National trends in utilization, mortality, and survival after repair of type B aortic dissection in the Medicare population

J Vasc Surg. 2014 Jul;60(1):11-9, 19.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2013.12.047. Epub 2014 Feb 28.

Abstract

Objective: The application of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has changed treatment paradigms for thoracic aortic disease. We sought to better define specific treatment patterns and outcomes for type B aortic dissection treated with TEVAR or open surgical repair (OSR).

Methods: Medicare patients undergoing type B thoracic aortic dissection repair (2000-2010) were identified by use of a validated International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnostic and procedural code-based algorithm. Trends in utilization were analyzed by procedure type (OSR vs TEVAR), and patterns in patient characteristics and outcomes were examined.

Results: Total thoracic aortic dissection repairs increased by 21% between 2000 and 2010 (2.5 to 3 per 100,000 Medicare patients; P = .001). A concomitant increase in TEVAR was seen during the same interval (0.03 to 0.8 per 100,000; P < .001). By 2010, TEVAR represented 27% of all repairs. TEVAR patients had higher rates of comorbid congestive heart failure (12% vs 9%; P < .001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (17% vs 10%; P < .001), diabetes (8% vs 5%; P < .001), and chronic renal failure (8% vs 3%; P < .001) compared with OSR patients. For all repairs, patient comorbidity burden increased over time (mean Charlson comorbidity score of 0.79 in 2000, 1.10 in 2010; P = .04). During this same interval, in-hospital mortality rates declined from 47% to 23% (P < .001), a trend seen in both TEVAR and OSR patients. Whereas in-hospital mortality rates and 3-year survival were similar between patients selected for TEVAR and OSR, there was a trend toward women having slightly lower 3-year survival after TEVAR (60% women vs 63% men; P = .07).

Conclusions: Surgical treatment of type B aortic dissection has increased over time, reflecting an increase in the utilization of TEVAR. Overall, type B dissection repairs are currently performed at lower mortality risk in patients with more comorbidities.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angioplasty* / methods
  • Angioplasty* / mortality
  • Angioplasty* / statistics & numerical data
  • Aortic Aneurysm / classification
  • Aortic Aneurysm / mortality*
  • Aortic Aneurysm / therapy*
  • Aortic Dissection / classification
  • Aortic Dissection / mortality*
  • Aortic Dissection / therapy*
  • Comorbidity
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / epidemiology
  • Hospital Mortality / trends
  • Humans
  • International Classification of Diseases
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Medicare / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / epidemiology
  • Sex Factors
  • Survival Rate / trends
  • United States / epidemiology