ADVERTISEMENT

Reasons for Readmission Following Primary Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Author and Disclosure Information

TAKE-HOME POINTS

  • Shoulder arthroplasty is an increasingly commonly performed procedure for shoulder arthritis and other conditions.
  • Unplanned readmission in the 30 days after shoulder arthroplasty occurred in about 1 of 40 cases.
  • Increasing age was associated with readmission, particularly age >80 years.
  • Other risk factors for readmission were male sex, anemia, and dependent functional status.
  • The most common reasons for readmission were pneumonia, dislocation, pulmonary embolism, and surgical site infection.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 13.1 (StataCorp). First, using bivariate and multivariate regression, demographic and comorbidity factors were tested for independent association with readmission to the hospital within 30 days of surgery. Second, among the readmitted patients, the reasons for readmission were tabulated. Of note, the reasons for readmission were only documented for the procedures performed in 2013. All tests were 2-tailed and conducted at an α level of 0.05.

RESTULTS

A total of 3627 TSA patients were identified. The mean age (± standard deviation) was 69.4 ± 9.5 years, 55.8% of patients were female, and mean BMI was 30.1 ± 7.0 years. Table 1 provides the additional demographic data. Of the 3627 included patients, 93 (2.56%) were readmitted within 30 days of surgery. The 95% confidence interval for the estimated rate of readmission reached 2.05% to 3.08%.

Table 1. Patient Population

,

Number

Percent

Total

3627

100.0%

Age

 18-59

539

14.9%

 60-69

1235

34.1%

 70-79

1317

36.3%

 ≥80

536

14.8%

Sex

 Male

1603

44.2%

 Female

2024

55.8%

Body mass index

 Normal (<25 kg/m2)

650

17.9%

 Overweight (25-30 kg/m2)

1147

31.6%

 Obese (≥30 kg/m2)

1830

50.5%

Functional status

 Independent

3544

97.7%

 Dependent

83

2.3%

Diabetes mellitus

 No

3022

83.3%

 Yes

605

16.7%

Dyspnea on exertion

 No

3393

93.6%

 Yes

234

6.5%

Hypertension

 No

1192

32.9%

 Yes

2435

67.1%

COPD

 No

3384

93.3%

 Yes

243

6.7%

Current smoker

 No

3249

89.6%

 Yes

378

10.4%

Anemia

 No

3051

84.1%

 Yes

576

15.9%

Abbreviation: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

In the bivariate analyses (Table 2), the following factors were positively associated readmission: older age (60-69 years, relative risk [RR] = 1.6; 70-79 years, RR = 2.2; ≥80 years, RR = 3.3; P = .011), dependent functional status (RR = 2.9, P = .008), and anemia (RR = 2.2, P < .001).

Table 2. Bivariate Analysis of Risk Factors for Readmission

Rate

RR

95% CI

P-value

Age

0.011

 18-59

1.30%

Ref.

-

 60-69

2.02%

1.6

0.7-3.6

 70-79

2.89%

2.2

1.0-4.9

 ≥80

4.29%

3.3

1.4-7.6

Sex

0.099

 Female

2.17%

Ref.

-

 Male

3.06%

1.4

0.9-2.1

Body mass index

0.764

 Normal (<25 kg/m2)

2.92%

Ref.

-

 Overweight (25-30 kg/m2)

2.35%

0.8

0.5-1.4

 Obese (≥30 kg/m2)

2.57%

0.9

0.5-1.5

Functional status

0.008

 Independent

2.45%

Ref.

-

 Dependent

7.23%

2.9

1.3-6.5

Diabetes mellitus

0.483

 No

2.48%

Ref.

-

 Yes

2.98%

1.2

0.7-2.0

Dyspnea on exertion

0.393

 No

2.51%

Ref.

-

 Yes

3.42%

1.4

0.7-2.8

Hypertension

0.145

 No

2.01%

Ref.

-

 Yes

2.83%

1.4

0.9-2.2

COPD

0.457

 No

2.51%

Ref.

-

 Yes

3.29%

1.3

0.6-2.7

Current smoker

0.116

 No

2.71%

Ref.

-

 Yes

1.32%

0.5

0.2-1.2

Anemia

<0.001

 No

2.16%

Ref.

-

 Yes

4.69%

2.2

1.4-3.4

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; RR, relative risk.

In the multivariate analyses (Table 3), the following factors were independent risk factors for readmission: older age (60-69 years, RR = 1.6; 70-79 years, RR = 2.3; ≥80 years, RR = 3.1; P =.027), male sex (RR = 1.6, P = .025), anemia (RR = 1.9, P = .005), and dependent functional status (RR = 2.8, P = .012). Interestingly, readmission showed no independent association with diabetes, dyspnea on exertion, BMI, COPD, hypertension, or current smoking status (P > .05 for each).

Table 3. Independent Risk Factors for Readmission on Multivariate Analysis

Rate

RR

95% CI

P-value

Age

0.027

 18-59

1.30%

Ref

-

 60-69

2.02%

1.6

0.7-3.6

 70-79

2.89%

2.3

1.0-5.1

 ≥80

4.29%

3.1

1.3-7.4

Sex

0.025

 Female

2.17%

Ref.

-

 Male

3.06%

1.6

1.1-2.4

Anemia

0.005

 No

2.16%

Ref

-

 Yes

4.69%

1.9

1.2-3.0

Functional status

0.012

 Independent

2.45%

Ref

-

 Dependent

7.23%

2.8

1.3-6.2

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; RR, relative risk.

Continue to: Table 4...