TY - JOUR
T1 - Geographic variations in health care resource utilization following elective ACDF for cervical spondylotic myelopathy
T2 - A national trend analysis
AU - Koo, Andrew B.
AU - Elsamadicy, Aladine A.
AU - Sarkozy, Margot
AU - Pathak, Neil
AU - David, Wyatt B.
AU - Freedman, Isaac G.
AU - Reeves, Benjamin C.
AU - Sciubba, Daniel M.
AU - Laurans, Maxwell
AU - Kolb, Luis
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - Background: As health care expenditures continue to increase, standardizing health care delivery across geographic regions has been identified as a method to reduce costs. However, few studies have demonstrated how the practice of elective spine surgery varies by geographic location. The aim of this study was to assess the geographic variations in management, complications, and total cost of elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Methods: The National Inpatient Sample database (2016-2017) was queried using the ICD-10-CM procedural and diagnostic coding systems to identify all adult (≥18 years) patients with a primary diagnosis of CSM undergoing an elective ACDF. Patients were divided into regional cohorts as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Weighted patient demographics, Elixhauser comorbidities, perioperative complications, length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and total cost of admission were assessed. Results: A total of 17,385 adult patients were identified. While the age (p=0.116) and proportion of female patients (p=0.447) were similar among the cohorts, race (p<0.001) and healthcare coverage (p<0.001) varied significantly. The Northeast had the largest proportion of patients in the 76-100th household income quartile (Northeast: 32.1%; Midwest: 16.9%; South: 15.7%; West: 27.5%, p<0.001). Complication rates were similar between regional cohorts (Northeast: 10.1%; Midwest: 12.2%; South: 10.3%; West: 11.9%, p=0.503), as was LOS (Northeast: 2.2±2.4 days; Midwest: 2.1±2.4 days; South: 2.0±2.5 days; West: 2.1±2.4 days, p=0.678). The West incurred the greatest mean total cost of admission (Northeast: $19,167±10,267; Midwest: $18,903±9,114; South: $18,566±10,152; West: $24,322±15,126, p<0.001). The Northeast had the lowest proportion of patients with a routine discharge (Northeast: 72.0%; Midwest: 84.8%; South: 82.3%; West: 83.3%, p<0.001). The odds ratio for Western hospital region was 3.46 [95% CI: (2.41, 4.96), p<0.001] compared to the Northeast for increased cost. Conclusion: Our study suggests that regional variations exist in elective ACDF for CSM, including patient demographics, hospital costs, and nonroutine discharges, while complication rates and LOS were similar between regions.
AB - Background: As health care expenditures continue to increase, standardizing health care delivery across geographic regions has been identified as a method to reduce costs. However, few studies have demonstrated how the practice of elective spine surgery varies by geographic location. The aim of this study was to assess the geographic variations in management, complications, and total cost of elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Methods: The National Inpatient Sample database (2016-2017) was queried using the ICD-10-CM procedural and diagnostic coding systems to identify all adult (≥18 years) patients with a primary diagnosis of CSM undergoing an elective ACDF. Patients were divided into regional cohorts as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Weighted patient demographics, Elixhauser comorbidities, perioperative complications, length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and total cost of admission were assessed. Results: A total of 17,385 adult patients were identified. While the age (p=0.116) and proportion of female patients (p=0.447) were similar among the cohorts, race (p<0.001) and healthcare coverage (p<0.001) varied significantly. The Northeast had the largest proportion of patients in the 76-100th household income quartile (Northeast: 32.1%; Midwest: 16.9%; South: 15.7%; West: 27.5%, p<0.001). Complication rates were similar between regional cohorts (Northeast: 10.1%; Midwest: 12.2%; South: 10.3%; West: 11.9%, p=0.503), as was LOS (Northeast: 2.2±2.4 days; Midwest: 2.1±2.4 days; South: 2.0±2.5 days; West: 2.1±2.4 days, p=0.678). The West incurred the greatest mean total cost of admission (Northeast: $19,167±10,267; Midwest: $18,903±9,114; South: $18,566±10,152; West: $24,322±15,126, p<0.001). The Northeast had the lowest proportion of patients with a routine discharge (Northeast: 72.0%; Midwest: 84.8%; South: 82.3%; West: 83.3%, p<0.001). The odds ratio for Western hospital region was 3.46 [95% CI: (2.41, 4.96), p<0.001] compared to the Northeast for increased cost. Conclusion: Our study suggests that regional variations exist in elective ACDF for CSM, including patient demographics, hospital costs, and nonroutine discharges, while complication rates and LOS were similar between regions.
KW - Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
KW - Cervical spondylotic myelopathy
KW - Complications
KW - Geographic variations
KW - Healthcare expenditures
KW - Standardized healthcare delivery
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122635169&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85122635169&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.xnsj.2022.100099
DO - 10.1016/j.xnsj.2022.100099
M3 - Article
C2 - 35141663
AN - SCOPUS:85122635169
SN - 2666-5484
VL - 9
JO - North American Spine Society Journal
JF - North American Spine Society Journal
M1 - 100099
ER -