Trends and regional variation in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty in Switzerland: a population-based small area analysis.
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ABSTRACT: Purpose
To assess trends and regional variation in percutaneous vertebroplasty (VP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) use across Switzerland.Methods
We conducted a population-based analysis using patient discharge data from all Swiss acute care hospitals for 2013-2018. We calculated age/sex-standardized mean procedure rates and measures of variation across VP/BKP-specific hospital areas (HSAs). We assessed the influence of potential determinants of variation using multilevel regression models with incremental adjustment for demographics, cultural/socioeconomic, health, and supply factors.Results
We analyzed 7855 discharges with VP/BKP from 31 HSAs. The mean age/sex-standardized procedure rate increased from 16 to 20/100,000 persons from 2013 to 2018. While the variation in procedure rates across HSAs declined, the overall variation remained high (systematic component of variation from 56.8 to 6.9 from 2013 to 2018). Determinants explained 52% of the variation.Conclusions
VP/BKP procedure rates increased and regional variation across Switzerland declined but remained at a high level. A substantial part of the regional variation remained unexplained by potential determinants of variation.
SUBMITTER: Frei AN
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8608764 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BACKGROUND:Percutaneous vertebroplasty (VP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) for treating painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures are controversial. OBJECTIVE:We assessed the regional variation in the use of VP/BKP in Switzerland. METHODS:We conducted a population-based small area variation analysis using patient discharge data for VP/BKP from all Swiss hospitals and Swiss census data for calendar years 2012/13. We derived hospital service areas (HSAs) by analyzing patient flows, assigning regions from which most residents were discharged to the same VP/BKP specific HSA. We calculated age-/sex-standardized mean VP/BKP-rates and measures of regional variation (extremal quotient [EQ], systematic component of variation [SCV]). We estimated the reduction in variation of VP/BKP rates using negative binomial regression, with adjustment for patient demographic and regional socioeconomic factors (socioeconomic status, urbanization, and language region). We considered the residual, unexplained variation most likely to be unwarranted. RESULTS:Overall, 4955 VP/BKPs were performed in Switzerland in 2012/13. The age-/sex-standardized mean VP/BKP rate was 4.6/10,000 persons and ranged from 1.0 to 10.1 across 26 HSAs. The EQ was 10.2 and the SCV 57.6, indicating a large variation across VP/BKP specific HSAs. After adjustment for demographic and socioeconomic factors, the total reduction in variance was 32.2% only, with the larger part of the variation remaining unexplained. CONCLUSIONS:We found a 10-fold variation in VP/BKP rates across Swiss VP/BKP specific HSAs. As only one third of the variation was explained by differences in patient demographics and regional socioeconomic factors, VP/BKP in the highest-use areas may, at least partially, represent overtreatment.
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Project description:BackgroundCompared to other OECD countries, Switzerland has the highest rates of hip (HA) and knee arthroplasty (KA).ObjectiveWe assessed the regional variation in HA/KA rates and potential determinants of variation in Switzerland.MethodsWe conducted a population-based analysis using discharge data from all Swiss hospitals during 2013-2016. We derived hospital service areas (HSAs) by analyzing patient flows. We calculated age-/sex-standardized procedure rates and measures of variation (the extremal quotient [EQ, highest divided by lowest rate] and the systemic component of variation [SCV]). We estimated the reduction in variance of HA/KA rates across HSAs in multilevel regression models, with incremental adjustment for procedure year, age, sex, language, urbanization, socioeconomic factors, burden of disease, and the number of orthopedic surgeons.ResultsOverall, 69,578 HA and 69,899 KA from 55 HSAs were analyzed. The mean age-/sex-standardized HA rate was 265 (range 179-342) and KA rate was 256 (range 186-378) per 100,000 persons and increased over time. The EQ was 1.9 for HA and 2.5 for KA. The SCV was 2.0 for HA and 2.2 for KA, indicating a low variation across HSAs. When adjusted for procedure year and demographic, cultural, and sociodemographic factors, the models explained 75% of the variance in HA and 63% in KA across Swiss HSAs.ConclusionSwitzerland has high HA/KA rates with a modest regional variation, suggesting that the threshold to perform HA/KA may be uniformly low across regions. One third of the variation remained unexplained and may, at least in part, represent differing physician beliefs and attitudes towards joint arthroplasty.
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Project description:To better understand the risk of secondary vertebral compression fracture (VCF) following a vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, we compared patients treated with those procedures to patients with a previous VCF. The risk of subsequent fracture was significantly greater among treatment patients, especially within 90 days of the procedure.Predominantly uncontrolled studies suggest a greater risk of subsequent vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) associated with vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty. To further understand this risk, we conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using data from a large regional health insurer.Administrative claims procedure codes were used to identify patients receiving either a vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty (treatment group) and a comparison group of patients with a primary diagnosis of VCF who did not receive treatment during the same time period. The main outcomes of interest, validated by two independent medical record reviewers, were any new VCFs within (1) 90 days, (2) 360 days, and (3) at adjacent vertebral levels. Multivariable logistic regression examined the association of vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty with new VCFs.Among 48 treatment (51% vertebroplasty, 49% kyphoplasty) and 164 comparison patients, treated patients had a significantly greater risk of secondary VCFs than comparison patients for fractures within 90 days of the procedure or comparison group time point [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 6.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-26.9] and within 360 days (adjusted OR = 2.9; 95% CI 1.1-7.9).Patients who had undergone vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty had a greater risk of new VCFs compared to patients with prior VCFs who did not undergo either procedure.
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Project description:The cost-effectiveness of surgical versus conservative medical management of vertebral compression fractures in the US was analyzed in the context of inpatient versus outpatient treatment. Surgical intervention (balloon kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty) was found to be cost-effective relative to conservative medical management at a US willingness-to-pay threshold.IntroductionTo date, only one published study has evaluated the cost-effectiveness (C/E) of balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) or vertebroplasty (VP) in US Medicare patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. This study further evaluates the C/E of surgical treatment vs. conservative medical management (CMM), expanding on prior modeling by accounting for quality-adjusted life-years gained.MethodsA Markov microsimulation model of 1000 patients was constructed. Cost data were based on an analysis of Medicare claims payments, with propensity-score matching performed for BKP and VP vs. controls (CMM). Mortality inputs were based on US life tables, modified to account for age at initial fracture, presence of subsequent fracture(s), and relative risk of mortality by treatment. Separate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for BKP and VP in inpatient and outpatient surgical treatment locations to account for individual clinical profiles presenting to each.ResultsThe discounted ICER for inpatient BKP vs. CMM was $43,455 per QALY gained; for outpatient BKP vs. CMM, $10,922; for inpatient VP vs. CMM, $39,774; and for outpatient VP vs. CMM, $12,293. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed that both BKP and VP would be considered C/E vs. CMM at a US willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $50,000/QALY in 80% and 100% of 500 model simulations, respectively. The most sensitive parameters included quality of life estimates and hazard ratios for mortality.ConclusionWhile VP and BKP are more expensive treatment options than CMM in the short term, model results suggest interventional treatment is cost-effective, among patients eligible for surgery, at a US WTP threshold. This conclusion supports those from economic analyses conducted in EU-member countries.
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Project description:STUDY DESIGN: Comparative effectiveness review. STUDY RATIONALE: The spine is among the most common location for bony metastases. In many cases these metastases cause fractures leading to increased morbidity. Percutaneous cement augmentation techniques have been developed over the past decades for the treatment of these fractures; however, there are little data comparing these interventions. CLINICAL QUESTION: Do comparative studies of vertebral cement augmentation for fractures caused by spinal tumors provide evidence of improved patient outcomes? METHODS: A systematic search and review of the literature was undertaken to identify studies published through June 8, 2011. Two individuals independently reviewed articles based on inclusion and exclusion criteria which were set a priori. Each article was evaluated using a predefined quality-rating system and an overall strength of evidence determined. RESULTS: The literature consists primarily of case series. Only two studies comparing vertebroplasty with kyphoplasty were found. Pain scores in both treatment groups were significantly decreased relative to preoperative scores and appear to have been sustained at follow-up times to 1 year. It is unclear whether one treatment provided superior pain relief than the other. Both studies reported decreased analgesic use after both treatments but neither study compared use between treatment groups. Balloon rupture occurred in one kyphoplasty patient in one study and extravasation of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement into the anterior perivertebral soft tissue was seen in another patient in the vertebroplasty group and no patients in the kyphoplasty group in the other study. No other intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: There is only limited evidence from comparative studies (two small retrospective cohort studies) regarding the benefits of vertebroplasty versus kyphoplasty in patients with spinal fractures caused by tumors. Both appear to be effective in reducing pain with relatively few complications. Whether one method provides superior results over the other cannot be determined from the available evidence. Study limitations preclude making definitive conclusions. The overall strength of evidenced is very low.
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Project description:This clinical trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. (NCT02476981)This randomized, prospective double-blind study compared remifentanil with dexmedetomidine for monitored anaesthesia care during minimally invasive corrections of vertebral compression fractures (vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty).Patients?>?65 years of age with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification I-III, scheduled for vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty under monitored anaesthesia care, received remifentanil (i.v. infusion 1-5?µg/kg/h) or dexmedetomidine (loading dose 0.3-0.4?µg/kg followed by i.v. infusion 0.2-1?µg/kg/h) to maintain observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S) scale <4 during the procedure.There were no statistically significant differences in demographic data between the remifentanil (n?=?37) and dexmedetomidine groups (n?=?38). Patients on dexmedetomidine experienced lower mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR), and higher SpO2 values, than patients on remifentanil. Compared with dexmedetomidine, remifentanil produced more respiratory depression, oxygen desaturation, and reduced the need for additional intraoperative opioids. There were no significant between-group differences in terms of recovery time, investigators' satisfaction scores, or patients' overall pain experiences.During monitored anaesthesia care, dexmedetomidine provides less respiratory depression, lower MAP and HR, but also less analgesic effect than remifentanil in elderly patients undergoing vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty.
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