Association Between Nonsurgical Weight Loss From Body Mass Index >40 to Body Mass Index <40 and Complications and Readmissions Following Total Hip Arthroplasty

Austin H. Middleton*, Andrew D. Kleven, Ashley E. Creager, Ryan Hanson, Sergey S. Tarima, Adam I. Edelstein

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Elevated body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for adverse outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA). It is unknown if preoperative weight loss to a BMI <40 kg/m2 is associated with reduced risk of adverse outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed elective, primary THA performed at an academic center from 2015 to 2019. Patients were split into groups based on their BMI trajectory prior to THA: BMI consistently <40 (“BMI <40”); BMI >40 at the time of surgery (“BMI >40”); and BMI >40 within 2 years preoperatively, but <40 at the time of surgery (“Weight Loss”). Length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmissions, and complications as defined by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were compared between groups using parsimonious regression models and Fisher's exact testing. Adjusted analyses controlled for sex, age, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class. Results: In total, 1589 patients were included (BMI <40: 1387, BMI >40: 96, Weight Loss: 106). The rate of complications in each group was 3.5%, 6.3%, and 8.5% and the rate of 30-day readmissions was 3.0%, 4.2%, and 7.5%, respectively. Compared to the BMI <40 group, the weight loss group had a significantly higher risk of 30-day readmission (odds ratio [OR] 2.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-6.17, P = .02), higher risk of any complication (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.09-5.59, P = .03), higher risk of mechanical complications (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.14-8.25, P = .03), and longer median LOS (16% increase, P = .002). The BMI >40 group had increased median LOS (10% increase, P = .03), but no difference in readmission or complications (P > .05) compared to BMI <40. Conclusion: Weight loss from BMI >40 to BMI <40 prior to THA was associated with increased risk of readmission and complications compared to BMI <40, whereas BMI >40 was not. Level of evidence: Level III – Retrospective Cohort Study.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)518-523
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Arthroplasty
Volume37
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • BMI
  • complication
  • readmission
  • total hip arthroplasty
  • weight loss

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Association Between Nonsurgical Weight Loss From Body Mass Index >40 to Body Mass Index <40 and Complications and Readmissions Following Total Hip Arthroplasty'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this