Table 2 Healthcare utilization and cost outcomes. Multivariable regression-adjusted estimates are presented. They represent the effect of polypharmacy unconfounded by observed characteristics.
From: Polypharmacy in elective lumbar spinal surgery for degenerative conditions with 24-month follow-up
Outcomes | All | Fusion with or without decompression | Decompression without fusion | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No polypharmacy (n = 37,682) | polypharmacy (n = 80,752) | p-value | No polypharmacy (n = 16,676) | Polypharmacy (n = 44,411) | p-value | No polypharmacy (n = 30,909) | Polypharmacy (n = 64,748) | p-value | |||
Index hospital | |||||||||||
Length of hospital stay, Median ± MAD | 1.8 ± 0.5 | 2.4 ± 0.4 | < 0.0001 | 3 ± 0 | 3 ± 0 | 0.125 | 2 ± 1 | 2 ± 0.5 | < 0.0001 | ||
Index payment, Median ± MAD | 23,388 ± 5774 | 29,348 ± 9264 | < 0.0001 | 65,707 ± 4432 | 63,038 ± 5680 | < 0.0001 | 19,461 ± 3447 | 23,564 ± 6378 | < 0.0001 | ||
Discharge home, % | 80% | 81% | 0.0205 | 79% | 80% | 0.0105 | 82% | 83% | 0.4466 | ||
6-months post-discharge | |||||||||||
Had 1 or more emergency visits, % | 41% | 53% | < 0.0001 | 42% | 53% | < 0.0001 | 38% | 51% | < 0.0001 | ||
Had 1 or more hospital admissions, % | 13% | 22% | < 0.0001 | 12% | 20% | < 0.0001 | 13% | 23% | < 0.0001 | ||
Number of outpatient services, Median ± MAD | 17 ± 5 | 31 ± 6 | < 0.0001 | 23 ± 6 | 35 ± 5 | < 0.0001 | 16 ± 5 | 30 ± 6 | < 0.0001 | ||
Number of medication refills, Median ± MAD | 4 ± 2 | 19 ± 2 | < 0.0001 | 3 ± 3 | 21 ± 2 | < 0.0001 | 4 ± 2 | 19 ± 2 | < 0.0001 | ||
Overall payments, Median ± MAD | 2310 ± 699 | 6523 ± 1058 | < 0.0001 | 3190 ± 758 | 6983 ± 1114 | < 0.0001 | 2166 ± 665 | 6427 ± 1024 | < 0.0001 | ||
12-months post-discharge | |||||||||||
Had 1 or more emergency visits, % | 56% | 68% | < 0.0001 | 58% | 68% | < 0.0001 | 53% | 66% | < 0.0001 | ||
Had 1 or more hospital admissions, % | 23% | 37% | < 0.0001 | 23% | 34% | < 0.0001 | 23% | 37% | < 0.0001 | ||
Number of outpatient services, Median ± MAD | 31 ± 10 | 60 ± 11 | < 0.0001 | 41 ± 12 | 67 ± 11 | < 0.0001 | 29 ± 9 | 59 ± 11 | < 0.0001 | ||
Number of medication refills, Median ± MAD | 6 ± 3 | 37 ± 3 | < 0.0001 | 6 ± 4 | 39 ± 4 | < 0.0001 | 6 ± 3 | 36 ± 3 | < 0.0001 | ||
Overall payments, Median ± MAD | 4561 ± 1507 | 13,804 ± 2217 | < 0.0001 | 5967 ± 1622 | 14,253 ± 2344 | < 0.0001 | 4302 ± 1428 | 13,659 ± 2136 | < 0.0001 | ||
24-months post-discharge | |||||||||||
Had 1 or more emergency visits, % | 70% | 81% | < 0.0001 | 69% | 79% | < 0.0001 | 68% | 80% | < 0.0001 | ||
Had 1 or more hospital admissions, % | 35% | 54% | < 0.0001 | 35% | 51% | < 0.0001 | 34% | 54% | < 0.0001 | ||
Number of outpatient services, Median ± MAD | 58 ± 19 | 115 ± 21 | < 0.0001 | 74 ± 22 | 127 ± 21 | < 0.0001 | 54 ± 17 | 112 ± 20 | < 0.0001 | ||
Number of medication refills, Median ± MAD | 10 ± 6 | 71 ± 6 | < 0.0001 | 10 ± 7 | 74 ± 7 | < 0.0001 | 10 ± 6 | 70 ± 6 | < 0.0001 | ||
Overall payments, Median ± MAD | 9514 ± 3278 | 30,288 ± 4615 | < 0.0001 | 12,041 ± 3619 | 30,907 ± 4982 | < 0.0001 | 9097 ± 3140 | 30,168 ± 4460 | < 0.0001 | ||
