Michael Schembri

Can administrative data be used to compare postoperative complication rates across hospitals

Background. Several quality assessment systems use administrative data to identify postoperative complications, with uncertain validity. Objectives. To determine how accurately postoperative complications are reported in administrative data, whether accuracy varies systematically across hospitals, and whether serious complications are more consistently reported. Design. Retrospective cohort. Subjects. Nine hundred ninety-one randomly sampled adults who underwent elective lumbar diskectomies at 30 nonfederal acute care hospitals in California in 1990 to 1991. Hospitals with especially low or high risk-adjusted complication rates, and patients who experienced complications, were over sampled. Measures. Postoperative complications were specified by reviewing medical literature and consulting clinical experts; each complication was mapped to ICD-9-CM. Hospital-reported complications were compared with our independent recoding of the same records. Results. The weighted sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for reported complications were 35%, 98%, 82%, and 84%, respectively. The weighted sensitivity was 30% for serious, 40% for minor, and 10% for questionable complications. It varied from 21% among hospitals with fewer complications than expected to 45% among hospitals with more complications than expected. Only reoperation, bacteremia/sepsis, postoperative infection, and deep vein thrombosis were reported with at least 60% sensitivity. Half of the difference in risk-adjusted complication rates between low and high outlier hospitals was attributable to reporting variation. Conclusions. ICD-9-CM complications were underreported among diskectomy patients, especially at hospitals with low risk-adjusted complication rates. The validity of using coded complications to compare provider performance is questionable, even with careful efforts to identify serious events, although these results must be confirmed using more recent data.

Increased Risk of Testicular Germ Cell Cancer Among Infertile Men

BACKGROUND The risk of testicular cancer is thought to be higher among men seeking infertility treatment compared with the general population. Confirmation of this risk in a large US cohort of at-risk patients is lacking. This study explored the association between male infertility and subsequent development of testicular cancer in a US-based cohort. METHODS A total of 51 461 couples evaluated for infertility from 1967 to 1998 were recruited from 15 California infertility centers. We linked data on 22 562 identified male partners to the California Cancer Registry. The incidence of testicular cancer in this cohort was compared with the incidence in an age-matched sample of men from the general population using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results program. We analyzed the risk for testicular cancer in men with and without male factor infertility using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS Thirty-four post-infertility-diagnosis cases of histologically confirmed testicular cancer were identified. Men seeking infertility treatment had an increased risk of subsequently developing testicular cancer (standardized incidence ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-1.9), with a markedly higher risk among those with known male factor infertility (2.8; 1.5-4.8). In multivariable analysis, men with male factor infertility were nearly 3 times more likely to develop testicular cancer compared with those without (hazard ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-6.0). CONCLUSION Men with male factor infertility have an increased risk of subsequently developing testicular cancer, suggesting the existence of common etiologic factors for infertility and testicular cancer.

A motivation-focused weight loss maintenance program is an effective alternative to a skill-based approach

Objective:Maintaining weight loss is a major challenge in obesity treatment. Individuals often indicate that waning motivation prompts cessation of effective weight management behaviors. Therefore, a novel weight loss maintenance program that specifically targets motivational factors was evaluated.Design:Overweight women (N=338; 19% African American) with urinary incontinence were randomized to lifestyle obesity treatment or control and followed for 18 months. All participants in lifestyle (N=226) received the same initial 6-month group behavioral obesity treatment and were then randomized to (1) a novel motivation-focused maintenance program (N=113) or (2) a standard skill-based maintenance approach (N=113).Main Outcome Measure:Weight assessed at baseline, 6 and 18 months.Results:Both treatment groups (motivation-focused and skill-based) achieved comparable 18-month weight losses (−5.48% for motivation-focused vs −5.55% in skill-based, P=0.98), and both groups lost significantly more than controls (−1.51%; P=0.0012 in motivation-focused and P=0.0021 in skill-based).Conclusions:A motivation-focused maintenance program offers an alternative, effective approach to weight maintenance expanding available evidence-based interventions beyond traditional skill-based programs.Trial Registration:clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00091988.

Can Administrative Data Be Used to Ascertain Clinically Significant Postoperative Complications

The purpose of this study is to assess whether postoperative complications can be ascertained using administrative data. We randomly sampled 991 adults who underwent elective open diskectomies at 30 nonfederal acute care hospitals in California. Postoperative complications were specified by reviewing medical literature and by consulting clinical experts. We compared hospital-reported ICD-9-CM data and independently recoded ICD-9-CM data with complications abstracted by clinicians using detailed criteria. Recoded ICD-9-CM data were more likely than hospital-reported ICD-9-CM data to capture true complications, when they occurred, but they also mislabeled more patients who never experienced clinically significant complications. This finding was most evident for mild or ambiguous complications, such as atelectasis, posthemorrhagic anemia, and hypotension. Overall, recoded ICD-9-CM data captured 47% and 56% of all mild and severe complications, respectively, whereas hospital reported ICD-9-CM data captured only 37% and 44%, respectively, of all mild and severe complications. These findings raise questions about the validity of using administrative data to ascertain postoperative complications, even if coders are carefully hired, trained, and supervised. ICD-9-CM complication codes are more promising as a tool to help providers identify their own adverse outcomes than as a tool for comparing performance.

Increased Risk of High-Grade Prostate Cancer Among Infertile Men

It has been reported that fatherhood status may be a risk factor for prostate cancer. In the current study, the authors examined the subsequent occurrence of prostate cancer in a cohort of men evaluated for infertility to determine whether male infertility is a risk factor for prostate cancer.

Coding of perineal lacerations and other complications of obstetric care in hospital discharge data

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of obstetric complications, including the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Core Measure on perineal lacerations, in the California Patient Discharge Data Set. METHODS: We randomly sampled 1,611 deliveries from 52 of the 267 hospitals that performed more than 678 eligible deliveries in California in 1992–1993. We compared hospital-reported complications against our recoding of the same records. RESULTS: Third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations were reported accurately, with estimated sensitivities exceeding 90% and positive predictive values exceeding 65% (weighted to account for the stratified sampling design) or 85% (unweighted). Based on in-depth review of discrepant cases, we estimate the actual positive predictive value at over 90%. Most coding discrepancies were between no injury and first degree, or between first and second degree. Most postpartum complications, including urinary tract and wound infections, endometritis, anesthesia complications, and postpartum hemorrhage were reported with less than 70% sensitivity, but at least 80% positive predictive value. Composite measures from HealthGrades and Solucient, which include these complication codes, also suffer from high false-negative rates. CONCLUSION: Third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations are accurately reported on hospital discharge abstracts, confirming the validity of related quality indicators sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and JCAHO. Administrative data seem less useful for monitoring other in-hospital postpartum complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3

Incidence of and Risk Factors for Change in Urinary Incontinence Status in a Prospective Cohort of Middle-Aged and Older Women: The Reproductive Risk of Incontinence Study in Kaiser

PURPOSE Urinary incontinence is a dynamic condition that can progress and regress but few groups have examined risk factors for change in incontinence status. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used stratified random sampling to construct a racially and ethnically diverse, population based cohort of 2,109 women 40 to 69 years old. Data were collected by questionnaires and medical record review. A second survey approximately 5 years later was completed by 1,413 women (67%) from the original cohort. The frequency of urinary incontinence was categorized as less than weekly, weekly and daily. Change in incontinence status was defined as new onset incontinence, incontinence progression or regression between frequency categories and resolution of incontinence. Predictor variables were demographics, body mass index and other medical conditions. We used logistic regression to estimate the adjusted OR and 95% CI. RESULTS Compared to white nonHispanic women, black women were less likely to have incontinence progression (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.24-0.88). New onset incontinence was more common in women with a higher body mass index at baseline (p = 0.006) and those who experienced increased body mass index (p = 0.03) or decreased general health (p = 0.007) during the study. Participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder at baseline were more likely to report incontinence progression (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.22-5.70). Baseline incontinence type was not significantly associated with the risk of change in continence status independent of frequency. CONCLUSIONS Identifying risk factors for change in incontinence status may be important to develop interventions to decrease the burden of incontinence in the general population.

Effect of Noncancerous Pelvic Problems on Health-Related Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of abnormal uterine bleeding and pelvic pain and pressure on health-related quality of life and sexual functioning and assess treatment satisfaction. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 1,493 sociodemographically diverse women who were seeking care for noncancerous pelvic problems and who had not undergone hysterectomy. Participants were asked about symptoms, attitudes, health-related quality of life, sexual functioning, and treatment satisfaction. Preference for current health was measured using the time tradeoff metric, which asked respondents to estimate the number of years of life they would be willing to trade off to not have a uterine condition. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify determinants of treatment satisfaction. RESULTS: Most (82.7%) participants reported a complete lack of or only partial symptom resolution, and 42.3% reported that their pelvic problems interfered with their ability to have and enjoy sex. Mean Short Form-12 Physical (43–49) and Mental (41–44) Component Summary scores were substantially lower than population norms for women aged 40–49 years. Mean current health time tradeoff scores ranged from 0.78 to 0.88. Satisfaction with Western medicines ranged from 31.3% (progestin intrauterine device) to 58.2% (opiates) and with uterine-preserving surgery from 20.0% (dilation and curettage) to 51.0% (myomectomy); 27.7 % of the women who used acupuncture were satisfied. Participants with lower educational attainment, greater symptom resolution, and less interference of pelvic problems with sex were more likely to be satisfied. CONCLUSION: Noncancerous pelvic problems are associated with serious decrements in health-related quality of life and sexual functioning and low rates of treatment satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

Women with Diabetes: Understanding Urinary Incontinence and Help Seeking Behavior

PURPOSE We examined the association of urinary incontinence with diabetes status and race, and evaluated beliefs about help seeking for incontinence in a population based cohort of women with vs without diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 2,270 middle-aged and older racially/ethnically diverse women in the Diabetes Reproductive Risk factors for Incontinence Study at Kaiser. Incontinence, help seeking behavior and beliefs were assessed by self-report questionnaires and in-person interviews. We compared incontinence characteristics in women with and without diabetes using univariate analysis and multivariate models. RESULTS Women with diabetes reported weekly incontinence significantly more than women without diabetes (weekly 35.4% vs 25.7%, p <0.001). Race prevalence patterns were similar in women with and without diabetes with the most vs the least prevalence of incontinence in white and Latina vs black and Asian women. Of women with diabetes 42.2% discussed incontinence with a physician vs 55.5% without diabetes (p <0.003). Women with diabetes were more likely than those without diabetes to report the belief that incontinence is rare (17% vs 6%, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS Incontinence is highly prevalent in women with diabetes. Race prevalence patterns are similar in those with and without diabetes. Understanding help seeking behavior is important to ensure appropriate patient care. Physicians should be alert for urinary incontinence since it is often unrecognized and, thus, under treated in women with diabetes.

Restorative yoga and metabolic risk factors: The Practicing Restorative Yoga vs. Stretching for the Metabolic Syndrome (PRYSMS) randomized trial

AIMS Intensive lifestyle change prevents type 2 diabetes but is difficult to sustain. Preliminary evidence suggests that yoga may improve metabolic factors. We tested a restorative yoga intervention vs. active stretching for metabolic outcomes. METHODS In 2009-2012, we conducted a 48-week randomized trial comparing restorative yoga vs. stretching among underactive adults with the metabolic syndrome at the Universities of California, San Francisco and San Diego. We provided lifestyle counseling and a tapering series of 90-min group classes in the 24-week intervention period and 24-week maintenance period. Fasting and 2-h glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, insulin, systolic blood pressure, visceral fat, and quality of life were assessed at baseline, 6- and 12-months. RESULTS 180 participants were randomized and 135 (75%) completed the trial. At 12 months, fasting glucose decreased more in the yoga group than in the stretching group (-0.35 mmol/L vs. -0.03 mmol/L; p=0.002); there were no other significant differences between groups. At 6 months favorable changes within the yoga group included reductions in fasting glucose, insulin, and HbA1c and an increase in HDL-cholesterol that were not sustained at 1 year except changes in fasting glucose. The stretching group had a significant reduction in triglycerides at 6 months which was not sustained at 1 year but had improved quality of life at both time-points. CONCLUSIONS Restorative yoga was marginally better than stretching for improving fasting glucose but not other metabolic factors.