Angel M Reyes1, Jeffrey N Katz2, Andrew J Schoenfeld3, James D Kang3, Elena Losina4, Yuchiao Chang5. 1. Orthopaedic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Rd, Boston, MA 02115 USA; Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115 USA. Electronic address: areyes7@mgh.harvard.edu. 2. Orthopaedic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Rd, Boston, MA 02115 USA; Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115 USA; Division of Rheumatology, Section of Clinical Sciences, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Rd, Boston, MA 02115 USA; Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntingon Ave, Boston, MA 02115 USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115 USA. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115 USA. 4. Orthopaedic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Rd, Boston, MA 02115 USA; Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115 USA; Division of Rheumatology, Section of Clinical Sciences, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Rd, Boston, MA 02115 USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115 USA; Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Ave 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02118 USA. 5. Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115 USA; Division of General Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford St, 9th floor, Boston, MA 02114 USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Degenerative lumbar conditions are prevalent, disabling, and frequently managed with decompression and fusion. Black patients have lower spinal fusion rates than White patients. PURPOSE: Determine whether specific lumbar fusion procedure utilization differs by race/ethnicity and whether length of stay (LOS) or inpatient complications differ by race/ethnicity after accounting for procedure performed. STUDY DESIGN: Large database retrospective cohort study PATIENT SAMPLE: Lumbar fusion recipients at least age 50 in the 2016 National Inpatient Sample with diagnoses of degenerative lumbar conditions. OUTCOME MEASURES: Type of fusion procedure used and inpatient safety measures including LOS, prolonged LOS, inpatient medical and surgical complications, mortality, and cost. METHODS: We examined the association between race/ethnicity and the safety measures above. Covariates included several patient and hospital factors. We used multiple linear or logistic regression to determine the association between race and fusion type (PLF, P/TLIF, ALIF, PLF + P/TLIF, and PLF + ALIF [anterior-posterior fusion]) and to determine whether race was associated independently with inpatient safety measures, after adjustment for patient and hospital factors. RESULTS: Fusion method use did not differ among racial/ethnic groups, except for somewhat lower anterior-posterior fusion utilization in Black patients compared to White patients (crude odds ratio [OR]: 0.81 [0.67-0.97]). Inpatient safety measures differed by race/ethnicity for rates of prolonged LOS (Blacks 18.1%, Hispanics 14.5%, and Whites 11.7%), medical complications (Blacks 9.9%, Hispanics 8.7%, and Whites 7.7%), and surgical complications (Blacks 5.2%, Hispanics 6.9%, and Whites 5.4%). Differences persisted after adjustment for procedure type as well as patient and hospital factors. Blacks and Hispanics had higher risk for prolonged LOS compared to Whites (adjusted OR Blacks 1.39 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.22-1.59]; Hispanics 1.24 [95% CI 1.02-1.52]). Blacks had higher risk for inpatient medical complications compared to Whites (adjusted OR 1.24 [95% CI 1.05-1.48]), and Hispanics had higher risk for inpatient surgical complications compared to Whites (adjusted OR 1.34 [95% CI 1.06-1.68]). CONCLUSIONS: Fusion method use was generally similar between racial/ethnic groups. Inpatient safety measures, adjusted for procedure type, patient and hospital factors, were worse for Blacks and Hispanics.
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Degenerative lumbar conditions are prevalent, disabling, and frequently managed with decompression and fusion. Black patients have lower spinal fusion rates than White patients. PURPOSE: Determine whether specific lumbar fusion procedure utilization differs by race/ethnicity and whether length of stay (LOS) or inpatient complications differ by race/ethnicity after accounting for procedure performed. STUDY DESIGN: Large database retrospective cohort study PATIENT SAMPLE: Lumbar fusion recipients at least age 50 in the 2016 National Inpatient Sample with diagnoses of degenerative lumbar conditions. OUTCOME MEASURES: Type of fusion procedure used and inpatient safety measures including LOS, prolonged LOS, inpatient medical and surgical complications, mortality, and cost. METHODS: We examined the association between race/ethnicity and the safety measures above. Covariates included several patient and hospital factors. We used multiple linear or logistic regression to determine the association between race and fusion type (PLF, P/TLIF, ALIF, PLF + P/TLIF, and PLF + ALIF [anterior-posterior fusion]) and to determine whether race was associated independently with inpatient safety measures, after adjustment for patient and hospital factors. RESULTS: Fusion method use did not differ among racial/ethnic groups, except for somewhat lower anterior-posterior fusion utilization in Black patients compared to White patients (crude odds ratio [OR]: 0.81 [0.67-0.97]). Inpatient safety measures differed by race/ethnicity for rates of prolonged LOS (Blacks 18.1%, Hispanics 14.5%, and Whites 11.7%), medical complications (Blacks 9.9%, Hispanics 8.7%, and Whites 7.7%), and surgical complications (Blacks 5.2%, Hispanics 6.9%, and Whites 5.4%). Differences persisted after adjustment for procedure type as well as patient and hospital factors. Blacks and Hispanics had higher risk for prolonged LOS compared to Whites (adjusted OR Blacks 1.39 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.22-1.59]; Hispanics 1.24 [95% CI 1.02-1.52]). Blacks had higher risk for inpatient medical complications compared to Whites (adjusted OR 1.24 [95% CI 1.05-1.48]), and Hispanics had higher risk for inpatient surgical complications compared to Whites (adjusted OR 1.34 [95% CI 1.06-1.68]). CONCLUSIONS: Fusion method use was generally similar between racial/ethnic groups. Inpatient safety measures, adjusted for procedure type, patient and hospital factors, were worse for Blacks and Hispanics.
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