title: Improving Risk Adjustment Above Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Methodology Using Electronically Available Comorbid Conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE To identify comorbid conditions associated with surgical site infection (SSI) among patients undergoing renal transplantation and improve existing risk adjustment methodology used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). PATIENTS Patients (≥18 years) who underwent renal transplantation at University of Maryland Medical Center January 1, 2010-December 31, 2011. METHODS Trained infection preventionists reviewed medical records to identify surgical site infections that developed within 30 days after transplantation, using NHSN criteria. Patient demographic characteristics and risk factors for surgical site infections were identified through a central data repository. International Statistical Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to analyze individual component comorbid conditions and calculate the Charlson and Elixhauser comorbidity indices. These indices were compared with the current NHSN risk adjustment methodology. RESULTS A total of 441 patients were included in the final cohort. In bivariate analysis, the Charlson components of cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and rheumatologic disorders and Elixhauser components of obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and weight loss were significantly associated with the outcome. A model utilizing the variables from the NHSN methodology had a c-statistic of 0.56 (95% CI, 0.48-0.63), whereas a model that also included comorbidities from the Charlson and Elixhauser indices had a c-statistic of 0.65 (95% CI, 0.58-0.73). The model with all 3 risk adjustment scores performed best and was statistically different from the NHSN model alone, demonstrated by improvement in the c statistic (0.65 vs 0.56). CONCLUSION Risk adjustment models should incorporate electronically available comorbid conditions. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;1-6.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland.
authors.forename: Sarah S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland.
authors.forename: Surbhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leekha
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pineles
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland.
authors.forename: Laurence S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Magder
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland.
authors.forename: Kerri A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Thom
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland.
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020379:Risk Adjustment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States