This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Age, obesity and diabetes increase costs for anterior cervical fusion
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Several patient comorbidities were predictive of increased hospital costs during an anterior cervical fusion surgery, according to a recently published study.
Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 1,082 patients who underwent elective one- or two-level anterior cervical fusions (ACFs) at the researchers’ institution. The researchers used multivariate linear regression models to analyze the independent effects preoperative patient characteristics had on total hospital costs, and a univariate analysis was used to examine comorbidities on operative time, length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and complications.
The average cost for an ACF in this cohort was $15,037, with a standard deviation (SD) of $3,191, according to data in the study.
Researchers found age, obesity and diabetes had a direct influence on increased hospital costs for an ACF. Age of 65 years and older had a direct effect on length of stay, increasing the average length of stay by 2.38 days (SD, 1.56), as well as the rate of complications.
Diabetes increased LOS and complications, but not operative time, and obesity did not affect either length of stay or complications, but did have an effect on the overall cost of the procedure, according to the researchers.
The researchers found obesity, age and diabetes were associated with an average increased hospital cost of $1,404 for an ACF. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts