title: Who Gets Early Tracheostomy?: Evidence of Unequal Treatment at 185 Academic Medical Centers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the benefits of early tracheostomy in patients dependent on ventilators are well established, the reasons for variation in time from intubation to tracheostomy remain unclear. We identified clinical and demographic disparities in time to tracheostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a level 3 retrospective prognostic study by querying the University HealthSystem Consortium (2007-2010) for adult patients receiving a tracheostomy after initial intubation. Time to tracheostomy was designated early (< 7 days) or late (> 10 days). Cohorts were stratified by time to tracheostomy and compared using univariate tests of association and multivariable adjusted models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 49,191 patients underwent tracheostomy after initial intubation: 42% early (n = 21,029) and 58% late (n = 28,162). On both univariate and multivariable analyses, women, blacks, Hispanics, and patients receiving Medicaid were less likely to receive an early tracheostomy. Patients in the early group also experienced lower rates of mortality (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79-0.88).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early tracheostomy was associated with increased survival. Yet, there were still significant disparities in time to tracheostomy according to sex, race, and type of insurance. Application of evidence-based algorithms for tracheostomy may reduce unequal treatment and improve overall mortality rates. Additional research into this apparent bias in referral/rendering of tracheostomy is needed.
authors: Department of Surgery and the Center for Outcomes Research-Surgical Research Scholars Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.
authors: Joshua J
authors: JJ
authors: Shaw
authors: Department of Surgery and the Center for Outcomes Research-Surgical Research Scholars Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA; Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA. Electronic address: heena.santry@umassmemorial.org.
authors: Heena P
authors: HP
authors: Santry
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States