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Background We sought to define the impact of high- versus low-quality hospitals on the risk of adverse outcomes among patients undergoing hepatopancreatic surgery relative to social vulnerability. Social vulnerability is an important factor associated with risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. Methods Patients from 2013 to 2017 were identified from the Medicare Inpatient Standard Analytic File. Hospital quality was determined by calculating risk-adjusted probability to achieve a textbook outcome. The Social Vulnerability Index was used to categorize patients. Risk-adjusted probability of mortality, morbidity, and textbook outcome was examined across varying social vulnerability indices stratified by low-, average-, and high-quality hospitals. Results Among 27,000 patients who underwent a pancreatectomy (67%) or hepatectomy (33%%), median patient age was 72 years, 48% were female, and 89% were White; mean Social Vulnerability Index was 49. Risk-adjusted 90-day mortality (odds ratio: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.20–1.59, P = .004) and postoperative complications (odds ratio: 1.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.24, P = .044) were both higher among beneficiaries from the highest social vulnerability counties versus the lowest counties. At low-quality hospitals, patients from the highest vulnerability counties had 70% higher odds of mortality (odds ratio: 1.70, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–2.48, P = .007), 31% higher odds of overall morbidity odds ratio: 1.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.05–2.63, P = .013), and 19% lower odds of achieving a textbook outcome (odds ratio: 0.81, 95% confidence interval: 0.66–0.99, P = .035)—all of which were markedly worse compared with outcomes achieved at high-quality hospitals. Conclusion Among patients with increased social vulnerability, outcomes were considerably better at high-quality hospitals. Referral of socially vulnerable patients to high-quality hospitals represents an important opportunity to ensure optimal outcomes after complex surgery.

Introduction Social vulnerability is an important driver of disparate surgical outcomes, however the extent to which certain types of vulnerability impact outcomes is poorly understood. Methods Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older who underwent one of four operations were identified. Multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression was used to measure the association of four social vulnerability subthemes from the social vulnerability index (SVI) were assessed relative to the likelihood to achieve a textbook outcome (TO). Results Among 579,846 Medicare beneficiaries, median age was 74 years and most patients (536,455,92.5%) were White/non-Hispanic. On multivariable analysis, the overall impact of the composite SVI metric on the odds to achieve a postoperative TO was lower among White/non-Hispanic patients (Δ25%ile SVI:OR:0.98,95%CI:0.97–0.98) compared with ethnic/minority patients (Δ25%ile SVI:OR:0.93,95%CI:0.91–0.94). Increasing vulnerability in the subthemes of socioeconomic status (Δ25%ile SVI:ethnic/minority:OR:0.92, 95%CI:0.91–0.94) and household composition (Δ25%ile SVI:ethnic/minority:OR:0.92,95%CI:0.91–0.94) was associated with a greater likelihood not to achieve a TO among minority patients. Conclusions Worsening SES and household compositions & disability had a detrimental effect on odds of TO following surgery with the most pronounced effect on non-White minority patients.

BACKGROUND The association of different social vulnerability subthemes (ie, socioeconomic status, household composition and disability, minority status and language, and housing and transportation) with surgical outcomes remains poorly defined. The current study aimed to identify distinct profiles of social vulnerability among Medicare beneficiaries and define the association of these profiles with postoperative outcomes. METHODS The Medicare 100% Standard Analytic Files were used to identify patients undergoing lung resection, coronary artery bypass grafting, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and colectomy between 2013 and 2017. A cluster analysis was performed based on ranked scores across the 4 subthemes of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social vulnerability index. The likelihood of complications, extended length of stay, readmission, and mortality were assessed relative to cluster vulnerability profiles. RESULTS Among 852,449 Medicare beneficiaries undergoing surgery, median social vulnerability index among patients in the cohort was 49 (interquartile range: 24-74); cluster analysis revealed 5 vulnerability profiles that had heterogeneity in the vulnerability subthemes, even among patients with similar overall social vulnerability index scores. Postoperative outcomes differed across the 5 vulnerability profiles, with patients in the profiles characterized by higher overall vulnerability having worse postoperative outcomes. In particular, risk of complications (profile 1, 31.9% vs profile 5, 34.0%), extended length of stay (profile 1, 21.7% vs profile 5, 24.3%), 30-day readmission (profile 1, 12.6% vs profile 5, 13.2%), and 30-day mortality (profile 1, 4.0% vs profile 5, 4.7%) was greater among patients with the highest vulnerability (all P < .01). Of note, surgical outcomes varied among patients who resided in communities with similar average social vulnerability index scores (social vulnerability index 49-54). In particular, patients in social vulnerability profile 4 had 26% increased odds of 30-day mortality compared to social vulnerability profile 2 patients (odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 1.21-1.30). Additionally, profile 3 patients had 15% higher odds of 30-day mortality versus profile 2 patients (odds ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.10-1.20). CONCLUSION Postoperative outcomes differed across patients based on cluster vulnerability profiles. Despite similar overall aggregate social vulnerability index scores, cluster analysis was able to discriminate various social determinants of health subthemes among patients who resided in "average" vulnerability communities that stratified patients relative to risk of adverse postoperative events.

The aim of this analysis was to determine whether optimal outcomes have increased in recent years. Hepatic surgery is high risk, but regionalization and minimally invasive approaches have evolved. Best practices also have been defined with the goal of improving outcomes.The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried. Analyses were performed separately for partial (≤2 segments), major (≥3 segments), and all hepatectomies. Optimal hepatic surgery was defined as the absence of mortality, serious morbidity, need for a postoperative invasive procedure or reoperation, prolonged length of stay (75th percentile) or readmission. Tests of trend, χFrom 2014 to 2018, 17,082 hepatectomies, including 11,862 partial hepatectomies and 5,220 major hepatectomies, were analyzed. Minimally invasive approaches increased from 25.6% in 2014 to 29.6% in 2018 (P.01) and were performed more frequently for partial hepatectomies (34.2%) than major hepatectomies (14.4%) (P.01). Operative time decreased from 220 minutes in 2014 to 208 minutes in 2018 (P.05) and was lower in partial hepatectomies (189 vs 258 minutes for major hepatectomies) (P.01). Mortality (0.7%) and length of stay (4 days) were lower for partial hepatectomies compared with major hepatectomies (1.9%; 6 days), and length of stay decreased for both partial hepatectomies (5 days in 2014 to 4 days in 2018) and major hepatectomies (6 days in 2014 to 6 days in 2018) (all P.01). Postoperative sepsis (2.9% in 2014 and 2.4% in 2018), bile leaks (6% in 2014 and 4.8% in 2018), and liver failure (3.7% in 2014 and 3.3% in 2018) decreased for all patients (.05). On multivariable analyses, overall morbidity decreased for major hepatectomies (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.99) and all hepatectomies (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-0.99, both P.01), and optimal hepatic surgery increased over time for partial hepatectomies (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.09) and all hepatectomies (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.07, both P.01).Over a 5-year period in North America, minimally invasive hepatectomies have increased, while operative time, postoperative sepsis, bile leaks, liver failure, and prolonged length of stay have decreased. Optimal hepatic surgery has increased for partial and all hepatectomies and is achieved more often in partial than in major resections.

Background The objective of the current study was to assess the impact of case mix index at the hospital level on postoperative outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries who underwent hepatopancreatic surgery. Methods Medicare beneficiaries who underwent hepatopancreatic surgery between 2013 and 2017 were identified and analyzed. The primary independent variable, Case Mix Index, is a freely available metric; the primary outcome was textbook outcome defined as the absence of complications, extended length of stay, readmission, and mortality. Results Among 37,412 Medicare beneficiaries, 64.9% (n = 24,299) underwent a pancreatectomy and 35.1% (n = 13,113) underwent hepatectomy. The overall incidence of textbook outcome was 47.2%, which varied by case mix index (low case mix index: 41.6% vs high case mix index: 51.3%), as did extended length of stay (low case mix index: 27.9% versus high case mix index: 19.3%), complications (low case mix index: 33.3% vs high case mix index: 24.7%), and 90-day mortality (low case mix index: 12.5% vs high case mix index: 6.3%). After controlling for hepatopancreatic-specific surgical volume and hospital teaching status, multivariable analyses revealed that patients who underwent surgery at a low case mix index hospital had 28% decreased odds (95% confidence interval 0.66–0.79) of achieving a textbook outcome versus patients from a high case mix index hospital. Moreover, patients at a low case mix index hospital had 39% increased odds of extended length of stay (95% confidence interval 1.23–1.59), 48% increased odds of experiencing a complication (95% confidence interval 1.32–1.65), and 56% increased odds of 90-day mortality (95% confidence interval 1.31–1.87). Conclusion Case mix index was strongly associated with the probability of achieving a textbook outcome after hepatopancreatic surgery. Hospitals with a higher case mix index were more likely to perform hepatopancreatic surgeries with no adverse postoperative outcomes.

Determining the impact of county-level upward economic mobility on stage at diagnosis and receipt of treatment among Medicare beneficiaries with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.The extent to which economic mobility contributes to socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes remains largely unknown.Pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients diagnosed in 2004-2015 were identified from the SEER-Medicare linked database. Information on county-level upward economic mobility was obtained from the Opportunity Atlas. Its impact on early-stage diagnosis (stage I or II), as well as receipt of chemotherapy or surgery was analyzed, stratified by patient race/ethnicity.Among 25,233 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 37.1%(n = 9349) were diagnosed at an early stage; only 16.7%(n = 4218) underwent resection, whereas 31.7%(n = 7996) received chemotherapy. In turn, 10,073(39.9%) patients received any treatment. Individuals from counties with high upward economic mobility were more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier stage (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.25), as well as to receive surgery (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.41-1.77) or chemotherapy (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.39-1.63). White patients and patients who identified as neither White or Black had increased odds of being diagnosed at an early stage (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.22 and OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.02-1.80, respectively) and of receiving treatment (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.59-1.88 and OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.13-1.98, respectively) when they resided in a county of high vs low upward economic mobility. The impact of economic mobility on stage at diagnosis and receipt of treatment was much less pronounced among Black patients (high vs low, OR 1.28, 95% CI 0.96-1.71 and OR 1.30, 95% CI 0.99-1.72, respectively).Pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients from higher upward mobility areas were more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier stage, as well as to receive surgery or chemotherapy. The impact of county-level upward mobility was less pronounced among Black patients.

BACKGROUND Intensive care unit (ICU) use has increased among patients with cancer. We sought to define factors associated with ICU admissions among patients with pancreatic cancer and characterize trends in mortality among hospital survivors. METHODS The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database was used to identify patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent resection. Multivariable analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with ICU admission and mortality among hospital survivors. RESULTS Among 6422 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent resection of pancreatic cancer, 2386 (37.1%) had an ICU admission. Patients with ICU admissions were more likely to be younger (10-year increase odds ratio [OR]: 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77-0.89), male (OR: 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.30) and undergo resection at a teaching hospital (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05-1.36). While the majority of patients survived to hospital discharge (n = 2106; 88.3%), a majority of patients (n = 1296; 54.3%) died within 6 months. Among patients who had subsequent ICU admissions, 1- and 5-year survival was only 31.8% and 11.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Over one-third of patients with pancreatic cancer had an ICU admission. While most patients survived hospitalization, more than one-half of patients died within 6 months of discharge and two-thirds died within 1 year. These data should serve to guide patient-provider discussions around prognosis relative to ICU utilization.

The effect of varying severity and timing of complications after hepatic resection on 30-day mortality has not been thoroughly examined. National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Patient User Files (NSQIP-PUF) were used to identify patients who underwent elective hepatic resection between 2014 and 2019. The impact of number, timing, and severity of complications on 30-day mortality was examined. Among 25,084 patients who underwent hepatic resection, 7436 (29.9%) patients developed at least one NSQIP complication, while 2688 (10.7%) had multiple (≥2) complications. Overall, 30-day mortality was 1.7% (n=424), among whom 81.4% (n=345) patients had ≥2 complications. The 30-day mortality was highest among patients with three consecutive severe complications (47.8%), as well as patients with one non-severe and two subsequent severe complications (47.6%). The adjusted probability of 30-day mortality was 35.5% (95%CI: 29.5–41.4%) when multiple severe complications occurred within the first postoperative week and 16.2% (95%CI: 7.2–25.1%) when the second severe complication occurred at least one week apart. The adjusted risk of 30-day mortality after even two non-severe complications was as high as 5.3% (95%CI: 3.7–6.9%) when the second complication occurred within a week postoperatively. Approximately 1 in 10 patients developed multiple complications following hepatectomy. Timing and severity of complications were independently associated with 30-day mortality.

In an effort to improve perioperative and oncologic outcomes, there have been multiple quality improvement initiatives, including regionalization of high-risk procedures and hospital accreditation designations from independent organizations. These initiatives may, however, hinder access to high-quality surgical care for certain patients living in areas with high social vulnerability who may be disproportionally affected, leading to disparities in access and worse postoperative outcomes.Medicare beneficiaries who underwent liver or pancreas resection for cancer were identified using the 100% Medicare Inpatient Standard Analytic Files. Hospitals were designated as high-volume based on Leapfrog criteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's social vulnerability index database was used to abstract social vulnerability index information based on each beneficiary's county of residence at the time of operation. The probability that a patient received care at a high-volume hospital stratified by the social vulnerability of the patient's county of residence was examined. Risk-adjusted postoperative outcomes were compared across low, average, and high levels of vulnerability at both low- and high-volume hospitals.Among 16,978 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent a pancreatectomy (n = 13,393, 78%) or a liver resection (n = 3,594, 21.2%) for cancer, the mean age was 73.3 years (standard deviation: 5.8), nearly half the cohort was female (n = 7,819, 46%), and the overwhelming majority were White (n = 15,034, 88.5%). Mean social vulnerability index was 49.8 (standard deviation 24.8) and mean Charlson comorbidity index was 4.8 (standard deviation: 3). Overall, 8,251 (48.6%) of patients had their operations at a high-volume hospital, and 3,802 patients had their operations at a hospital with Magnet recognition. Age and sex were similar within the low-, average-, and high-social vulnerability index cohorts (P.05); however, race differed across social vulnerability index groups. White patients made up 93% (n = 3,241) of the low social vulnerability index compared with 83.9% (n = 2,706) of the high-social vulnerability index group, whereas non-Whites made up 7% (n = 244) of the low-social vulnerability index group compared with 16.1% (n = 556) of the high-social vulnerability index group (P.001). The risk-adjusted overall probability of having surgery at a high-volume hospital decreased as social vulnerability increased (odds ratio: 0.98, 95% confidence interval: 0.97-0.99). Risk-adjusted probability of postoperative complications increased with social vulnerability index; however, among patients with high social vulnerability, risk of postoperative complications was lower at high-volume hospitals compared with low-volume hospitals. In contrast, there was no difference in postoperative complications between hospitals with and without Magnet recognition across social vulnerability index.Patients residing in communities characterized by a high social vulnerability index were less likely to undergo high-risk cancer surgery at a high-volume hospital. Although postoperative complications and mortality increased as social vulnerability index increased, some of the risk appeared to be mitigated by having surgery at a high-volume hospital. These data highlight the importance of access to high-quality surgical care, especially among patients who may already be more vulnerable.

Background The use of robotic total knee arthroplasty has become increasingly prevalent. Proponents of robotic total knee arthroplasty tout its potential to not only improve outcomes, but also to reduce costs compared with traditional total knee arthroplasty. Despite its potential to deliver on the value proposition, whether robotic total knee arthroplasty has led to improved outcomes and cost savings within Medicare’s Bundled Payment for Care Improvement initiative remains unexplored. Methods Medicare beneficiaries who underwent total knee arthroplasty designated under Medicare severity diagnosis related group 469 or 470 in the year 2017 were identified using the 100% Medicare Inpatient Standard Analytic Files. Hospitals participating in the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement were identified using the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement analytic file. We calculated risk-adjusted, price-standardized payments for the surgical episode from admission through 90-days postdischarge. Outcomes, utilization, and spending were assessed relative to variation between robotic and traditional total knee arthroplasty. Results Overall, 198,371 patients underwent total knee arthroplasty (traditional total knee arthroplasty: n= 194,020, 97.8% versus robotic total knee arthroplasty: n = 4,351, 2.2%). Among the 3,272 hospitals that performed total knee arthroplasty, only 300 (9.3%) performed robotic total knee arthroplasty. Among the 183 participating in the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement, only 40 (19%) hospitals performed robotic total knee arthroplasty. Risk-adjusted 90-day episode spending was $14,263 (95% confidence interval $14,231–$14,294) among patients who underwent traditional total knee arthroplasty versus $13,676 (95% confidence interval $13,467–$13,885) among patients who had robotic total knee arthroplasty. Patients who underwent robotic total knee arthroplasty had a shorter length of stay (traditional total knee arthroplasty: 2.3 days, 95% confidence interval: 2.3–2.3 versus robotic total knee arthroplasty: 1.9 days, 95% confidence interval: 1.9–2.0), as well as a lower incidence of complications (traditional total knee arthroplasty: 3.3%, 95% confidence interval: 3.2–3.3 versus robotic total knee arthroplasty: 2.7%, 95% confidence interval: 2.3–3.1). Of note, patients who underwent robotic total knee arthroplasty were less often discharged to a postacute care facility than patients who underwent traditional total knee arthroplasty (traditional total knee arthroplasty: 32.4%, 95% confidence interval: 32.3–32.5 versus robotic total knee arthroplasty: 16.8%, 95% confidence interval 16.1–17.6). Both Bundled Payment for Care Improvement and non-Bundled Payment for Care Improvement hospitals with greater than 50% robotic total knee arthroplasty utilization had lower spending per episode of care versus spending at hospitals with less than 50% robotic total knee arthroplasty utilization. Conclusion Overall 90-day episode spending for robotic total knee arthroplasty was lower than traditional total knee arthroplasty (Δ $–587, 95% confidence interval: $–798 to $–375). The decrease in spending was attributable to shorter length of stay, fewer complications, as well as lower utilization of postacute care facility. The cost savings associated with robotic total knee arthroplasty was only realized when robotic total knee arthroplasty volume surpassed 50% of all total knee arthroplasty volume. Hospitals participating in the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement may experience cost-saving with increased utilization of robotic total knee arthroplasty.

Background Mental illness and depression can be associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation (SI). We sought to determine the association between mental illness and SI among cancer surgical patients. Methods Medicare beneficiaries who underwent resection of lung, esophageal, pancreatic, colon, or rectal cancer were analyzed. Patients were categorized as no mental illness, anxiety and/or depression disorders or bipolar/schizophrenic disorders. Results Among 211,092 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent surgery for cancer, the rate of suicidal ideation was 270/100,000 patients. Antecedent mental health diagnosis resulted in a marked increased SI. On multivariable analysis, patients with anxiety alone (OR 1.49, 95%CI 1.04–2.14), depression alone (OR 2.60, 95%CI 1.92–3.38), anxiety + depression (OR 4.50, 95%CI 3.48–5.86), and bipolar/schizophrenia (OR 7.30, 95%CI 5.27–10.30) had increased odds of SI. Conclusions Roughly 1 in 370 Medicare beneficiaries with cancer who underwent a wide range of surgical procedures had SI. An antecedent mental health diagnosis was a strong risk factor for SI.

Care delivered in hospital-based emergency departments (ED) is a target for cost savings. ED utilization following hepatopancreatic surgery remains poorly defined. We sought to define the rate of ED utilization following liver and pancreatic resection, as well as to identify factors associated with ED visits post-discharge. The Medicare 100% Standard Analytic Files were used to identify Medicare beneficiaries who underwent hepatectomy or pancreatectomy between 2013 and 2017. Claims associated with ED services were identified using the relevant Revenue Center Codes. Patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes associated with ED care within 30 days of discharge were investigated. Among 37,707 patients who underwent hepatopancreatic surgery, 10,323 (27.4%) had at least one ED visit within 30 days of discharge. Patients presenting to the ED were more likely to be male (OR 1.13, 95%CI 1.07–1.18). Patients undergoing a pancreatectomy (OR 1.39, 95%CI 1.32–1.47), as well as patients who had a perioperative complication (OR 1.16, 95%CI 1.10–1.23) and patients not discharged home (OR 1.41, 95%CI 1.33–1.49), were more likely to require ED care. In contrast, patients undergoing resection for cancer or surgery for an elective basis were less likely to present to the ED postoperatively (OR 0.92, 95%CI 0.87–0.97 and OR 0.22, 95%CI 0.20–0.23, respectively). Patients often had multiple ED visits within 30 days of discharge as 37.2% of patients presented to the ED with at least 2 visits. Visits were also most common in the immediate postoperative period, with 30.9% of ED visits taking place in the first 2 days from discharge. Among patients requiring postoperative ED care, 53.9% were readmitted within 30 days. More than 1 in 4 patients undergoing hepatopancreatic surgery presented to the ED within 30 days of discharge, with most patients returning to the ED within the first week of discharge. A subset of patients had multiple ED visits. Future efforts should target patients most likely to be high ED utilizers to avoid the need for early post-discharge ED use.

Objective The objective of the current study was to characterize the role of patient social vulnerability relative to hospital racial/ethnic integration on postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing pancreatectomy. Background The interplay between patient- and community-level factors on outcomes after complex surgery has not been well-examined. Methods Medicare beneficiaries who underwent a pancreatectomy between 2013 and 2017 were identified utilizing 100% Medicare inpatient files. P-SVI was determined using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, whereas H-REI was estimated using Shannon Diversity Index. Impact of P-SVI and H-REI on "TO" [ie, no surgical complication/extended length-of-stay (LOS)/90-day mortality/90-day readmission] was assessed. Results Among 24,500 beneficiaries who underwent pancreatectomy, 12,890 (52.6%) were male and median age was 72 years (Interquartile range: 68-77); 10,619 (43.3%) patients achieved a TO. The most common adverse postoperative outcome was 90-day readmission (n = 8,066, 32.9%), whereas the least common was 90-day mortality (n = 2282, 9.3%). Complications and extended LOS occurred in 30.4% (n = 7450) and 23.3% (n = 5699) of the cohort, respectively. Patients from an above average SVI county who underwent surgery at a below average REI hospital had 18% lower odds [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74-0.95] of achieving a TO compared with patients from a below average SVI county who underwent surgery at a hospital with above average REI. Of note, patients from the highest SVI areas who underwent pancreatectomy at hospitals with the lowest REI had 30% lower odds (95% CI: 0.54-0.91) of achieving a TO compared with patients from very low SVI areas who underwent surgery at a hospital with high REI. Further comparisons of these 2 patient groups indicated 76% increased odds of 90-day mortality (95% CI: 1.10-2.82) and 50% increased odds of an extended LOS (95% CI: 1.07-2.11). Conclusion Patients with high social vulnerability who underwent pancreatectomy in hospitals located in communities with low racial/ethnic integration had the lowest chance to achieve an "optimal" TO. A focus on both patient- and community-level factors is needed to ensure optimal and equitable patient outcomes.

Introduction Residential racial desegregation has demonstrated improved economic and education outcomes. The degree of racial community segregation relative to surgical outcomes has not been examined. Patients and Methods Patients undergoing pancreatic resection between 2013 and 2017 were identified from Medicare Standard Analytic Files. A diversity index for each county was calculated from the American Community Survey. Multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression with a random effect for hospital was used to measure the association of the diversity index level with textbook outcome (TO). Results Among the 24,298 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent a pancreatic resection, most patients were male (n = 12,784, 52.6%), White (n = 21,616, 89%), and had a median age of 72 (68–77) years. The overall incidence of TO following pancreatic surgery was 43.3%. On multivariable analysis, patients who resided in low-diversity areas had 16% lower odds of experiencing a TO following pancreatic resection compared with patients from high-diversity communities (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.98). Compared with patients who resided in the high-diversity areas, individuals who lived in low-diversity areas had higher odds of 90-day readmission (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.03–1.31) and had higher odds of dying within 90 days (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.45–2.38) (both p < 0.05). Nonminority patients who resided in low-diversity areas also had a 14% decreased likelihood to achieve a TO after pancreatic resection compared with nonminority patients in high-diversity areas (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.73–1.00). Conclusion Patients residing in the lowest racial/ethnic integrated counties were considerably less likely to have an optimal TO following pancreatic resection compared with patients who resided in the highest racially integrated counties. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1245/s10434-021-10316-3.

Racial/ethnic disparities in cancer outcomes may relate to variations in receipt of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline compliant care. Patients undergoing resection of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) between 2004 and 2015 were identified using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Institutions treating Black and Hispanic patients within the top decile were categorized as minority-serving hospitals (MSH). Factors associated with receipt of NCCN-compliant care, and the impact of NCCN compliance on overall survival (OS), were evaluated. Among 16,108 patients who underwent resection of CCA, the majority of patients were treated at non-MSH (n = 14,779, 91.8%), while a smaller subset underwent resection of CCA at MSH (n = 1329, 8.2%). Patients treated at MSH facilities tended to be younger (MSH: 65 years versus non-MSH: 67 years), Black or Hispanic (MSH: 59.9% versus non-MSH: 13.4%), and uninsured (MSH: 11.6% versus non-MSH: 2.2%). While overall compliance with NCCN care was 73.0% (n = 11,762), guideline-compliant care was less common at MSH (MSH: 68.8% versus non-MSH: 73.4%; p

We sought to construct and validate a model of cancer surgeon approaches to patient-centered decision-making (PCDM) and compare applications of that model relative to surgical specialties. Ten PCDM strategies were assessed using a cross-sectional survey administered online to 295 board-certified cancer surgeons. Structural equation modeling was used to empirically validate and compare approaches to PCDM. Within the full sample, 7 strategies comprised a latent construct labeled, “physical & emotional accessibility,” associated with surgeon approaches to PCDM (β = 0.37, p

Introduction: Although preoperative α-fetoprotein (AFP) has been recognized as an important tumor marker among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predictive value of AFP levels at the time of recurrence (rAFP) on post-recurrence outcomes has not been well examined. Methods: Patients undergoing curative-intent resection of HCC between 2000 and 2017 were identified using a multi-institutional database. The impact of rAFP on post-recurrence survival, as well as the impact of rAFP relative to the timing and treatment of HCCrecurrence wereexamined. Results: Among 852 patients who underwent resection of HCC, 307 (36.0%) individuals developed a recurrence. The median rAFP level was 8ng/mL (interquartile range 3–100). Among the 307 patients who developed recurrence, 3-year post-recurrence survival was 48.5%. Patients with rAFP > 10ng/mL had worse 3-year post-recurrence survival compared with individuals with rAFP < 10ng/mL (28.7% vs. 65.5%, p < 0.001). rAFP correlated with survival among patients who had early (3-year survival; rAFP > 10 vs. < 10ng/mL: 30.1% vs. 60.2%, p < 0.001) or late (18.0% vs. 78.7%, p = 0.03) recurrence. Furthermore, rAFP levels predicted 3-year post-recurrence survival among patients independent of the therapeutic modality used to treat the recurrent HCC (rAFP > 10 vs. < 10ng/mL; ablation: 41.1% vs. 76.0%; intra-arterial therapy: 12.9% vs. 46.1%; resection: 37.5% vs. 100%; salvage transplantation: 60% vs. 100%; all p < 0.05). After adjusting for competing risk factors, patients with rAFP > 10ng/mL had a twofold higher hazard of death in the post-recurrence setting (hazard ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.26–3.04). Conclusion: AFP levels at the time of recurrence following resection of HCC predicted post-recurrence survival independent of the secondary treatment modality used. Evaluating AFP levels at the time of recurrence can help inform post-recurrence risk stratification of patients with recurrent HCC.

While social determinants of health may adversely affect various populations, the impact of residential segregation on surgical outcomes remains poorly defined. The objective of the current study was to examine the association between residential segregation and the likelihood to achieve a textbook outcome (TO) following cancer surgery. The Medicare 100% Standard Analytic Files were reviewed to identify Medicare beneficiaries who underwent resection of lung, esophageal, colon, or rectal cancer between 2013 and 2017. Shannon’s integration index, a measure of residential segregation, was calculated at the county level and its impact on composite TO [no complications, no prolonged length of stay (LOS), no 90-day readmission, and no 90-day mortality] was examined. Among 200,509 patients who underwent cancer resection, the overall incidence of TO was 56.0%. The unadjusted likelihood of achieving a TO was lower among patients in low integration areas [low integration: n = 19,978 (55.0%) vs. high integration: n = 18,953 (59.3%); p

Inter-hospital transfer (IHT) may help reduce failure-to-rescue (FTR) by transferring patients to centers with a higher level of expertise than the index hospital. We sought to identify factors associated with an IHT and examine if IHT was associated with improved outcomes after complex gastrointestinal cancer surgery. Medicare Inpatient Standard Analytic Files were utilized to identify patients with >1 postoperative complication following resection for esophageal, pancreatic, liver, or colorectal cancer between 2013 and 2017. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association of different factors with the chance of IHT, as well as the impact of IHT on failure-to-rescue (FTR) and expenditures. Among 39,973 patients with >1 postoperative complications, 3090 (7.7%) patients were transferred to a secondary hospital. The median LOS at the index hospital prior to IHT was 10 days (IQR, 6–17 days). Patients who underwent IHT more often had experienced multiple complications at the index hospital compared with non-IHT patients (57.7% vs. 38.9%) (p

Patients can experience barriers and disparities to access high-quality cancer care. This study sought to characterize receipt of surgery and chemotherapy among Medicare beneficiaries with a diagnosis of early-stage pancreatic adenocarcinoma cancer (PDAC) relative to race/ethnicity and social vulnerability. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database was used to identify patients with a diagnosis of early-stage (stage 1 or 2) PDAC between 2004 and 2016. Data were merged with the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) at the beneficiary’s county of residence. Multivariable, mixed-effects logistic regression was used to assess the association of SVI with resection. Among 15,931 older Medicare beneficiaries with early-stage PDAC (median age, 77 years; interquartile range [IQR], 71–82 years), the majority was White (n = 12,737, 80.0 %), whereas a smaller subset was Black or Latino (n = 3194, 20.0 %) A minority of patients was more likely to live in highly vulnerable communities (low SVI: white [90.5 %] vs minority [9.5 %] vs high SVI: white [71.9 %] vs minority [28.1 %]; p < 0.001). Use of resection for early-stage PDAC was lowest among the patients who resided in high-SVI areas (low [38.0 %] vs average [34.3 %] vs high [31.9 %]; p < 0.001). The minority patients were less likely to undergo resection than the White patients (no resection: white [64.1 %] vs minority [70.7 %]; p < 0.001). The median SVI was higher among the patients who underwent resection (57.6; IQR, 36.0–81.0) than among those who did not (60.4; IQR, 41.9–84.3), and increased SVI resulted in a decline in the likelihood of resection (SVI trend: OR, 0.98; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.97–1.00), especially among the minority patients. Minority patients from high-SVI counties had markedly lower odds of preoperative chemotherapy than minority patients from a low-SVI neighborhood (OR, 0.62; 95 % CI, 0.52–0.73). Older Medicare beneficiaries with early-stage PDAC residing in counties with higher social vulnerability had lower odds of undergoing pancreatic resection, which was more pronounced among minority versus older White Medicare beneficiaries.

Post-acute care (PAC) services can include home healthcare, long-term care hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. We sought to define factors associated with PAC discharge disposition among Medicare beneficiaries who underwent hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Data for Medicare beneficiaries with a diagnosis of HCC and who underwent a hepatectomy between 2004 and 2015 were retrieved from the SEER-Medicare database. Discharge disposition was defined as routine (HSC: discharged to home) or non-routine (SNF/ICF, discharged to skilled nursing/intermediate care facilities, or HHA, discharge to home with home health agency). The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess trends in discharge disposition. Among 1305 patients, the median patient age at diagnosis was 72 years (IQR: 68–76). Approximately 4 in 5 patients were discharged to HSC (77.4%; n = 1010). The odds of a non-routine discharge decreased by 7.0% annually from 2004 to 2015 (ORtrend, 0.93; 95%CI, 0.89–0.97; ptrend = 0.001). Several factors were associated with non-routine discharge, including patient age (OR 1.06, 95%CI 1.04–1.09) and longer LOS (OR 1.07, 95%CI 1.05–1.10). In contrast, patients who had a minor hepatectomy (OR 0.69, 95%CI 0.52–0.93) at a teaching hospital (OR 0.63, 95%CI 0.45–0.89) had lower odds of a non-routine discharge (all P < 0.05). HSC discharge increased over time (2004–2007 (n = 205, 68.1%) vs. 2008–2011 (n = 330, 77.8%) vs. 2012–2015 (n = 475, 81.9%); ptrend < 0.001). Over the same time period, there was a decreasing trend in 90-day readmission (2004–2007 (n = 91, 30.2%) vs. 2008–2011 (n = 107, 25.2%) vs. 2012–2015 (n = 129, 22.2%); ptrend = 0.03). Utilization of PAC services following hepatic resection of HCC decreased by 57.0% between 2004 and 2015. These data highlight that decreased PAC utilization was not generally associated with higher readmission rates following resection of HCC.

The effect of community-level factors on surgical outcomes has not been well examined. We sought to characterize differences in "textbook outcomes" (TO) relative to social vulnerability among Medicare beneficiaries who underwent operations for cancer.Individuals who underwent operations for lung, esophageal, colon, or rectal cancer between 2013 and 2017 were identified using the Medicare database, which was merged with the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). TO was defined as surgical episodes with the absence of complications, extended length of stay, readmission, and mortality. The association of SVI and TO was assessed using mixed-effects logistic regression.Among 203,800 patients (colon, n = 113,929; lung, n = 70,642; rectal, n = 14,849; and esophageal, n = 4,380), median age was 75 years (interquartile range 70 to 80 years) and the overwhelming majority of patients was White (n = 184,989 [90.8%]). The overall incidence of TO was 56.1% (n = 114,393). The incidence of complications (low SVI: 21.5% vs high SVI: 24.0%) and 90-day mortality (low SVI: 7.0% vs high SVI: 8.4%) were higher among patients from highly vulnerable neighborhoods (both, p0.05). In turn, there were lower odds of achieving TO among high-vs low-SVI patients (odds ratio 0.83; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.87). Although high-SVI White patients had 10% lower odds (95% CI, 0.87 to 0.93) of achieving TO, high-SVI non-White patients were at 22% lower odds (95% CI, 0.71 to 0.85) of postoperative TO. Compared with low-SVI White patients, high-SVI minority patients had 47% increased odds of an extended length of stay, 40% increased odds of a complication, and 23% increased odds of 90-day mortality (all, p0.05).Only roughly one-half of Medicare beneficiaries achieved the composite optimal TO quality metric. Social vulnerability was associated with lower attainment of TO and an increased risk of adverse postoperative surgical outcomes after several common oncologic procedures. The effect of high SVI was most pronounced among minority patients.

Introduction: While tumor burden (TB) has been associated with outcomes among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the role of overall TB in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains poorly defined. Methods: Patients undergoing curative-intent resection of ICC between 2000 and 2017 were identified from a multi-institutional database. The impact of TB on overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was evaluated in the multi-institutional database and validated externally. Results: Among 1101 patients who underwent curative-intent resection of ICC, 624 (56.7%) had low TB, 346 (31.4%) medium TB, and 131 (11.9%) high TB. OS incrementally worsened with higher TB (5-year OS; low TB: 48.3% vs medium TB: 29.8% vs high TB: 17.3%, p < 0.001). Similarly, patients with low TB had better DFS compared with medium and high TB patients (5-year DFS: 38.3% vs 18.7% vs 6.9%, p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, TB was independently associated with OS (medium TB: HR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.14-1.71; high TB: HR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.46-2.45) and DFS (medium TB, HR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.33-1.96; high TB: HR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.56-2.64). Survival analysis revealed an excellent prognostic discrimination using the TB among the external validation cohort (3-year OS; low TB: 44.8%, medium TB: 29.3%; high TB: 23.3%, p = 0.03; 3-year DFS: low TB: 32.7%, medium TB: 10.7%; high TB: 0%, p < 0.001). While neoadjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with survival across the TB groups, receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with increased survival among patients with high TB (5-year OS: 24.4% vs 13.4%, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Overall TB dictated prognosis among patients with resectable ICC. TB may be used as a tool to help guide post-resection treatment strategies. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The impact of depression on utilization of post-discharge care and overall episode of care expenditures remains poorly defined. We sought to define the impact of depression on postoperative outcomes, including discharge disposition, as well as overall expenditures associated with the global episode of surgical care. The Medicare 100% Standard Analytic Files were used to identify patients undergoing resection for esophageal, colon, rectal, pancreatic, and liver cancer between 2013 and 2017. The impact of depression on inpatient outcomes, as well as home health care and skilled nursing facilities utilization and expenditures, was analyzed. Among 113,263 patients, 14,618 (12.9%) individuals had depression. Patients with depression were more likely to experience postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31–1.42), extended length of stay (LOS) (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.36–1.47), readmission within 90 days (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.14–1.25), as well as 90-day mortality (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.27–1.42) (all p < 0.05). In turn, the proportion of patients who achieved a textbook outcome following cancer surgery was lower among patients with depression (no depression: 53.3% vs. depression: 45.3%; OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.68–0.73). Patients with a preexisting diagnosis of depression had higher odds of additional post-discharge expenditures compared with individuals without a diagnosis of depression (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.35–1.50); patients with a preexisting diagnosis of depression ($10,500, IQR $3,200–$22,500) had higher median post-discharge expenditures versus patients without depression ($6600, IQR $2100–$17,400) (p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, after controlling for other factors, depression remained associated with a 19.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.7–22.3%) increase in post-discharge expenditures. Patients with depression undergoing resection for cancer had worse in-patient outcomes and were less likely to achieve a TO. Patients with depression were more likely to require post-discharge care and had higher post-discharge expenditures.

We sought to determine the impact of payer-mix on post-operative outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries following hepatopancreatic surgery.Medicare beneficiaries who underwent hepatopancreatic surgery were identified. Hospital quality markers were obtained from the Hospital General Information dataset. Hospitals were dichotomized (low/average vs. high) based on Medicare patient days versus all patient days irrespective of payer type.High Medicare patient-mix hospitals were more likely to be ranked higher than the national average relative to safety of care (29.4% vs. 38.1%) and timeliness of care (15.4% vs. 26.3%) versus low burden Medicare hospitals (both p 0.001). However, Medicare beneficiaries who had hepatopancreatic surgery at a high Medicare patient-mix hospital were at higher risk of a complication (OR = 1.13, 95%CI 1.04-1.22), and death within 30-days (OR = 1.37, 95%CI 1.23-1.53) following surgery.While hospitals caring for higher numbers of Medicare beneficiaries generally performed better on CMS quality indicators, these rankings did not equate to improved post-operative outcomes.

The increasing incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) coupled with rising health care costs contributes to high end-of-life expenditures. The current study aimed to characterize health care expenditures and hospice use among patients with HCC using a large, national database. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare-linked database was used to identify patients with HCC. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with overall hospice use and end-of-life expenditures among individuals who died of HCC. Among 14,369 Medicare beneficiaries with HCC, 8069 (63.7 %) used hospice. Racial/ethnic minority patients were less likely to use hospice services during the last year of life than white patients (no hospice: n = 2034 [44.3 %] vs. hospice: n = 2513 [31.1 %]). Social vulnerability also had an impact on the likelihood of patients using hospice services; in particular, the probability of hospice use among patients declined as social vulnerability increased (P < 0.05). Hospice use was associated with an approximate $10,000 decrease in inpatient expenditures (hospice: US$7900 [IQR, US$0–26,600] vs. no hospice: US$18,000 [IQR $400-49,100]; P < 0.001) and $1300 decrease in outpatient expenditures (hospice: US$900 [IQR, US$0–4500] vs. non-hospice: US$2200 [IQR, US$200–7900; P < 0.001) compared with individuals who did not use hospice. Minority patients and individuals residing in high-vulnerability areas were less likely to use hospice. Patients who used hospice at the end of life had a reduction in inpatient and outpatient Medicare claims. Patients with HCC in need of hospice services should be ensured timely referral regardless of race/ethnicity or social vulnerability.

Background: Machine learning to predict morbidity and mortality—especially in a population traditionally considered low risk—has not been previously examined. We sought to characterize the incidence of death among patients with a low estimated morbidity and mortality risk based on the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) estimated probability (EP), as well as develop a machine learning model to identify individuals at risk for “unpredicted death” (UD) among patients undergoing hepatopancreatic (HP) procedures. Methods: The NSQIP database was used to identify patients who underwent elective HP surgery between 2012–2017. The risk of morbidity and mortality was stratified into three tiers (low, intermediate, or high estimated) using a k-means clustering method with bin sorting. A machine learning classification tree and multivariable regression analyses were used to predict 30-day mortality with a 10-fold cross validation. C statistics were used to compare model performance. Results: Among 63,507 patients who underwent an HP procedure, median patient age was 63 (IQR: 54–71) years. Patients underwent either pancreatectomy (n=38,209, 60.2%) or hepatic resection (n=25,298, 39.8%). Patients were stratified into three tiers of predicted morbidity and mortality risk based on the NSQIP EP: low (n=36,923, 58.1%), intermediate (n=23,609, 37.2%) and high risk (n=2,975, 4.7%). Among 36,923 patients with low estimated risk of morbidity and mortality, 237 patients (0.6%) experienced a UD. According to the classification tree analysis, age was the most important factor to predict UD (importance 16.9) followed by preoperative albumin level (importance: 10.8), disseminated cancer (importance: 6.5), preoperative platelet count (importance: 6.5), and sex (importance 5.9). Among patients deemed to be low risk, the c-statistic for the machine learning derived prediction model was 0.807 compared with an AUC of only 0.662 for the NSQIP EP. Conclusions: A prognostic model derived using machine learning methodology performed better than the NSQIP EP in predicting 30-day UD among low risk patients undergoing HP surgery.

The provision of spiritual care by an interprofessional healthcare team is an important, yet frequently neglected, component of patient-centered cancer care. The current study aimed to assess the relationship between individual and occupational factors of healthcare providers and their self-reported observations and behaviors regarding spiritual care in the oncologic encounter. A cross-sectional survey was administered to healthcare providers employed at a large Comprehensive Cancer Center. Pearson’s chi-square test and logistic regression were used to determine potential associations between provider factors and their observations and behaviors regarding spiritual care. Among the participants emailed, 420 followed the survey link, with 340 (80.8%) participants completing the survey. Most participants were female (82.1%) and Caucasian (82.6%) with a median age was 35 years (IQR: 31–48). Providers included nurses (64.7%), physicians (17.9%), and “other” providers (17.4%). There was a difference in provider observations about discussing patient issues around religion and spirituality (R&S). Specifically, nurses more frequently inquired about R&S (60.3%), while physicians were less likely (41.4%) (p = 0.028). Also, nurses more frequently referred to chaplaincy/clergy (71.8%), while physicians and other providers more often consulted psychology/psychiatry (62.7%, p < 0.001). Perceived barriers to not discussing R&S topics included potentially offending patients (56.5%) and time limitations (47.7%). Removing extrinsic barriers and understanding intrinsic influences can improve the provision of spiritual care by healthcare providers.

The objective of this study was to analyze whether primary tumor resection (PTR) among patients with stage IV gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumor (GI-NET) and unresected metastases was associated with improved outcomes. Patients diagnosed with stage IV GI-NETs were identified in the linked SEER-Medicare database from 2004 to 2015. Overall survival (OS) of patients who did versus did not undergo PTR was examined using bivariate and multivariable cox regression analysis as well as propensity score matching (PSM). Among 2219 patients with metastatic GI-NETs, 632 (28.5%) underwent PTR, whereas 1587 (71.5%) did not. The majority of individuals had a NET in the pancreas (n = 969, 43.6%); the most common site of metastatic disease was the liver (n = 1064, 47.9%). Patients with stage IV small intestinal NETs most frequently underwent PTR (62.6%) followed by individuals with colon NETs (56.5%). After adjusting for all competing factors, PTR remained independently associated with improved OS (HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.56–0.76). Following PSM (n = 236 per group), patients who underwent PTR had improved OS (median OS: 1.3 years vs 0.8 years, p = 0.016). While PTR of NETs originating from stomach, small intestine, colon, and pancreas was associated with improved OS, PTR of rectal NET did not yield a survival benefit. Primary GI-NET resection was associated with a survival benefit among individuals presenting with metastatic GI-NET with unresected metastases. Resection of primary GI-NET among patients with stage IV disease and unresected metastases should only be performed in selected cases following multi-disciplinary evaluation.

OBJECTIVE We sought to characterize the association between patient county-level vulnerability with postoperative outcomes. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Although the impact of demographic-, clinical- and hospital-level factors on outcomes following surgery have been examined, little is known about the effect of a patient's community of residence on surgical outcomes. METHODS Individuals who underwent colon resection, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), lung resection, or lower extremity joint replacement (LEJR) were identified in the 2016 to 2017 Medicare database, which was merged with Center for Disease Control social vulnerability index (SVI) dataset at the beneficiary level of residence. Logistic regression models were utilized to estimate the probability of postoperative complications, mortality, readmission, and expenditures. RESULTS Among 299,583 Medicare beneficiary beneficiaries who underwent a colectomy (n = 88,778, 29.6%), CABG (n = 109,564, 36.6%), lung resection (n = 30,401, 10.1%), or LEJR (n = 70,840, 23.6%).Mean SVI score was 50.2 (standard deviation: (25.2); minority patients were more likely to reside in highly vulnerable communities (low SVI: n = 3531, 5.8% vs high SVI: n = 7895, 13.3%; P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients residing in vulnerable communities characterized by a high SVI generally had worse postoperative outcomes. The impact of social vulnerability was most pronounced among Black/minority patients, rather than White individuals. Efforts to ensure equitable surgical outcomes need to focus on both patient-level, as well as community-specific factors.

Integration of palliative care services into the surgical treatment plan is important for holistic patient care. We sought to examine the association between patient race/ethnicity and county-level vulnerability relative to patterns of hospice utilization. Medicare Standard Analytic Files were used to identify patients undergoing lung, esophageal, pancreatic, colon, or rectal cancer surgery between 2013 and 2017. Data were merged with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s social vulnerability index (SVI). Logistic regression was utilized to identify factors associated with overall hospice utilization among deceased individuals. A total of 54,256 Medicare beneficiaries underwent lung (n = 16,645, 30.7%), esophageal (n = 1427, 2.6%), pancreatic (n = 6183, 11.4%), colon (n = 26,827, 49.4%), or rectal (n = 3174, 5.9%) cancer resection. Median patient age was 76 years (IQR 71–82 years), and 28,887 patients (53.2%) were male; the majority of individuals were White (91.1%, n = 49,443), while a smaller subset was Black or Latino (racial/ethnic minority: n = 4813, 8.9%). Overall, 35,416 (65.3%) patients utilized hospice services prior to death. Median SVI was 52.8 [interquartile range (IQR) 30.3–71.2]. White patients were more likely to utilize hospice care compared with minority patients (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.17–1.31, p

Background: Cancer patients infrequently engage in advance care planning processes. Establishing preferences for future medical treatment without advance care planning may not be patient-centered, as it fails to consider important factors that influence these important decisions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of patient intrapersonal factors including race, religion, level of depression, and cancer stage on overall preferences for future medical treatment, including the presence of a (DNR), power of attorney, and advance directive. Design: A retrospective chart review design was used. Patients were included who were diagnosed with cancer at The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center from 01/2015 to 08/2019. Results: A total of 3,463 patients were included. Median age was 59 years (IQR: 49, 67) and the majority of the patients was female (88.7%). Compared with no religious preference, patients who identified as religious had 61% higher odds (95%CI: 1.08-2.40) of having a DNR and approximately 30% higher odds of having a power of attorney (95%CI: 1.08-1.62) or advance directive (95%CI: 1.02-1.64). Patients with clinically relevant depression had more than twice the odds of having a DNR versus patients with no/lower levels of clinical depression (OR: 2.08; 95%CI: 1.40-3.10). White patients had higher odds of having a power of attorney (OR: 1.57; 95%CI: 1.16-2.13) and an advance directive (OR: 3.10; 95% CI: 1.95-4.93) than African-American/Black patients. Conclusions: Understanding the factors that affect preferences for future medical treatment is necessary for medical professionals to provide proper care and support to patients diagnosed with cancer and their families.

Geographic variations in access to care exist in the USA. We sought to characterize county-level disparities relative to access to surgery among patients with early-stage hepatopancreatic (HP) cancer. Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare Linked database from 2004 to 2015 to identify patients undergoing surgery for early-stage HP cancer . County-level information was acquired from the Area Health Resources Files (AHRF). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess factors associated with utilization of HP surgery on the county level. Among 13,639 patients who met inclusion criteria, 66.9% (n = 9125) were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 33.1% (n = 4514) of patients had liver cancer. Among patients diagnosed with early-stage liver and pancreas malignancy, two-thirds (n = 8878, 65%) underwent surgery. Marked county-level variation in the utilization of surgery was noted among patients with early-stage HP cancer ranging from 57.1% to more than 83.3% depending on which county a patient resided. After controlling for patient and tumor-related characteristics, counties with the highest quartile of patients living below the poverty level had 35% lower odds of receiving surgery for early stage HP cancer compared patients who lived in a county with the lowest proportion of patients below the poverty line (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.55–0.77). In addition, patients residing in counties with the highest surgeon-to-population ratio (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.52–2.65), as well as the highest hospital bed-to-population ratio (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.07–1.54), were more likely to undergo surgical treatment for an early-stage HP malignancy. Area-level variations among patients undergoing surgery for early-stage HP cancer were mainly due to differences in structural measures and county-level factors. Policies targeting high-poverty counties and improvement in structural measures may reduce variations in utilization of surgery among patients diagnosed with early-stage HP cancer.

Purpose: To assess the rate of and characterize the utilization of pastoral care (PC) among patients on their cancer treatment trajectory. Methods: Patients included in the present study were diagnosed with cancer 01/2015-08/2019 at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center—The James. To determine which patient demographic and clinical factors were independently associated with PC utilization, a multivariable logistic regression was performed. Results: A total of 14,322 patients were included in the study and 5,166 (36.1%) had at least one visit with PC. Cancers such as brain (n = 232, 4.5% vs. n = 159, 1.7%), liver/pancreas (n = 733, 14.2% vs. 686, 7.5%), and lung (n = 1,288 vs. 24.9% vs. n = 1,113, 12.2%) were more commonly noted among patients who utilized PC services (all p < 0.001). Furthermore, compared with patients diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer, patients with more advanced disease stages had higher odds of utilizing PC services (Stage III: OR 2.37, 95% CI 2.07-2.70; Stage IV OR 2.31, 95% CI: 2.04-2.61; both p < 0.05). Interestingly, patients who had a DNR order had a markedly higher odds (OR 4.18, 95%CI 3.76-4.65, p < 0.001) of utilizing PC services. Discussion: One in three patients with cancer utilized PC services. Patients with more severe prognoses and individuals with a DNR order were more likely to utilize PC. The data suggest that PC services are an important resource for many patients and should be integrated into the treatment approach for cancer.

A person’s community, or lived environment, may play an important role in achieving optimal health outcomes. The objective of the current study was to assess the association of county-level vulnerability with the probability of having a non-elective colon resection. We hypothesized that individuals from areas with a high social vulnerability would be at greater risk of non-elective colon resection compared with patients from low social vulnerability areas. Patients aged 65–99 who underwent a colon resection for a primary diagnosis of either diverticulitis (n = 11,812) or colon cancer (n = 33,312) were identified in Medicare Part A and Part B for years 2016–2017. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate differences in probability of undergoing an elective versus non-elective operation from counties relative to county-level social vulnerability index (SVI). Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, mortality, readmission, and index hospitalization expenditure. Among 45,124 patients, 11,812 (26.2%) underwent a colon resection for diverticulitis, while 33,312 (73.8%) had a resection for colon cancer; 31,012 (68.7%) patients had an elective procedure (diverticulitis n = 7291 (61.7%) vs. cancer n = 23,721 (71.2%)), while 14,112 (31.3%) had an emergent operation (diverticulitis n = 4521 (38.3%) vs. cancer n = 9591 (28.8%)). Patients with a high SVI were more likely to undergo an emergent colon operation compared with low SVI patients (43.7% vs. 40.4%) (p < 0.001). The association of high SVI with increased risk of an emergent colon operation was similar among patients with diverticulitis (emergent: low SVI 37.2% vs. high SVI 40.4%) or colon cancer (emergent: low SVI 26.0% vs. high SVI 29.9%) (both p < 0.05). On multivariable analyses, risk-adjusted probability of undergoing an urgent/emergent operation remained associated with SVI (p < 0.05). Patients residing in vulnerable communities characterized by a high SVI were more likely to undergo a non-elective colon resection for either diverticulitis or colon cancer. Patients from high SVI areas had a higher risk of postoperative complications, as well as index hospitalization expenditures; however, there were no differences in mortality or readmission rates.

Traditional metrics may inadequately represent rates of attaining optimal oncologic care. We evaluated a composite “textbook oncologic outcome” (TOO) to assess the incidence of achieving an “optimal” clinical result after colon adenocarcinoma (CA) resection. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried to identify patients undergoing colectomy for non-metastatic CA between 2010 and 2015. TOO was defined as a margin negative resection with an AJCC compliant lymph node evaluation, no prolonged length of stay (LOS) or 30-day readmission/mortality, as well as receipt of stage appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy. Among 170,120 patients who underwent colectomy at 1315 hospitals, 93,204 (54.8%) achieved TOO with large variations observed among facilities. While certain factors were achieved nearly universally (R0 margin, 95.6%; no 30-day mortality, 97.2%), avoidance of prolonged LOS (77.3%) and appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy (83.0%) were achieved less consistently. On multivariable analysis, Black race/ethnicity (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.80–0.85), Medicaid insurance (OR 0.64, 0.61–0.68), and low-volume facility (< 50/year) (OR 0.83, 0.77–0.89) were associated with decreased likelihood of TOO. Achievement of TOO was associated with improved long-term survival (HR 0.45; 95% CI 0.44–0.46). Roughly one-half of patients undergoing resection of CA achieved an optimal clinical outcome. TOO may be a more useful quality metric to assess patient-centric composite outcomes following surgical procedures.

Background Although most conventional risk prediction models have been based on preoperative information, intra- and post-operative events may be more relevant to mortality after surgery. We sought to develop a mortality risk calculator based on real time characteristics associated with hepatectomy. Methods Patients who underwent hepatectomy between 2014 and 2017 were identified in the ACS-NSQIP dataset. Three prediction models (pre-, intra-, post-operative) were developed and validated using perioperative data. Results Among 14,720 patients, 197 (1.3%) experienced 30-day mortality. The predictive ability of the real-time mortality risk calculator was very good based on only preoperative factors (AUC; training cohort: 0.813, validation cohort: 0.731). Incorporating intra-operative variables into the model increased the AUC (training: 0.838, validation: 0.777), while the post-operative model achieved an AUC of 0.922 in the training and 0.885 in the validation cohorts, respectively. While patients with low preoperative risk had only very small fluctuations in the estimated 30-day mortality risk during the intraoperative (Δ0.4%) and postoperative (Δ0.6%) phases, patients who were already deemed high risk preoperatively had additional increased mortality risk based on factors that occurred in the intraoperative (Δ5.4%) and postoperative (Δ9.3%) periods. Conclusion A real-time mortality risk calculator may better help clinicians identify patients at risk of death at the different stages of the surgical episode.

To characterize cancer care provider perceptions of the role of religion and spirituality (RS p = 0.02). All providers were equally as likely to believe that RS IQR 0.9–2.0) compared with physicians (median 1.0; IQR 0.9–2.0) or other providers (median 1.4; IQR 1.0–2.1) (p

We sought to characterize surgeon perceptions of patient attachment-related behaviors relative to patient-centered approaches during treatment decision-making within the clinical encounter. An online survey including clinical vignettes was sent to board-certified surgeons to assess their approach to patient-centered treatment decision-making. Within these vignettes, patient behaviors associated with attachment styles (secure vs 3 insecure subtypes: avoidant, anxious, and fearful) were fixed and patient factors (age, race, occupation, and gender) were randomized. Analysis included repeated measures mixed-effects linear regression. Among the 208 respondents, the majority were male (65.4%) and White/Caucasian (84.5%) with an average age of 51.6 years (SD = 9.9). Most surgeons had been in practice for more than 10 years (66.8%) and treated adult patients (77.4%). Surgical specializations included breast (27.2%), HPB (35.0%), and broad-based/general (21.8%). Patient race, age, and gender did not impact surgeons’ patient-centered approach to treatment decision-making (all ps > 0.05). However, when the “patient” had a white collar occupation and were securely attached, surgeons reported a greater likeliness to spend equal time presenting all treatment options (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively) and believe the patient wanted an active role in decision-making (p = 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Surgeons reported being least likely to agree with a patient’s treatment decision (p < 0.001) and an increased likelihood of being directive (p = 0.002) when patients exhibited behaviors associated with avoidant attachment. Attachment-related behaviors were associated with differences in surgeon approaches to patient-centered decision-making. Attachment styles may offer a framework for providers to understand patient behaviors and needs, thereby providing insight on how to tailor their approach and provide optimal patient-centered care.

Background Gastrointestinal cancers contribute substantially to the cost of health care. We sought to quantify and compare the financial burden associated with treatment of gastrointestinal cancers versus other common nongastrointestinal cancers. Methods The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2006 to 2015 was used to identify individuals with gastrointestinal cancer, other nongastrointestinal cancer (breast/prostate or lung), or no history of malignancy. Total and out-of-pocket medical expenditures were compared. Among each cohort, risk of high and catastrophic financial burden was determined. Results A total of 90,344 individuals were identified, which was extrapolated to a national representative sample of 95,449,062 individuals. Overall, an estimated 365,367 (0.4%) individuals had a gastrointestinal cancer while 2,015,724 (2.1%) had lung, breast, or prostate cancer. Mean adjusted total health expenditures was greater among patients with gastrointestinal cancer ($13,716; 95% confidence interval, $9,805–$17,628) versus patients with nongastrointestinal cancer ($8,665; 95% confidence interval, $8,222–$9,108) or individuals without cancer ($5,807; 95% confidence interval $5,740–$5,874). An estimated 15.8% (n = 57,898) and 7.1% (n = 25,956) of patients with gastrointestinal cancer experienced a high and catastrophic financial burden, respectively. Patients with gastrointestinal cancer had a 64% increased odds of experiencing catastrophic financial burden compared with patients without a history of cancer (odds ratio 1.64, 95% confidence interval, 1.17–2.31). Furthermore, patients with a gastrointestinal cancer had nearly 40% increased odds of high financial burden associated with their care compared with patients without cancer (odds ratio 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.88). Conclusion The risk of experiencing catastrophic financial burden among patients with gastrointestinal cancer was considerable, as roughly 1 in 7 patients experienced high financial burden, and 1 in 13 had a catastrophic financial burden.

Although previous studies have suggested that drain management is highly variable, data on drain placement and timing of drain removal among patients undergoing hepatic resection remain scarce. The objective of the current study was to define the utilization of drain placement among patients undergoing major hepatic resection. The ACS NSQIP-targeted hepatectomy database was used to identify patients who underwent major hepatectomy between 2014 and 2017. Association between day of drain removal, timing of discharge, and drain fluid bilirubin on postoperative day (POD) 3 (DFB-3) was assessed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare outcomes of patients with a drain removed before and after POD 3. Among 5330 patients, most patients had an abdominal drain placed at the time of hepatic resection (n = 3075, 57.7%). Of 2495 patients with data on timing of drain removal, only 380 patients (15.2%) had their drain removed by POD 3. Almost 1 in 6 patients (n = 441, 17.7%) were discharged home with the drain in place. DFB-3 values correlated poorly with POD of drain removal (R2 = 0.0049). After PSM, early drain removal (≤ POD 3) was associated with lower rates of grade B or C bile leakage (2.1% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.008) and prolonged length of hospital stay (6.0% vs. 12.7%, p = 0.009) compared with delayed drain removal (> POD 3). Roughly 3 in 5 patients had a drain placed at the time of major hepatectomy and only 1 in 7 patients had the drain removed early. This study demonstrated the potential benefits of early drain removal in an effort to improve the quality of care following major hepatectomy.

Many patients who present for complex surgery have underlying medical comorbidities. While surgeons often refer these patients to medical appointments for preoperative “optimization” or “clearance,” the actual impact of these visits remains poorly examined. The objective of the current study was to define the potential benefit of preoperative medical appointments on outcomes and costs associated with hepatopancreatic (HP) surgery. Patients with modifiable comorbidities undergoing HP surgery were identified in the Medicare claims data. The association of preoperative non-surgical visit and postoperative outcomes and expenditures was assessed using inverse propensity treatment weighting analysis and multivariable logistic regression. Among the 5574 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent a hepatopancreatic surgery, one in seven patients (n = 830, 14.9%) was “optimized” preoperatively. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, age (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01–1.03; p = 0.006) and higher comorbidity burden (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01–1.05; p = 0.007) were associated with modest increased odds of being referred in the preoperative period for a non-surgical evaluation; the factor most associated with preoperative non-surgical visit was male patient sex (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.14–1.56; p

Background: The objective of the current study was to assess the impact of serum CA19-9 and CEA and their combination on survival among patients undergoing surgery for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Methods: Patients who underwent curative-intent resection of ICC between 1990 and 2016 were identified using a multi-institutional database. Patients were categorized into four groups based on combinations of serum CA19-9 and CEA (low vs. high). Factors associated with 1-year mortality after hepatectomy were examined. Results: Among 588 patients, 5-year OS was considerably better among patients with low CA19-9/low CEA (54.5%) compared with low CA19-9/high CEA (14.6%), high CA19-9/low CEA (10.0%), or high CA19-9/high CEA (0%) (P < 0.001). No difference in 1-year OS existed between patients who had either high CA19-9 (high CA19-9/low CEA:70.4%) or high CEA levels (low CA19-9/high CEA:72.5%) (P = 0.92). Although patients with the most favorable tumor marker profile (low CA19-9/low CEA) had the best 1-year survival (87.9%), 15.1% (n = 39) still died within a year of surgery. Among patients with low CA19-9/low CEA, a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (odds ratio 1.09; 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.64) and large size tumor (odds ratio 3.34; 95% confidence interval 1.40–8.10) were associated with 1-year mortality (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with either a high CA19-9 and/or high CEA had poor 1-year survival. High NLR and large tumor size were associated with a greater risk of 1-year mortality among patients with favorable tumor marker profile.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We sought to define the incidence and impact of Textbook Outcome (TO) on disease-free survival [DFS] among patients undergoing resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET). METHODS Patients undergoing resection of a PNET between 2000 and 2016 were identified using a multi-institutional database. TO was defined as no postoperative severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III), no 90-day mortality, no prolonged length-of-hospital stay (LOS) (ie, > 75th percentile), no 90-day readmission after discharge, and R0 resection. The 5-year DFS was calculated and the association with TO was examined. RESULTS Among 821 patients with a PNET, median tumor size was 2.1 cm (IQR 1.4-14.6). Resection consisted of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) (n = 231, 28.1%), distal pancreatectomy (DP) (n = 492, 59.9%), and enucleation (EN) (n = 98, 11.9%). Overall TO rate was 49.3% (n = 405). The incidence of TO varied by procedure type (PD: 32.5% vs DP: 56.7% vs EN: 52.0%; P

The objective of the current study was to assess the religious and spiritual (RS) beliefs and practices among healthcare providers, compare RS among provider types, as well as examine the potential relationship between organized/nonorganized religious activities and intrinsic religiosity with the incorporation of RS into clinical practice. A cross-sectional descriptive online survey methodology was used. There were 387 participants with an average age of 45.5 years. Providers included primary care providers (26.9%), nurses (27.1%), allied health (23.5%), and mental health professionals (22.5%). Most participants reported being "religious and spiritual" (42.9%) or "spiritual and not religious" (36.6%). There was a difference in RS among provider types (x2(6) = 12.6

The relationship of volume and travel distance to patient outcomes after resection of gallbladder cancer (GBC) remains poorly defined.The 2004-2015 National Cancer Database was used to identify GBC resection patients and examine the impact of travel distance, hospital volume and both on overall survival (OS) and quality of care indicators.Among 10,174 patients undergoing surgery for GBC, the majority of patients were Caucasian (N = 8,175, 80%) and had a Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score of 0 (N = 6,785, 67%). On unadjusted survival analysis increasing travel distance and hospital volume were associated with improved OS (both p0.001). After controlling for competing risk factors, the 4th quartile of hospital volume was associated with a decreased hazard of death (HR 0.831, 95% CI 0.751-0.920, p0.001). When both hospital volume and travel distance were included, the association with improved OS persisted only for hospital volume (4th quartile HR 0.835, 95% CI 0.753-0.925, p0.001), whereas there was no independent association of increasing travel distance with OS.Both increasing travel distance and hospital volume were associated with improved OS; however, adjusted models demonstrated that the impact of travel distance was mediated through hospital volume.

Safety-net hospitals are critical to the US health system as they provide care to vulnerable patients. The effect of hospital safety-net burden on patient outcomes in hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) surgery was examined. Discharge data between 2004 and 2014 from the National Inpatient Sample were utilized. Hospitals with a safety-net burden were divided into tertiles: low (LBH) ( 33.3%). The association of hospital safety-net burden with complications, in-hospital mortality, never events, and costs were defined. Nearly 5% of the analytic cohort (n = 65,032) had surgery at a HBH. Patients treated at HBH were younger (median age, HBH 55 years vs LBH 62 years; p

Patient attachment styles may inform how patients react differently to the stress of being diagnosed with cancer, as well as how patients may desire to interact and be supported by their provider. The objectives of this study were two-fold: 1) to conduct a systematic scoping review to clarify how attachment theory is utilized and applied within the current body of research on the patient-provider relationship within cancer care, and 2) add to the existing body of literature by introducing an integrated model of patient attachment styles and patient-provider relationships for use in clinical and scholarly work. A systematic search of multiple databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, PsychInfo, and WorldCat was conducted using variations and combinations of keywords related to patient-provider relationship, attachment style, and cancer. The nine studies included in the review were published from 2011 to 2019. The majority of studies had participant samples with multiple cancer diagnoses (n = 5) and examined attachment as an independent or predictor variable (n = 6). Results suggest that a secure attachment was predictive of a better working alliance, more perceived support, less general distress, higher levels of trust and satisfaction with healthcare providers when compared to patients with an insecure attachment style. Data from the current review suggest that using an attachment theory framework can improve the understanding of the patient-provider relationship. We propose a conceptual model that aligns patient attachment style and patient-provider relationship types to be utilized in clinical practice in future research to tailor patient-centered cancer care.

Background: The impact of tumor burden score (TBS) on conditional survival (CS) among patients undergoing curative-intent resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been examined to date. Methods: Patients who underwent liver resection of HCC between 2000 and 2017 were identified from a multi-institutional database. The impact of TBS and other clinicopathologic factors on 3-year conditional survival (CS3) was examined. Results: Among 1,040 patients, 263 (25.3%) patients had low TBS, 668 (64.2%) had medium TBS and 109 (10.5%) had high TBS. TBS was strongly associated with OS; 5-year OS was 39.0% among patients with high TBS compared with 61.1% and 79.4% among patients with medium and low TBS, respectively (p < 0.001). While actuarial survival decreased as time elapsed from resection, CS increased over time irrespective of TBS. The largest differences between 3-year actuarial survival and CS3 were noted among patients with high TBS (5-years postoperatively; CS3: 78.7% vs. 3-year actuarial survival: 30.7%). The effect of adverse clinicopathologic factors including high TBS, poor/undifferentiated tumor grade, microvascular invasion, liver capsule involvement, and positive margins on prognosis decreased over time. Conclusions: CS rates among patients who underwent resection for HCC increased as patients survived additional years, irrespective of TBS. CS estimates can be used to provide important dynamic information relative to the changing survival probability after resection of HCC. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion