Predictors of Hospital Readmission and Surgical Site Infection in the United States, Denmark, and Japan: Is Risk Stratification a Universal Language?

Abstract

Study design

Retrospective review of three spine surgery databases.

Objectives

The purpose of the present study is to determine whether predictors of hospital readmission and surgical site infection (SSI) after lumbar fusion will be the same in United States, Denmark, and Japan.

Summary of background data

Because clinical decision making becomes more data driven, risk stratification will be crucial to minimize complications. Spine surgeons worldwide face this issue, leading to parallel efforts to address risk stratification. This raises the question as to whether pooled data would be valuable and whether models generated in one country would be applicable to other populations.

Methods

Predictors of SSI and 30-day readmission from three prospective databases (National Neurosurgery Quality and Outcomes Database [N2QOD] N = 2653, DaneSpine N = 1993, Japan Multicenter Spine Database [JAMSD] N = 3798) were determined and compared to identify common or divergent predictive risks.

Results

Predictive variables differed in the three databases, for both readmission and SSI. Factors predictive for hospital readmission were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade in N2QOD (P = 0.013, odds ratio [OR] 2.08), fusion levels in DaneSpine (P = 0.005, OR 1.67), and sex in JAMSD (P = 0.001, OR = 2.81). Associated differences in demographics and procedural factors included mean ASA grade (N2QOD = 2.45, JAMSD = 1.72) and fusion levels (N2QOD = 1.39, DaneSpine = 1.52, JAMSD = 1.34). For SSI, sex (P = 0.000, OR = 3.30), diabetes (P = 0.000, OR = 2.90), and length of stay (P = 0.000, OR = 1.02) were predictive in JAMSD. No predictors were identified in N2QOD or DaneSpine.

Conclusion

Predictors of SSI and hospital readmission differ in the United States, Denmark, and Japan, suggesting that risk stratification models may need to be population specific or adjusted. Some differences in measured parameters exist in the three databases analyzed; however, patient and procedure selection also appear to differ and may limit the ability to directly pool data from different regions. Therefore, risk stratification models developed in one country may not be directly applicable to other countries.

Level of evidence

2.

Department

Description

Provenance

Citation

Published Version (Please cite this version)

10.1097/brs.0000000000002082

Publication Info

Glassman, Steven, Leah Y Carreon, Mikkel Andersen, Anthony Asher, Soren Eiskjær, Martin Gehrchen, Shiro Imagama, Ken Ishii, et al. (2017). Predictors of Hospital Readmission and Surgical Site Infection in the United States, Denmark, and Japan: Is Risk Stratification a Universal Language?. Spine, 42(17). pp. 1311–1315. 10.1097/brs.0000000000002082 Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/28374.

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Scholars@Duke

Shaffrey

Christopher Ignatius Shaffrey

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

I have more than 25 years of experience treating patients of all ages with spinal disorders. I have had an interest in the management of spinal disorders since starting my medical education. I performed residencies in both orthopaedic surgery and neurosurgery to gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire range of spinal disorders. My goal has been to find innovative ways to manage the range of spinal conditions, straightforward to complex. I have a focus on managing patients with complex spinal disorders. My patient evaluation and management philosophy is to provide engaged, compassionate care that focuses on providing the simplest and least aggressive treatment option for a particular condition. In many cases, non-operative treatment options exist to improve a patient’s symptoms. I have been actively engaged in clinical research to find the best ways to manage spinal disorders in order to achieve better results with fewer complications.


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