Abstract
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most frequent orthopaedic surgeries. The
purpose of this study was to determine the 30-day postoperative mortality rate, total
episode-of-care costs, and prognostic factors associated with these outcomes, for
adult patients who underwent TKA in Colombia's contributory health care system. A
retrospective cohort study of all adult patients enrolled in Colombia's contributory
health system, who underwent TKA between January 1, 2012 and November 30, 2015 was
performed. Thirty-day postoperative mortality rates, 30-day ICU admissions rates,
30-day hospital readmission rates, 1-year arthroplasty revision rates, and total episode-of-care
costs were estimated. Multilevel, generalized linear models were generated, to determine
the prognostic factors associated with outcomes presented. A total of 12,453 patients
were included. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.13 per 100 surgeries and the ICU admissions
rate at 30 days postoperative was 4.44 per 100 surgeries. The 30-day hospital readmission
rate was 4.28 per 100 surgeries and the 1-year arthroplasty revision rate was 1.22
per 100 surgeries. The prognostic factors associated with mortality were age, Charlson
Index, and type of insurer. The prognostic factors associated with hospital readmission
were age category, Charlson Index, and geographic region; younger age and higher Charlson
Index were found to be associated with a higher 1-year arthroplasty revision rate.
The median of total episode-of-care costs was USD$ 6,190.07 (interquartile range:
2,299–7,282). The multivariate model found that age, the Charlson Index, the Atlantic
region, and type of insurer were associated with the costs incurred by the health
system. For patients undergoing TKA in Colombia, age, the Charlson Index, insurers,
and geographic region are associated with mortality, ICU admissions, 30-day hospital
readmissions, 1-year arthroplasty revisions, and total costs incurred by the health
system.
Keywords total knee arthroplasty - costs - developing country - Charlson Index - Likelihood
rate