The impact of sleep apnea on postoperative utilization of resources and adverse outcomes.

TitleThe impact of sleep apnea on postoperative utilization of resources and adverse outcomes.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsMemtsoudis SG, Stundner O, Rasul R, Chiu Y-L, Sun X, Ramachandran S-K, Kaw R, Fleischut P, Mazumdar M
JournalAnesth Analg
Volume118
Issue2
Pagination407-18
Date Published2014 Feb
ISSN1526-7598
KeywordsAged, Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip, Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee, Comorbidity, Databases, Factual, Female, Hip Injuries, Humans, Knee Injuries, Length of Stay, Male, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Postoperative Complications, Prevalence, Regression Analysis, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sleep Apnea Syndromes, Telemetry, Treatment Outcome
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite the concern that sleep apnea (SA) is associated with increased risk for postoperative complications, a paucity of information is available regarding the effect of this disorder on postoperative complications and resource utilization in the orthopedic population. With an increasing number of surgical patients suffering from SA, this information is important to physicians, patients, policymakers, and administrators alike.

METHODS: We analyzed hospital discharge data of patients who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty in approximately 400 U.S. Hospitals between 2006 and 2010. Patient, procedure, and health care system-related demographics and outcomes such as mortality, complications, and resource utilization were compared among groups. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit to assess the association between SA and various outcomes.

RESULTS: We identified 530,089 entries for patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty. Of those, 8.4% had a diagnosis code for SA. In the multivariate analysis, the diagnosis of SA emerged as an independent risk factor for major postoperative complications (OR 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-1.55). Pulmonary complications were 1.86 (95% CI, 1.65-2.09) times more likely and cardiac complications 1.59 (95% CI, 1.48-1.71) times more likely to occur in patients with SA. In addition, SA patients were more likely to receive ventilatory support, use more intensive care, stepdown and telemetry services, consume more economic resources, and have longer lengths of hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of SA is a major clinical and economic challenge in the postoperative period. More research is needed to identify SA patients at risk for complications and develop evidence-based practices to aid in the allocation of clinical and economic resources.

DOI10.1213/ANE.0000000000000051
Alternate JournalAnesth. Analg.
PubMed ID24445639
PubMed Central IDPMC4120109
Grant ListU18HSO16-75 / / PHS HHS / United States
UL1 RR024996 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
UL1 TR000457 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
UL1-RR024996 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States