Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common hemoglobinopathy in the United States. It is associated with increased rates of postoperative complications, which are associated with higher costs and readmissions. This retrospective cohort study examines how SCD influences postoperative complications and readmissions after appendectomy, cholecystectomy, and hysterectomy.
The researchers used data from 2007-2014 from California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, and New York. A total of 1,934,562 patients aged 18 and older were included in the study. Compared to patients without SCD, patients with SCD were found to have increased odds of complications, readmission, and blood transfusion. They also experienced longer hospital stays and higher total hospital charges.
The researchers concluded that patients with SCD are at high risk for poor outcomes based on demographic characteristics, including race and socioeconomic conditions. They urge all healthcare providers who deal with SCD to inform their patients about the risks of surgery associated with their disease [1].
Source:
[1] Brumm, J., White, R. S., Arroyo, N. S., Gaber-Baylis, L. K., Gupta, S., Turnbull, Z. A., & Mehta, N. (2020). Sickle Cell Disease is Associated with Increased Morbidity, Resource Utilization, and Readmissions after Common Abdominal Surgeries: A Multistate Analysis, 2007–2014. Journal of the National Medical Association, 112(2), 198–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2020.01.001
