Abstract
Background
Placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube in patients of advanced dementia has not been shown to improve nutritional status or mortality. The objective is to assess racial and socioeconomic disparities for PEG tube placement from National Inpatient Sample.
Methods
In a cross-sectional study, the National inpatient sample (NIS) registry was queried for all patients aged ≥ 70 who were diagnosed with dementia during the year 2016. Patients with dementia were identified using the Tenth revision (ICD-10) codes (F0150, F0151, F0280, F0281, F0390, F0391, G300, G301, G308, G309, G3109, G3183). Patients who received PEG tube were identified using ICD-10 diagnosis codes (Z431). Multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to determine the likelihood of PEG tube placement with adjustment for Patients demographics, socioeconomic factors, degree of frailty and comorbidities.
Results
Out of 1,745,028 patients with dementia, 35,075 patients had PEG tube placed. Majority of patients who received PEG tube were females (54.8%), of white race (45.5%) with a mean age of 82.3 years (SEM 0.02). Compared to controls, those who had PEG tube placement were more frail, had higher prevalence of chronic lung disease, diabetes, stroke, psychosis and nutritional deficiency anemias. On multivariable analysis, higher risk for PEG tube placement was seen in African Americans and Hispanics compared to Caucasians with a-OR 3.76 [95%CI: 3.47–4.07], p < 0.001 and 2.59 [95%CI:2.33–2.88], p < 0.001 respectively. A higher risk was also seen in patients with low income with a-OR 1.1(95%CI: 1.04–1.19), p = 0.002 and among those having Medicaid compared to Medicare insurance with a-OR 1.53 [95%CI: 1.30–1.80], p < 0.001. Compared to males, females were found to have low chances for PEG tube placement with a-OR: 0.78 [95%CO:0.74–0.82], p < 0.001. Hospital ownership, bed size and teaching status were found to have no impact on PEG tube utilization.
Conclusion
Despite the evidence against placement of PEG tubes in dementia patients, our findings confirm that PEG tubes are still being placed in frail and demented elderly. Apart from these, elderly patients with low income, African American origin and Medicaid enrollees have higher incidence of PEG tube placements. Efforts are needed to educate clinicians and community about worse outcomes of PEG tube placement in advanced dementia.
Revisiting the Use of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tubes in Patients with Advanced Dementia
