P6360Prognostic value of polypharmacy in patients with heart failure

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Fujita ◽  
K Takabayashi ◽  
K Iwatsu ◽  
K Matsumura ◽  
T Ikeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Hospital Readmission ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Medication Schedule ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Patients With Heart Failure ◽  
Clinical Background ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Polypharmacy creates an increased patient's burden by drug-drug interactions and poor adherence. However, there are very few studies available evaluating the association of polypharmacy with hospital readmission in patients with heart failure (HF). Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of polypharmacy on hospital readmission for HF. Methods We enrolled 1253 patients who were hospitalized with acute heart failure (AHF) or acute exacerbation of chronic heart failure in the Kitakawachi Clinical Background and Outcome of Heart Failure Registry (KICKOFF Registry) from April 2015 to July 2018 (age 78.1±11.5 years, male 51.4%). Our Registry is a prospective multicenter community-based cohort study of HF patients in Japan. The inclusion criteria for the registry was a diagnosis of HF during hospitalization according to the Framingham criteria, and there were no exclusion criteria. From data at discharge, we collected data on clinical characteristics, medication schedule, and social backgrounds. We defined polypharmacy as the use of seven or more medications. The primary end point was HF rehospitalization within 1 year after discharge. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to describe the association between polypharmacy and 1-year HF rehospitalization, controlling for potential confounding factors. Results In this study, the prevalence of polypharmacy was 59.7% of all patients. Patients with polypharmacy were more likely to have comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease and dementia. They also had lower EF (50.9±0.64 vs 53.6±0.80, p<0.01), compared to patients without polypharmacy. There was no significant difference in age, gender and BMI, compared to patients without polypharmacy. During the follow-up period, a total of 278 patients (24.9%) were readmitted for HF. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, hospital readmission for HF during 1-year follow-up was significantly higher in patients with polypharmacy (p<0.01) (figure). After adjusting for gender, age, EF, and the other co-morbidities, polypharmacy was independently associated with higher risk of rehospitalization for HF (hazard ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.52, p<0.01). Conclusion Polypharmacy is an independent predictor of hospital readmission for HF. Our study suggests the need for developing an effective strategy to choose the appropriate drugs in patients with HF. Acknowledgement/Funding Nakajima Steel Pipe

P6355The behavior of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure hospitalization

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Fukunaga ◽  
K Hirose ◽  
A Isotani ◽  
T Morinaga ◽  
K Ando
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) is often compared with proverbial question of which came first, the chicken or the egg. Some patients showing AF at the HF admission result in restoration of sinus rhythm (SR) at discharge. It is not well elucidated that the restoration into SR during hospitalization can render the preventive effect for rehospitalization. Purpose To investigate the impact of restoration into SR during hospitalization for readmission rate of the HF patients showing AF. Methods We enrolled consecutive 640 HF patients hospitalized from January 2015 to December 2015. Patients data were retrospectively investigated from medical record. Patients showing atrial fibrillation on admission but unrecognized ever were defined as “incident AF”; patients with AF diagnosed before admission were defined as “prevalent AF”. Primary endpoint was a composite of death from cardiovascular disease or hospitalization for worsening heart failure. Secondary endpoints were death from cardiovascular disease, unplanned hospitalization related to heart failure, and any hospitalization. Results During mean follow up of 19 months, 139 patients (22%) were categorized as incident AF and 145 patients (23%) were categorized as prevalent AF. Among 239 patients showing AF on admission, 44 patients were discharged in SR (39 patients in incident AF and 5 patients in prevalent AF). Among incident AF patients, the primary composite end point occurred in significantly fewer in those who discharged in SR (19% vs. 42% at 1-year; 23% vs. 53% at 2-year follow-up, p=0.005). To compare the risk factors related to readmission due to HF with the cox proportional-hazards model, AF only during hospitalization [Hazard Ratio (HR)=0.37, p<0.01] and prevalent AF (HR=1.67, p=0.04) was significantly associated. There was no significant difference depending on LVEF. Conclusion Newly diagnosed AF with restoration to SR during hospitalization was a good marker to forecast future prognosis.

The Efficacy of Etoposide-Based Therapy in Adult Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Leonard Naymagon ◽  
Douglas Tremblay ◽  
John Mascarenhas
Keyword(s):  
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Hazard Ratios ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Data supporting the use of etoposide-based therapy in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) arise largely from pediatric studies. There is a lack of comparable data among adult patients with secondary HLH. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the impact of etoposide-based therapy on outcomes in adult secondary HLH. The primary outcome was overall survival. The log-rank test was used to compare Kaplan-Meier distributions of time-to-event outcomes. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Ninety adults with secondary HLH seen between January 1, 2009, and January 6, 2020, were included. Forty-two patients (47%) received etoposide-based therapy, while 48 (53%) received treatment only for their inciting proinflammatory condition. Thirty-three patients in the etoposide group (72%) and 32 in the no-etoposide group (67%) died during follow-up. Median survival in the etoposide and no-etoposide groups was 1.04 and 1.39 months, respectively. There was no significant difference in survival between the etoposide and no-etoposide groups (log-rank <i>p</i> = 0.4146). On multivariable analysis, there was no association between treatment with etoposide and survival (HR for death with etoposide = 1.067, 95% CI: 0.633–1.799, <i>p</i> = 0.8084). Use of etoposide-based therapy was not associated with improvement in outcomes in this large cohort of adult secondary HLH patients.

Abstract 17033: Comparative Effectiveness of Pulmonary Vascular Resistance, Capacitance, and Resistance-Capacitance Time in the ESCAPE Trial

Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 138 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Tolbert ◽  
Kenneth Bilchick ◽  
Alex Parker ◽  
James Bergin ◽  
Sula Mazimba
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Resistance ◽  
Vascular Resistance ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Escape Trial ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Right ventricular (RV) function portends adverse outcomes in heart failure (HF). Markers of RV load include pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), pulmonary capacitance (PC), and the Resistance-Capacitance Time (RCT), a product of PVR and PC. The impact of changes in these indices during hemodynamic optimization is unknown. Hypothesis: PVR, PC and RCT after therapy and changes in these indices during therapy would be differentially associated with outcomes in the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization (PAC) Effectiveness (ESCAPE) trial. Methods: Using Cox proportional hazards regression and Kaplan Meier survival analysis, we analyzed associations of PVR, PC, and RCT indices with the outcomes of death, transplantation, and left ventricular assist device (DTxLVAD) and a combined rehospitalization outcome (DTxLVADH) during 6 months follow-up. Results: Among 138 patients (age 56.9 ± 13.6 years, 30.4% female), PVR at the end of therapy was associated with increased DTxLVAD (HR 1.28 per 1 W.U. increase; 95% CI 1.11-1.47; P=0.0007), and final PC was associated with a decreased DTxLVAD (HR 0.60 per unit PC increase; 95% CI 0.41-0.87; P=0.0007). The final RCT was not associated with DTxLVAD (HR 0.70; CI 0.48-1.03; P=0.07). Changes in PVR during therapy (median -0.38 W.U.; IQR -1.57 to 0.62 W.U.) were associated with increased rehospitalization (DTxLVADH) during follow-up (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.02-1.25; P=0.02). In a binary analysis, patients with an increase in PVR > 0.1 W.U. during therapy had a trend for more DTxLVADH events (log-rank P=0.058; Figure). Changes in PVR and PC during therapy were not associated with survival. Conclusions: Final PVR and PAC measurements but not changes in these parameters during therapy were associated with survival, although changes in PVR during therapy were associated with rehospitalization. More studies are needed to understand the utility of RV load parameters in HF therapy.

scholarly journals Predictors of hospitalizations for heart failure decompensation in patients with comorbid occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L.A Shpagina ◽  
O.S Kotova ◽  
I.S Shpagin ◽  
G.V Kuznetsova ◽  
N.V Kamneva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Length Of Service ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Copd Patients ◽  
Patients With Heart Failure ◽  
Occupational Copd ◽  
Heart Failure Decompensation

Abstract Background Heart failure decompensation requiring hospitalization is an important event, associated with mortality and investigating its predictors is topical problem. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common comorbidity for heart failure. Both conditions share common molecular mechanisms such as systemic inflammation. COPD is heterogeneous and subpopulations with different inflammation patterns may interact with heart failure in different manner. Airway inflammation in occupational COPD may differs from COPD in tobacco smokers. Additionally cardiotoxicity of industrial chemicals influence heart failure features. Despite this biological plausibility, heart failure and occupational COPD comorbidity is not studied enough. Purpose To reveal predictors of hospitalizations for heart failure decompensation in patients with heart failure and occupational COPD comorbidity. Methods Occupational COPD patients (n=115) were investigated in a prospective cohort observational study. Comparison group – 115 tobacco smokers with COPD. Control group – 115 healthy persons. Controls were selected by propensity score matching, covariates were COPD duration, age and gender. Then COPD groups were stratified according to heart failure. Working conditions, echocardiography, spirometry, pulsoxymetry, 6-mitute walking test were done. Molecular markers of tissue damage – chemokine ligand 18 (CCL 18), lactate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponin T, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP), protein S100 beta, von Willebrand factor were measured in serum by ELISA. Follow up after initial assessment was 12 month. Predictors were determined by Cox proportional hazards regression with ROC analysis. Results Heart failure rate in occupational COPD patients were higher – 54.8% versus 36.5% in tobacco smokers with COPD, p&lt;0.05. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction was predominant – 40.9%. Prevalence of biventricular heart failure was 38.3%, isolated right heart failure – 13%, left heart failure – 2.6%. Cumulative hospitalization rate in occupational COPD with heart failure group was higher than in comparison group, 17.5% and 9.5% respectively, p=0.01. In Cox proportional hazards regression model predictors of hospitalizations for heart failure decompensation during 12 months in this group were length of service (HR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03–2.5), aromatic hydrocarbons concentration at workplaces air (HR 1.4, 95% CI: 1.15–1.96), serum protein S100 beta (HR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02–1.87), SaO2 (HR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.06–2.13). Area under the ROC curve was 0.82. Conclusion Length of service, aromatic hydrocarbons concentration at workplaces air, serum protein S100 beta, SaO2 are considered to be independent risk factors of heart failure decompensation required hospitalization in patients with heart failure and occupational COPD comorbidity. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Abstract 15567: Residual Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Under Different Glucose Metabolism Status

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-jun Li ◽  
Yexuan Cao ◽  
Hui-Wen Zhang ◽  
Jing-Lu Jin ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Glucose Metabolism ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Artery Disease

Introduction: The atherogenicity of residual cholesterol (RC) has been underlined by recent guidelines, which was linked to coronary artery disease (CAD), especially for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Hypothesis: This study aimed to examine the prognostic value of plasma RC, clinically presented as triglyceride-rich lipoprotein-cholesterol (TRL-C) or remnant-like lipoprotein particles-cholesterol (RLP-C), in CAD patients with different glucose metabolism status. Methods: Fasting plasma TRL-C and RLP-C levels were directly calculated or measured in 4331 patients with CAD. Patients were followed for incident MACEs for up to 8.6 years and categorized according to both glucose metabolism status [DM, pre-DM, normal glycaemia regulation (NGR)] and RC levels. Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: During a mean follow-up of 5.1 years, 541 (12.5%) MACEs occurred. The risk for MACEs was significantly higher in patients with elevated RC levels after adjustment for potential confounders. No significant difference in MACEs was observed between pre-DM and NGR groups (p>0.05). When stratified by status of glucose metabolism and RC levels, highest levels of RLP-C, calculated and measured TRL-C were significant and independent predictors of developing MACEs in pre-DM (HR: 2.10, 1.98, 1.92, respectively; all p<0.05) and DM (HR: 2.25, 2.00, 2.16, respectively; all p<0.05). Conclusions: In this large cohort study with long-term follow-up, data firstly demonstrated that higher RC levels were significantly associated with the worse prognosis in DM and pre-DM patients with CAD, suggesting RC might be a target for patients with impaired glucose metabolism.

Abstract 3103: A Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Score for Predicting Risk in Patients with Heart Failure

Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Myers ◽  
Ross Arena ◽  
Daniel Bensimhon ◽  
Joshua Abella ◽  
Leon Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Heart Rate Recovery ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing ◽  
Relative Weight ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Cardiac Events ◽  
Cardiopulmonary Exercise ◽  
Patients With Heart Failure

Background. Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) responses, including markers of ventilatory inefficiency (eg. the VE/VCO 2 slope and oxygen uptake efficiency slope [OUES]), and hemodynamic responses, such as heart rate recovery (HRR) and chronotropic incompetence (CRI) predict outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). However, multivariate risk models integrating the full range of CPX variables have not been fully explored. Methods: 710 HF patients (568 male/142 female, mean age 56±13 years, EF 33±14%) underwent CPX and were followed for major cardiac events (death, transplant, LVAD implantation) for a mean of 29± 25 months. The age-adjusted prognostic power of peak VO 2 , VE/VCO 2 slope, OUES (VO 2 = a log 10 VE + b), resting end-tidal CO 2 pressure (PetCO 2 ), HRR, and CRI were determined using Cox proportional hazards, optimal cutpoints were determined, the variables were weighted, and a multivariate score was derived. Results. There were 111 composite outcomes. Multivariately, only CRI was not a significant predictor of risk. The VE/VCO 2 slope (≥ 34) was the strongest predictor, and was attributed a relative weight of 7, with weighted scores for abnormal HRR (≤6 beats at 1 min), OUES (>1.4), PetCO2 (<33mmHg), and peak VO 2 (≤14 ml/kg/min) having scores of 5, 3, 3, and 2, respectively. A Kaplan-Meier curve illustrating the incremental scores is presented in the figure ; a score >15 was associated with an annual mortality rate of 26% and a relative risk of 15. Conclusion . A score using CPX responses provides a simple and integrated method that powerfully predicts outcomes in patients with HF.

Abstract P169: Health Literacy and Outcomes in Heart Failure: a Prospective Community Study

Circulation ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Fabbri ◽  
Kathleen Yost ◽  
Lila Finney Rutten ◽  
Sheila Manemann ◽  
Susan Weston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Adequate Health Literacy ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: Growing evidence documents the association between low health literacy and poorer health outcomes. However, less is known about the relationship between health literacy and outcomes among patients with heart failure (HF). We examined the association of health literacy with risk of hospitalization and mortality in patients with HF. Methods: Residents in an 11-county region in southeastern Minnesota with incident HF from 1/01/2013 to 3/31/2015 were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 428 (n=3715) and prospectively surveyed to measure health literacy using established screening questions. A total of 1992 patients returned a survey (response rate 54%); 1779 patients with complete clinical data and adequate follow up were retained for analysis. Health literacy, measured as a composite on three 5-point scales, was categorized as adequate (≤ 10) or low (> 10). Cox proportional hazards regression and Andersen-Gill models were used to determine the association of health literacy with mortality and hospitalization. Results: Among 1779 patients (mean age 74, 53% male), 10% had low health literacy. After a mean follow-up of 8±4 months, 72 deaths and 600 hospitalizations occurred. Low health literacy was associated with increased mortality and hospitalizations (Figure). After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, education and marital status, the hazard ratio for death and hospitalization in patients with low health literacy was 2.84 (95% CI: 1.63, 4.96) and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.96) respectively, compared to patients with adequate health literacy. Conclusions: Low health literacy is associated with increased risk of hospitalization and death among patients with HF. Health literacy is critical to the self-management demands of living with heart failure. Evaluation of health literacy in the clinical setting may guide inventions to target patients with low literacy.

Abstract 12849: Changes in N-terminal Pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels Predicts Mortality and Heart Failure Hospitalization in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluigi Savarese ◽  
Camilla Hage ◽  
Ulf Dahlström ◽  
Pasquale Perrone-Filardi ◽  
Lars H Lund
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Brain Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Total Mortality ◽  
Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽  
Reduced Ejection Fraction ◽  
Patients With Heart Failure ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Changes in N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) have been demonstrated to correlate with outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction (EF). However the prognostic value of a change in NT-proBNP in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is unknown. Hypothesis: To assess the impact of changes in NT-proBNP on all-cause mortality, HF hospitalization and their composite in an unselected population of patients with HFPEF. Methods: 643 outpatients (age 72+12 years; 41% females) with HFPEF (ejection fraction ≥40%) enrolled in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry between 2005 and 2012 and reporting NT-proBNP levels assessment at initial registration and at follow-up were prospectively studied. Patients were divided into 2 groups according the median value of NT-proBNP absolute change that was 0 pg/ml. Median follow-up from first measurement was 2.25 years (IQR: 1.43 to 3.81). Adjusted Cox’s regression models were performed using total mortality, HF hospitalization (with censoring at death) and their composite as outcomes. Results: After adjustments for 19 baseline variables including baseline NT-proBNP, as compared with an increase in NT-proBNP levels at 6 months (NT-proBNP change>0 pg/ml), a reduction in NT-proBNP levels (NT-proBNP change<0 pg/ml) was associated with a 45.2% reduction in risk of all-cause death (HR: 0.548; 95% CI: 0.378 to 0.796; p:0.002), a 50.1% reduction in risk of HF hospitalization (HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.362 to 0.689; p<0.001) and a 42.6% reduction in risk of the composite outcome (HR: 0.574; 95% CI: 0.435 to 0.758; p<0.001)(Figure). Conclusions: Reductions in NT-proBNP levels over time are independently associated with an improved prognosis in HFPEF patients. Changes in NT-proBNP could represent a surrogate outcome in phase 2 HFPEF trials.

scholarly journals The impact of a faculty development program, the Leadership in Academic Medicine Program (LAMP), on self-efficacy, academic promotion and institutional retention

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy Tung ◽  
Musarrat Nahid ◽  
Mangala Rajan ◽  
Lia Logio
Keyword(s):  
Faculty Development ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Academic Rank ◽  
Faculty Development Program ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Institutional Retention ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Academic medical centers invest considerably in faculty development efforts to support the career success and promotion of their faculty, and to minimize faculty attrition. This study evaluated the impact of a faculty development program called the Leadership in Academic Medicine Program (LAMP) on participants’ (1) self-ratings of efficacy, (2) promotion in academic rank, and (3) institutional retention. Method Participants from the 2013–2020 LAMP cohorts were surveyed pre and post program to assess their level of agreement with statements that spanned domains of self-awareness, self-efficacy, satisfaction with work and work environment. Pre and post responses were compared using McNemar’s tests. Changes in scores across gender were compared using Wilcoxon Rank Sum/Mann-Whitney tests. LAMP participants were matched to nonparticipant controls by gender, rank, department, and time of hire to compare promotions in academic rank and departures from the organization. Kaplan Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine differences. Results There were significant improvements in almost all self-ratings on program surveys (p < 0.05). Greatest improvements were seen in “understand the promotions process” (36% vs. 94%), “comfortable negotiating” (35% vs. 74%), and “time management” (55% vs. 92%). There were no statistically significant differences in improvements by gender, however women faculty rated themselves lower on all pre-program items compared to men. There was significant difference found in time-to-next promotion (p = 0.003) between LAMP participants and controls. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that LAMP faculty achieved next promotion more often and faster than controls. Cox-proportional-hazards analyses found that LAMP faculty were 61% more likely to be promoted than controls (hazard ratio [HR] 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16–2.23, p-value = 0.004). There was significant difference found in time-to-departure (p < 0.0001) with LAMP faculty retained more often and for longer periods. LAMP faculty were 77% less likely to leave compared to controls (HR 0.23, 95% CI 0.16–0.34, p < 0.0001). Conclusions LAMP is an effective faculty development program as measured subjectively by participant self-ratings and objectively through comparative improvements in academic promotions and institutional retention.

No difference in reoperation rates for nonunions (operative nonunions) in posterior cervical fusions stopping at C7 versus T1/2: a cohort of 875 patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Keyword(s):  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Adjacent Segment ◽  
Spine Registry ◽  
Age At Surgery ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Reoperation Rates

OBJECTIVE The challenges of posterior cervical fusions (PCFs) at the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) are widely known, including the development of adjacent-segment disease by stopping fusions at C7. One solution has been to cross the CTJ (T1/T2) rather than stopping at C7. This approach may have undue consequences, including increased reoperations for symptomatic nonunion (operative nonunion). The authors sought to investigate if there is a difference in operative nonunion in PCFs that stop at C7 versus T1/T2. METHODS A retrospective analysis identified patients from the authors’ spine registry (Kaiser Permanente) who underwent PCFs with caudal fusion levels at C7 and T1/T2. Demographics, diagnoses, operative times, lengths of stay, and reoperations were extracted from the registry. Operative nonunion was adjudicated via chart review. Patients were followed until validated operative nonunion, membership termination, death, or end of study (March 31, 2020). Descriptive statistics and 2-year crude incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals for operative nonunion for PCFs stopping at C7 or T1/T2 were reported. Time-dependent crude and adjusted multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate operative nonunion rates. RESULTS The authors identified 875 patients with PCFs (beginning at C3, C4, C5, or C6) stopping at either C7 (n = 470) or T1/T2 (n = 405) with a mean follow-up time of 4.6 ± 3.3 years and a mean time to operative nonunion of 0.9 ± 0.6 years. There were 17 operative nonunions, and, after adjustment for age at surgery and smoking status, the cumulative incidence rates were similar between constructs stopping at C7 and those that extended to T1/T2 (C7: 1.91% [95% CI 0.88%–3.60%]; T1/T2: 1.98% [95% CI 0.86%–3.85%]). In the crude model and model adjusted for age at surgery and smoking status, no difference in risk for constructs extended to T1/T2 compared to those stopping at C7 was found (adjusted HR 1.09 [95% CI 0.42–2.84], p = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS In one of the largest cohort of patients with PCFs stopping at C7 or T1/T2 with an average follow-up of > 4 years, the authors found no statistically significant difference in reoperation rates for symptomatic nonunion (operative nonunion). This finding shows that there is no added risk of operative nonunion by extending PCFs to T1/T2 or stopping at C7.

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