):1335-46.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.06.026..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Outcomes, Surgery, Cardiovascular Conditions
Ko H, Pelt CE, Martin BI
Patient-reported outcomes following cemented versus cementless primary total knee arthroplasty: a comparative analysis based on propensity score matching.
The purpose of this study was to compare baseline and early post-operative global and condition-specific patient reported outcomes (PROs) between patients undergoing cemented versus cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The researchers prospectively collected PROs through the Comparative Effectiveness Pulmonary Embolism Prevention After Hip and Knee Replacement (PEPPER) trial using the short-form of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS-Jr.), the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Health (PROMIS-PH), and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Pre- and post-operative outcomes in 5,961 patients undergoing primary TKA between December 2016 and August 2021 were examined. The study found that significant pre to- post-operative were observed in both groups. The researchers concluded that patients with cemented TKA reported early benefit in KOOS-Jr. over those with cementless TKA.
AHRQ-funded; HS024714.
Citation: Ko H, Pelt CE, Martin BI .
Patient-reported outcomes following cemented versus cementless primary total knee arthroplasty: a comparative analysis based on propensity score matching.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2022 Oct 27;23(1):934. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05899-1..
Keywords: Orthopedics, Surgery, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Graber J, Kittelson A, Juarez-Colunga E
Comparing "people-like-me" and linear mixed model predictions of functional recovery following knee arthroplasty.
This study compared the relative strengths and weaknesses of 2 prediction model approaches for predicting functional recovery after knee arthroplasty: a neighbors-based "people-like-me" (PLM) approach and a linear mixed model (LMM) approach. The authors used 2 distinct datasets to train and then test PLM and LMM prediction approaches. They used the Timed Up and Go (TUG)-a common test of mobility-to operationalize physical function. Both approaches use patient characteristics and baseline postoperative TUG values to predict TUG recovery from days 1-425 following surgery. They then compared the accuracy and precision of the two approaches. A total of 317 patient records with 1379 TUG observations were used to train approaches, and 456 patient records with 1244 TUG observations were used to test the predictions. Both approaches performed similarly in terms of mean squared error and bias, but the PLM approach provided more accurate and precise estimates of prediction uncertainty.
AHRQ-funded; HS025692.
Citation: Graber J, Kittelson A, Juarez-Colunga E .
Comparing "people-like-me" and linear mixed model predictions of functional recovery following knee arthroplasty.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2022 Oct 7;29(11):1899-907. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocac123..
Keywords: Orthopedics, Surgery, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes
Fritz B, King C, Chen Y
Protocol for the perioperative outcome risk assessment with computer learning enhancement (Periop ORACLE) randomized study.
This paper describes a protocol for an ongoing study that hypothesizes that anesthesiology clinicians can predict postoperative complications more accurately with machine learning assistance than without machine learning assistance. This investigation is a sub-study nested within the TECTONICS randomized clinical trial. Study team members who are anesthesiology clinicians working in a telemedicine setting are currently reviewing ongoing surgical cases and documenting how likely they feel the patient is to experience 30-day in-hospital death or acute kidney injury. These case reviews will be randomized to be performed with access to a display showing machine learning predictions for the postoperative complications or without access to the display, and the accuracy of the predictions will be compared across these two groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS024581.
Citation: Fritz B, King C, Chen Y .
Protocol for the perioperative outcome risk assessment with computer learning enhancement (Periop ORACLE) randomized study.
F1000Res 2022; 11:653. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.122286.2..
Keywords: Surgery, Risk, Outcomes, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Taylor K, Diaz A, Nuliyalu U
Association of dual Medicare and Medicaid eligibility with outcomes and spending for cancer surgery in high-quality hospitals.
The purpose of this study was to assess whether treatment at high-quality hospitals mitigates dual-eligibility-associated disparities in outcomes and spending for cancer surgery. Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older who underwent colectomy, rectal resection, lung resection, or pancreatectomy were evaluated. The findings indicate that, even among the highest-quality hospitals, dual-eligibility patients had poorer outcomes and higher spending. Dually eligible patients were more likely to be discharged to a facility and thus incurred higher post-acute care costs. Although treatment at high-quality hospitals is associated with reduced differences in outcomes, dual-eligibility patients remain at high risk for adverse post-operative outcomes as well as increased readmissions and post-acute care use.
AHRQ-funded; HS024763.
Citation: Taylor K, Diaz A, Nuliyalu U .
Association of dual Medicare and Medicaid eligibility with outcomes and spending for cancer surgery in high-quality hospitals.
JAMA Surg 2022 Apr;157(4):e217586. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2021.7586..
Keywords: Cancer, Surgery, Medicare, Medicaid, Outcomes, Hospitals
Kanters AE, Evilsizer SK, Regenbogen SE
Correlation of colorectal surgical skill with patient outcomes: a cautionary tale.
Some have proposed that video-based skill assessments be used as a way to measure technical skills, quality improvement, and credentialing in colorectal surgeons and other practitioners. However, it must first be determined whether video-based assessments can accurately predict patient outcomes. The researchers assembled a panel of 10 peer surgeons to evaluate videos of minimally invasive colectomy procedures submitted by 21 surgeons. Each surgeon submitted one video, and the videos were edited to highlight key steps in the procedure. The panel and the surgeon participants were all associated with the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative. The panel used a validated American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons assessment instrument to rate the surgeon’s skills. The surgeon’s ratings were then linked to a validated registry of surgical outcomes, and the researchers assessed the relationship between skill level and risk-adjusted complication rates. The researchers found that after risk-adjustment there was no statistically significant difference in complication rates between the bottom (17.5%) and top (16.8%) quartile surgeons (p=0.41). The study concluded that there was no correlation between video-based peer rating of minimally invasive colectomy and postoperative complications among specialty surgeons, and that caution should be used when utilizing video review in credentialing.
AHRQ-funded; HS025365.
Citation: Kanters AE, Evilsizer SK, Regenbogen SE .
Correlation of colorectal surgical skill with patient outcomes: a cautionary tale.
Dis Colon Rectum 2022 Mar;65(3):444-51. doi: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000002124..
Keywords: Surgery, Provider: Physician, Provider Performance, Digestive Disease and Health, Outcomes