Applicability of large databases in outcomes research

Prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities among women undergoing free tissue autologous breast reconstruction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Autologous breast reconstruction (BR) can be a stressful life event. Therefore, women undergoing mastectomy and autologous BR are required to have sufficient coping mechanisms. Although mental health problems are widespread, information regarding the prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis among these patients is scarce.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was performed using data from a large tertiary teaching hospital and the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Patients undergoing autologous BR after mastectomy were included and evaluated for psychiatric disorders. Prevalence of each disorder, timing of diagnosis (preoperative or postoperative), and data per age group were reviewed.

RESULTS

Between 2004 and 2014, 817 patients were included from the institutional database and 26 399 from the NIS database. Preoperatively, 15.3% of the patients were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within our institution and 17.6% nationwide (P < 0.001). Postoperatively, 20.5% of the institutional patients were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. No major differences in prevalence were seen between age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately, one in six patients were diagnosed with a psychiatric comorbidity preoperatively. Postoperatively, an additional 20.5% developed a psychiatric disorder. There was no difference in prevalence and timing of diagnosis between age groups.

Measuring Functional and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Treatment of Mutilating Hand Injuries: A Global Health Approach

Understanding the global burden of trauma, particularly upper extremity trauma, is necessary in addressing the need for surgical services. Critical to that mission is to understand, and accurately measure, disability and related disability-adjusted life-years from massive upper extremity trauma. The impact of these injuries is magnified when considering that they frequently occur to young people in prime working years. This article discusses these social and medical system issues and reviews components of a comprehensive approach to measuring outcomes after these injuries. Patient-reported outcomes are highlighted. Methods of optimizing outcomes measurements and studies, disability assessments, and associated research are also discussed.

So You Have a Research Idea: A Survey of Databases Available for Plastic Surgery Research

Plastic surgery research using large databases has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. With the magnitude and breadth of information available in these databases, researchers are able to more easily answer a wide variety of research questions. This study sought to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of the relevant databases for plastic surgery research. Database information, data collection methods, acquisition details, and variable availability were collected for 19 large databases. Examples of potential future research utility were ascribed to each database based on this comprehensive analysis. With a greater understanding of the content, strengths, and limitations of these databases, researchers will be better equipped to select the most appropriate database to answer a specific research question.

The utility of medico-legal databases for public health research: a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications using the National Coronial Information System

BACKGROUND

Medico-legal death investigations are a recognised data source for public health endeavours and its accessibility has increased following the development of electronic data systems. Despite time and cost savings, the strengths and limitations of this method and impact on research findings remain untested. This study examines this issue using the National Coronial Information System (NCIS).

METHODS

PubMed, ProQuest and Informit were searched to identify publications where the NCIS was used as a data source for research published during the period 2000-2014. A descriptive analysis was performed to describe the frequency and characteristics of the publications identified. A content analysis was performed to identify the nature and impact of strengths and limitations of the NCIS as reported by researchers.

RESULTS

Of the 106 publications included, 30 reported strengths and limitations, 37 reported limitations only, seven reported strengths only and 32 reported neither. The impact of the reported strengths of the NCIS was described in 14 publications, whilst 46 publications discussed the impacts of limitations. The NCIS was reported to be a reliable source of quality, detailed information with comprehensive coverage of deaths of interest, making it a powerful injury surveillance tool. Despite these strengths, researchers reported that open cases and missing information created the potential for selection and reporting biases and may preclude the identification and control of confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

To ensure research results are valid and inform health policy, it is essential to consider and seek to overcome the limitations of data sources that may have an impact on results.

Mortality after distal radial fractures in the Medicare population

The occurrence of a low energy fracture of the distal radius increases the risk for another, more serious fracture, such as a proximal femoral fracture. Early mortality after a proximal femoral fracture has been widely studied, but the association between a distal radial fracture and mortality is unknown. The date of death for all Medicare beneficiaries who sustained an isolated distal radial fracture in 2007 was determined using Medicare Vital Statistics files. The adjusted mortality rate for each age-sex group was calculated and compared with published US mortality tables. Distal radial fractures were not associated with an increased mortality rate. In fact, beneficiaries had a significantly lower mortality rate after distal radial fractures than the general population. This may be related to the injured beneficiaries' involvement in the healthcare system. Mortality rate did not vary significantly based on time from injury. Our results indicate that any mortality is unlikely to be attributable to the distal radial fracture or its treatment. Level of evidence: III.

Can Administrative Data Be Used to Analyze Complications Following Total Joint Arthroplasty?

We hypothesized that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Limited Dataset (CMS-LDS) could be used to validate the complications associated with total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) endorsed by the Hip and Knee Societies. Using ICD-9 procedure and diagnosis codes, cases were extracted from the first three quarters of the 2009 CMS-LDS to allow all complications within 90-days be captured in the same calendar year. We were unable to validate the Hip and Knee Societies' complications as we could not connect readmissions or outpatient visits to index admissions. In addition, well-known complications were not detected, raising concerns about coding accuracy and stratification. Furthermore, the assignment of outpatient and inpatient codes allows for duplication of complications which may falsely elevate the true incidence.

Comparative effectiveness research in hand surgery

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is a concept initiated by the Institute of Medicine and financially supported by the federal government. The primary objective of CER is to improve decision making in medicine. This research is intended to evaluate the effectiveness, benefits, and harmful effects of alternative interventions. CER studies are commonly large, simple, observational, and conducted using electronic databases. To date, there is little comparative effectiveness evidence within hand surgery to guide therapeutic decisions. To draw conclusions on effectiveness through electronic health records, databases must contain clinical information and outcomes relevant to hand surgery interventions, such as patient-related outcomes.