Moderating Effects of Immunosuppressive Medications and Risk Factors for Post-Operative Joint Infection Following Total Joint Arthroplasty in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis or Osteoarthritis
Elizabeth Salt, PhD, APRN,1 Amanda T. Wiggins, PhD,2 Mary Kay Rayens, PhD,3 Brent J. Morris, MD,4 David Mannino, MD,5 Andrew Hoellein, MD,6 Ryan P. Donegan, MD,7 and Leslie J. Crofford, MD8Hip Knee Shoulder
Objective
Inconclusive findings about infection risks, importantly the use of immunosuppressive medications, in patients who have undergone large-joint total joint arthroplasty challenge efforts to provide evidenced-based perioperative total joint arthroplasty recommendations to improve surgical outcomes. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe risk factors for developing a postoperative infection in patients undergoing TJA of a large joint [total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, or total shoulder arthroplasty] by identifying clinical and demographic factors, including the use of high risk medications (i.e., prednisone and immunosuppressive medications) and diagnoses (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis [RA], osteoarthritis [OA], gout, obesity, diabetes mellitus), that are linked to infection status, controlling for length of follow-up.
Methods
A retrospective, case-control study (N = 2,212) using de-identified patient health claims information from a commercially-insured, U.S. dataset representing 15 million patients annually (January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2009) was conducted. Descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and multivariate logistic regression were used.
Results
Male gender (OR = 1.42; p < .001), diagnosis of RA (OR = 1.47; p = .031), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.38, p = .001), obesity (OR = 1.66, p < .001) or gout (OR = 1.95; p = .001), and a prescription for prednisone (OR = 1.59; p < .001) predicted a post-operative infection following total joint arthroplasty. Persons with post-operative joint infections were significantly more likely to be prescribed allopurinol (p = .002) and colchicine (p = .006; no significant difference was found for the use of specific disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and TNF-α inhibitors.
Conclusion
High-risk, post-operative joint infection groups were identified allowing for precautionary clinical measures to be taken.
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