Crohn’s Disease is Associated with Longer In-Hospital Lengths of Stay and Higher Rates of Complications and Costs after Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

As the incidence and prevalence of Crohn’s disease continues to change worldwide, rates within North America have been increasing. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether patients who have Crohn’s disease undergoing primary total hip arthroplasties have worse outcomes compared with matched cohorts. Specifically, we evaluated 1) medical complications, 2) in-hospital lengths of stay (LOS), and 3) costs of care.

Two cohorts of patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasties from January 1, 2005 to March 31, 2014 were identified from the Medicare claims of the PearlDiver platform. Cohorts were matched by age, sex, and following comorbidities—anemia, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, malnutrition, pulmonary disease, and renal failure, yielding 55,361 patients within the study (n = 9229) and matching cohorts (n = 46,132). Outcomes assessed included 90-day medical complications, in-hospital LOS, and costs of care. A P-value less than .005 was considered statistically significant.

Patients with Crohn’s disease were found to have significantly higher incidences and odds ratios of 90-day medical complications (30.2 vs 13.8; odds ratios: 2.2, P < .0001). They were also found to have significantly longer LOS (3.8- vs 3.6-days, P < .0001) and higher day of surgery ($12,662.00 vs 12,271.15, P < .0001) and 90-day episode costs ($16,933.18 vs $15,670.32, P < .0001).

Crohn’s disease is associated with higher rates of medical complications, longer in-hospital LOS, and increased costs of care. This study may aid physicians to perform appropriate risk adjustment for adverse outcomes and to educate these patients about potential postoperative complications in these patients.