Disparities in unilateral knee replacement surgery have been documented and suggest lower utilization and higher complication rates among African American patients. While previous studies have focused on single knee replacement surgery, researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) set out to determine if racial variations exist for same-day bilateral knee replacement, as well.
The study was presented recently during a Poster Session at the virtual American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2020, according to a media release from HSS.
“In our retrospective analysis, we found the utilization rate of bilateral knee replacement was much lower in African American patients compared to white patients.
“On the other hand, although African Americans having unilateral knee replacement have been shown to have higher in-hospital complication rates compared to white patients, this pattern was not consistent for bilateral knee replacement during the time period we studied.”
— Bella Mehta, MBBS, MS, a rheumatologist at HSS
Trends in Utilization and Complications
Mehta and colleagues compiled information from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS)- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) database from 2007 to 2016. They looked at trends in utilization and major in-hospital complication rates of unilateral versus bilateral knee replacement nationwide in patients age 50 and older.
Investigators assessed racial differences over time, adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities; hospital variables, including hospital volume, number of beds, region and teaching status; and community level factors, such as median household income.
From 2007 to 2016, 5.5 million unilateral and 276,000 bilateral knee replacements were performed in the United States. The percentage of bilateral knee replacements declined from 5.53% in 2007-08 to 4.03% in 2015-16.
Double Knee Replacement Much Less Likely
The researchers found that African Americans were much less likely to undergo a double knee replacement compared to white patients during the years analyzed. In-hospital complication rates varied throughout the study period, with no significant difference between African American and white patients.
To explain the study findings concerning complication rates, Mehta says there could be a more rigorous patient selection process when considering candidates for same-day bilateral knee replacement.
Regarding the lower number of African Americans having the bilateral procedure, she adds that physicians may be offering it less often to African American patients or they may be choosing not to have the procedure, the release continues.
“Since the complication rate for bilateral knee replacement is not higher for African American patients, health providers should work to provide access to all appropriate patients.”
— Bella Mehta, MBBS, MS
Closer Look at Patient Selection or Insurance
She notes that future studies could take a closer look at the patient selection process or assess the role of an individual’s health insurance plan in utilization of the bilateral procedure.
“As we seek to achieve health equity for our patients, we must understand the challenges they face in accessing care, as well as variance in their outcomes.
“Our ultimate goal is to provide the same quality of care to everyone.”
— Michael L. Parks, MD, hip and knee surgeon at HSS and study author
Source(s): Hospital for Special Surgery, PR Newswire]
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