Inpatient Cost Burdens of Treating Chronic Hepatitis B in US Hospitals: A Weighted Analysis of a National Database.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study evaluates the cost burdens of inpatient care for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We aimed to stratify the patients based on the presence of cirrhosis and conduct subgroup analyses on patient demographics and medical characteristics. METHODS: The 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample was used to select individuals diagnosed with CHB. The weighted charge estimates were derived and converted to admission costs, adjusting for inflation to the year 2016, and presented in United States Dollars. These adjusted values were stratified using select patient variables. To assess the goodness-of-fit for each trend, we graphed the data across the respective years, expressed in a chronological sequence with format (R2, p-value). Analysis of CHB patients was carried out in three groups: the composite CHB population, the subset of patients with cirrhosis, and the subset of patients without cirrhosis. RESULTS: From 2016 to 2019, the total costs of hospitalizations in CHB patients were $603.82, $737.92, $758.29, and $809.01 million dollars from 2016 to 2019, respectively. We did not observe significant cost trends in the composite CHB population or in the cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis cohorts. However, we did find rising costs associated with age older than 65 (0.97, 0.02), white race (0.98, 0.01), Hispanic ethnicity (1.00, 0.001), and Medicare coverage (0.95, 0.02), the significance of which persisted regardless of the presence of cirrhosis. Additionally, inpatients without cirrhosis who had comorbid metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) were also observed to have rising costs (0.96, 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: We did not find a significant increase in overall costs with CHB inpatients, regardless of the presence of cirrhosis. However, certain groups are more susceptible to escalating costs. Therefore, increased screening and nuanced vaccination planning must be optimized in order to prevent and mitigate these growing cost burdens on vulnerable populations.

The cost implications of Wilson disease among hospitalized patients: analysis of USA hospitals.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In this study, we used a national cohort of patients with Wilson's disease (WD) to investigate the admissions, mortality rates, and costs over the captured period to assess specific subpopulations at higher burden. METHODS: Patients with WD were selected using 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). The weighted estimates and patient data were stratified using demographics and medical characteristics. Regression curves were graphed to derive goodness-of-fit for each trend from which R2 and P values were calculated. RESULTS: Annual total admissions per 100 000 hospitalizations due to WD were 1075, 1180, 1140, and 1330 ( R2  = 0.75; P  = 0.13) from 2016 to 2019. Within the demographics, there was an increase in admissions among patients greater than 65 years of age ( R2  = 0.90; P  = 0.05) and White patients ( R2  = 0.97; P  = 0.02). Assessing WD-related mortality rates, there was an increase in the mortality rate among those in the first quartile of income ( R2  = 1.00; P  < 0.001). The total cost for WD-related hospitalizations was $20.90, $27.23, $24.20, and $27.25 million US dollars for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively ( R2  = 0.47; P  = 0.32). There was an increasing total cost trend for Asian or Pacific Islander patients ( R2  = 0.90; P  = 0.05). Interestingly, patients with cirrhosis demonstrated a decreased trend in the total costs ( R2  = 0.97; P  = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that certain ethnicity groups, income classes and comorbidities had increased admissions or costs among patients admitted with WD.

The role of donor sex on the post-liver transplant outcomes in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) can result in hepatic decompensation and require liver transplantation (LT). This study investigates the effect of the sex of the donor and recipient as a prognostic risk factor for adverse outcomes after LT in patients with PSC. METHODS: UNOS registry was used to select LT patients with PSC from 1987 to 2019. The study cohort was stratified based on the sex of the recipient and further subdivided based on the sex of the donor. The primary endpoints of this study were all-cause mortality and graft failure, which were evaluated using a sequential Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: This study included 2829 patients; 906 female recipients were transplanted from 441 male donors and 465 female donors. 1923 male recipients were transplanted from 1194 male donors and 729 female donors. Within the mismatch analyses, the male-to-male recipients also had a significantly reduced hazard ratio of graft failure compared to female-to-male transplants [aHR 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33-0.79, P  = 0.003]. No difference in graft failure was observed in the mismatched female recipient subgroup. The mismatched male recipient group also showed a decreased hazard ratio of mortality from graft rejection and respiratory causes. No differences in specific mortality causes were identified in the mismatched female recipient group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated an increase in the risk of graft failure and mortality secondary to graft failure in male recipients of female donor livers. No differences in mortality or graft failure were identified in female recipients of male livers.

Trends of Costs and Admission Rates Among Patients Admitted With Autoimmune Hepatitis: Analysis of US Hospitals Using the NIS Database.

Background and aim: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a prominent cause of chronic liver disease in the United States. This study aims to characterize the incidence, mortality, and cost implications of this condition using a national database. Method: The 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample was used to select patients with AIH. After adjusting for inflation, weighted charge data were used to calculate the admission costs using charge-to-cost ratios. Demographic, socioeconomic status, and comorbidity values were used to build strata to characterize admission incidence, mortality data and aggregate and per-capita cost values. Furthermore, additional sensitivity analysis was performed using a stratified set of patients with AIH as one of the top 10 diagnosis (AIH-specific subsample). Multinomial regression curves were graphed and assessed to derive goodness-of-fit for each trend. R2 and P-values were calculated. Results: From 2016 to 2019, the total admissions related to AIH were approximately 20,984, 21,905, 22,055, and 22,680 cases, respectively (R2: 0.93, P-value: 0.03). AIH-related hospitalization aggregate costs came to $338.18, $369.17, $355.98, and $387.25 million dollars (R2: 0.75, P-value: 0.17). Significant admission growth was seen in the Southern region (R2: 0.91, P-value: 0.05). Most notably, increasing trends in total admissions were found across older age, those of White and Hispanic descent, and those with comorbidities. On the other hand, the AIH-specific subsample illustrated decreasing trends in admissions across demographics (i.e., age, gender, and race) and comorbidities; however, those with hepatic complications saw a rise in the admission trends (cirrhosis - R2: 0.98, P-value: 0.009; multiple liver complications - R2: 0.95, P-value: 0.03). Conclusion: Among AIH-specific admissions, there was a decreasing trend overall; however, there was an exceptional increase in the admissions among those with hepatic complications.

The Impact of Race and Sex on the Clinical Outcomes of Homeless Patients With Alcoholic Liver Disease: Propensity Score Matched Analysis of US Hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Among patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD), homelessness poses significant medical and psychosocial risks; however, less is known about the effects of race and sex on the hospital outcomes of admitted homeless patients with ALD. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database from 2012 to 2017 was used to isolate homeless patients with ALD, and the cohort was further stratified by race and sex for comparisons. Propensity score matching was utilized to minimize covariate confounding. The primary endpoints of this study include mortality, hospital length of stay, and hospital costs; secondary endpoints included the incidence of liver complications. RESULTS: There were 3972 females/males postmatch, as well as 2224 Blacks/Whites and 4575 Hispanics/Whites postmatch. In multivariate, there were no significant differences observed in mortality rate, length of stay, and costs between sexes. Comparing liver outcomes, females had a higher incidence of hepatic encephalopathy [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04, P<0.001]. In comparing Blacks versus Whites, Black patients had higher hospitalization costs (aOR 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03-1.24, P=0.01); however, there were no significant differences in mortality, length of stay, or liver complications. In comparing Hispanics versus Whites, Hispanic patients had longer length of hospital stay (aOR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.19, P<0.001), greater costs (aOR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.09-1.22, P<0.001), as well as higher prevalence of liver complications including varices (aOR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02-1.06, P<0.001), hepatic encephalopathy (aOR 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.04, P<0.001), and hepatorenal syndrome (aOR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01, P=0.03). However, there was no difference in mortality between White and Hispanic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Black and Hispanic ALD patients experiencing homelessness were found to incur higher hospital charges; furthermore, Hispanic patients also had greater length of stay and higher incidence of liver-related complications compared with White counterparts.

External Validation of the Breast Cancer Surgery Risk Calculator (BCSRc): A Predictive Model for Postoperative Complications.

BACKGROUND: The breast cancer surgical risk calculator (BCSRc) is a prognostic tool that determines a breast cancer patient's unique risk of acute complications following each possible surgical intervention. When used in the preoperative setting, it can help to stratify patients with an increased complication risk and enhance the patient-physician informed decision-making process. The objective of this study was to externally validate the four models used in the BCSRc on a large cohort of patients who underwent breast cancer surgery. METHODS: The BCSRc was developed by using a retrospective cohort from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2005 to 2018. Four models were built by using logistic regression methods to predict the following composite outcomes: overall, infectious, hematologic, and internal organ complications. This study obtained a new cohort of patients from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program by utilizing participant user files from 2019 to 2020. The area under the curve, brier score, and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test measured model performance, accuracy, and calibration, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 192,095 patients met inclusion criteria in the development of the BCSRc, and the validation cohort included 60,144 women. The area under the curve during external validation for each model was approximately 0.70. Accuracy, or Brier scores, were all between 0.04 and 0.003. Model calibration using the Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic found all p-values > 0.05. All of these model coefficients will be updated on the web-based BCSRc platform: www.breastcalc.org . CONCLUSIONS: The BCSRc continues to show excellent external-validation measures. Collectively, this prognostic tool can enhance the decision-making process, help stratify patients with an increased complication risk, and improve expectant management.

The impact of race and gender on the outcomes of patients with acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure: propensity score-matched analysis of the NIS database.

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen overdose is one of the leading causes of acute liver failure in the USA. In this study, we investigated the impact of race and gender on the hospital outcomes of patients admitted with acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure. METHODS: From the National Inpatient Sample between the years 2016 and 2019, patients with acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure were selected and stratified based on gender (Male and Female) and race (White, Black and Hispanic). The cases were propensity score-matched to controls (male and Whites) and were compared along the following endpoints: mortality, length of stay, hospitalization costs, and hepatic complications. RESULTS: Among patients with acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure, females experienced higher rates of mortality (16.60% vs. 11.70%, P = 0.004) and clinical illness, including hypotension (11.80% vs. 7.15%, P = 0.002) and ventilator use (40.80% vs. 30.00%, P < 0.001). When stratified by race, Black patients had longer hospital stays (Black vs. White, 8.76 days vs. 7.46 days, P = 0.03). There were no significant differences in outcomes between Hispanic and White patients. No significant differences in mortality were shown between races. CONCLUSION: We found that females had a higher rate of mortality and incidence of hepatic encephalopathy compared to males. When stratified by race, Blacks were shown to have longer hospital stay. Females and racial minorities were also affected by special healthcare needs after discharge compared to their male and White cohorts, respectively.

Assessment of Conflicts of Interest in the Transcarotid Artery Revascularization Literature.

INTRODUCTION: To systematically review the accuracy of self-reported conflicts of interest (COIs) among transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) studies and evaluate factors associated with increased discrepancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search identified all TCAR-related studies with at least one American author published between January 2017 and December 2020. Industry payments from Silk Road Medical, Inc. were collected using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Open Payments database. COI discrepancies were identified by comparing author declaration statements with payments found for the year of publication and year prior (24-mo period). Risk factors for COI discrepancy were evaluated at both the study and author level. RESULTS: A total of 79 studies (472 authors) were identified. Sixty four studies (81%) had at least one author who received payments from Silk Road Medical, Inc. Fifty eight (73%) studies had at least one author who received an undeclared payment. Consulting fees represented the majority of general payment subtype (60%). Authors who accurately disclosed payments received significantly higher median payments compared to authors who did not accurately disclose payments ($37,222 [interquartile range: $28,203-$132,589] versus $1748 [interquartile range $257-$35,041], P < 0.0001). Senior authors were significantly more likely to have a COI discrepancy compared to first authors (P = 0.0219). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of TCAR-related studies did not accurately declare COI. A multivariate analysis demonstrated no effect of sponsorship on study recommendations or impact factor. This study highlights the need for increased efforts in accountability to improve the transparency of industry sponsorship, especially when consulting authors are reporting their results on patient outcomes.

The causes of death in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis following liver transplantation stratified using pre-liver transplant BMI.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Determining the effects of pre-liver transplant (LT) BMI independent of underlying ascites on the post-LT outcomes of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is needed to clarify the paradoxical and protective effects of obesity on post-LT endpoints. In order to accomplish this, we used graded severities of ascites to stratify the NASH-LT population and to perform an ascites-specific strata analysis with differing pre-LT BMI levels. METHODS: 2005-2019 United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Standard Transplant Analysis and Research (STAR) database was queried to select patients with NASH, who were categorized into specific sets of ascites severity: no ascites (n = 1188), mild ascites (n = 4463), and moderate ascites (n = 3525). Then, BMI classification (underweight: < 18.5, normal: 18.5-25, overweight: 25-30, obese: ≥ 30 kg/m2) was used to stratify each ascites-specific group and to compare to the post-LT mortality endpoints. Those under 18 years old and those who received living/multi-organ transplants were excluded. RESULTS: Among each ascites category, there were the following numbers of normal, underweight, overweight, and obese BMI patients respectively; no ascites: 161, 4, 359, 664; mild ascites: 643, 28, 1311, 2481; and moderate ascites: 529, 25, 1030, 1941. The obese BMI cohort was at a lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to recipients with normal BMI with mild ascites (aHR: 0.79, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.65-0.94, p-value = 0.010; case-incidence 47.10 vs 56.81 deaths per 1000 person-years) and moderate ascites (aHR: 0.77, 95% CI 0.63-0.94, p-value = 0.009; case-incidence 53.71 vs 66.17 deaths per 1000 person-years). In addition, the overweight BMI cohort with mild ascites demonstrated a lower hazard of all-cause mortality (aHR: 0.80, 95% CI 0.66-0.97, p-value = 0.03; case-incidence 49.09 vs 56.81 deaths per 1000 person-years). There was no difference in graft failure for the three BMI groups (underweight, overweight, and obese) in comparison to normal BMI. Furthermore, the overweight BMI group with mild ascites cohort demonstrated a lower hazard of death due to general infectious causes (aHR: 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.83, p = 0.006; case-incidence 6.12 vs 11.91 deaths per 1000 person-years) and sepsis (aHR: 0.49, 95% CI 0.27-0.86, p = 0.01; case-incidence 4.31 vs 8.50 deaths per 1000 person-years). CONCLUSION: The paradoxical effects of obesity in reducing the risks of all-cause death appears to be in part modulated by ascites. The current study emphasizes the need to evaluate BMI with concomitant ascites severity pre-LT to accurately prognosticate post-LT outcomes when evaluating NASH patients with advanced liver disease.

Application of Trapezoid Orbital Septum Membrane Flap in Double-Eyelid Blepharoplasty.

BACKGROUND: For a long time, to achieve the natural shape of double-eyelid crease, multiple techniques of double-eyelid plastic surgery have been developed. We describe the trapezoid orbital septum membrane flap in blepharoplasty to achieve a dynamic double-eyelid crease and avoid a depressed static scar. METHODS: The authors developed a trapezoid orbital septum membrane flap in double-eyelid blepharoplasty. The flap base is fixed on the pretarsal plate with the distal end of the flap positioned between the superior and inferior edges of the incision. Layer-by-layer contraposition suturing is then performed. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-one cases of double-eyelid blepharoplasty were performed by a senior surgeon using the trapezoid orbital septum flap method. Patients were followed for 6 to 17 months. Twelve cases were revised secondarily. Patients were satisfied with the palpebral folds, which showed a dynamic crease followed with movements of the eyelids. CONCLUSIONS: The authors introduce a trapezoid orbital septum flap in upper eyelid blepharoplasty. The flap relies on the elasticity of the orbital septum flap as the levator aponeurosis extension segment to produce a natural crease without a depressed static scar.