Cardiac and Thromboembolic Complications and Mortality in Patients Undergoing Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty

Method

In a population-based cohort of all Olmsted County residents who underwent a THA or TKA between 1994 and 2008, we assessed 90-day occurrence and predictors of cardiac complications (myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia or congestive heart failure), thromboembolic complications (deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE)) and mortality.

Results

Among the Olmsted County THA and TKA cohorts, 90-day complication rates were as follows: cardiac, 15.8% and 6.9%; thromboembolic, 4.9% and 4.0%; and mortality, 0.7% and 0.4%, respectively. Unadjusted frequency of cardiac/thromboembolic events differed by history of prior respective event. In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses, ASA class III–IV (OR, 6.1, 95% CI:1.6, 22.8) and higher Deyo-Charlson comorbidity score (OR, 1.2, 95% CI:1.0,1.4) were significantly associated with odds of 90-day cardiac event post-THA in patients with no known prior cardiac event. In those with known prior cardiac disease, ASA class III–IV (OR, 4.4, 95% CI:2.0, 9.9), male gender (OR, 0.5, 95% CI:0.3,0.9) and history of thromboembolic disease (OR, 3.2; 95% CI:1.4,7.0) were significantly associated with odds of cardiac complication 90-day post-THA. No significant predictors of thromboembolism were found in THA patients.

In TKA patients with no prior cardiac history, age >65 years (OR, 4.1, 95% CI:1.2, 14.0), and ASA class III–IV (OR, 2.8, 95% CI:1.1,6.8) and in TKA patients with known cardiac disease, ASA class III–IV (OR, 3.2, 95% CI:1.8,5.7) was significantly associated with odds of 90-day cardiac event. In TKA patients with no prior thromboembolic disease, male gender (OR, 0.5, 95% CI:0.2,0.9) and higher Charlson index (OR, 1.2, 95% CI:1.1,1.3) and in patients with known thromboembolic disease, higher Charlson index score (OR, 1.1, 95% CI:1.1,1.4) was associated with odds of 90-day thromboembolic event.