Background:
Regional Differences in health outcomes following OHCA has been poorly studied, and was the focus of this investigation.
Methods:
We used the 2002 to 2012 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to identify adults ≥ 18 years old, with an ICD-9 code principal diagnosis of cardio respiratory arrest (427.5) or ventricular fibrillation (427.1). Trauma patients were excluded. In 4 predefined federal geographic regions: North East, Midwest, South and West, means and proportions of total hospital charges (adjusted to the 2012 consumer price index,) and mortality rate were calculated. Multiple linear and logistic regression models, were adjusted for patient demographics, hospital characteristics and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Trends in binary outcome were examined with YearхRegion interaction terms.
Results:
From 2002 to 2012, of 155,592 OHCA patients who survived to hospital admission , 26,007 (16.7%) were in the Northeast, 39,921 (25.7% ) in the Midwest, 56,263 (36.2%) in the South, and 33,401 (21.5% ) in the West. Total hospital charges (THC) rose significantly over the years across all regions of the United States ( P trend <0.0001), and were higher in the West Vs the North East (THC>$109,000/admission, AOR 1.85; 95% CI 1.53-2.24, p<0.0001), and not different in other regions. Compared to the Northeast, mortality was lower in the Midwest ( AOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77-0.97 p=0.01), marginally lower in the South ( AOR 0.91, 95% CI 0.82-1.01 p=0.07), with no difference detected between the West and the Northeast ( AOR 1.02, 95% CI 0.90-1.16 P=0.78). Increased expenditure was not rewarded by an increase in survival, as trends in Mortality did not differ significantly between regions (YearхRegion effects P>0.05, P trend =0.29).
Conclusions:
Nationwide, there is a considerable variability in survival and charges associated with caring for the post arrest patient. Higher charges did not yield better outcomes. Further investigation is needed to optimize health care delivery.
