Projected Increase in Periprosthetic Joint Infections Secondary to Rise in Diabetes and Obesity

Total joint arthroplasties (TJAs) are projected to increase, along with increased complications like periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). However, no study has projected TJAs secondary to PJI and how these relate to comorbidities in these patients. The NIS database was assessed from 1993 to 2000 to evaluate primary and revision TJAs, and projections were made until 2028. ICD-9 codes were used to identify patients with obesity, diabetes, and PJI. Rates of diabetes and adult obesity are predicted to increase for both genders, and patients receiving revision surgery for PJI are predicted to increase over time; males had higher rates than females. With an exponential increase of PJI secondary to diabetes and obesity, it is imperative that orthopedists intervene in these patients prior to TJA to decrease PJI’s burden.