ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential of LACE+ scores, in patients undergoing urologic surgery, to predict short-term undesirable outcomes. METHODS: Coarsened exact matching was used to assess the predictive value of the LACE+ index among all urologic surgery cases over a 2-year period (2016-2018) at 1 health system (nâ¯=â¯9824). Study subjects were matched on characteristics not assessed by LACE+, including duration of surgery and race, among others. For comparison of outcomes, matched populations were compared by LACE+ quartile with Q4 as the referent group: Q4 vs Q1, Q4 vs Q2, Q4 vs Q3. RESULTS: Seven hundred and twenty-two patients were matched for Q1-Q4; 1120 patients were matched for Q2-Q4; 2550 patients were matched for Q3-Q4. Escalating LACE+ score significantly predicted increased readmission (2.86% vs 4.91% for Q2 vs Q4; Pâ¯=â¯.012) and Emergency Room (ER) visits at 30 days postop (5.69% vs 11.37% for Q1 vs Q4, 4.11% vs 11.45% for Q2 vs Q4, 8.29% vs 13.32% for Q3 vs Q4; P <.001 for all). Increasing LACE score did not predict reoperation within 30 days or rate of death over follow-up within 30 postoperative days. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the LACE+ index is suitable as a prediction model for important patient outcomes in a urologic surgery population including unanticipated readmission and ER evaluation.