Opioid Use Disorder Increases Readmissions After Cardiac Surgery: A Call to Action.

BACKGROUND

Owing to the opioid epidemic, more cardiac surgery patients present with opioid use disorder (OUD). A better understanding of national readmissions among these patients is necessary to improve outcomes and optimize resource utilization. We sought to examine the effect of OUD on readmission after cardiac surgery.

METHODS

Of 555 394 cardiac surgery patients from 2016 to 2017 in the Nationwide Readmissions Database, 6082 (1.1%) presented with OUD. These patients were assessed at 30, 90, and 180 days after discharge. The OUD patients and non-OUD patients were propensity score matched for patient- and procedure-level characteristics. Kaplan-Meier curves were compared using the log rank test.

RESULTS

First-time readmissions were significantly higher among patients with OUD (30 days 19.7% vs 15.7%, P = .04; 90 days 31.8% vs 24.2%, P < .0001; and 180 days 42.3% vs 30.6%, P < .0001). There was a trend toward higher reoperation by 180 days, with 90% of those being isolated valve surgery. By 180 days, significantly more OUD patients had three or more readmissions (7.8% vs 4.5%) compared with non-OUD patients. Yet, only 2.4% of OUD patients received any counseling or treatment for substance abuse during the index admission. The most common readmitting diagnosis was infection (55% vs 41%, P < .0001) including endocarditis, prosthetic infections, and skin or subcutaneous infections. Respiratory failure, opioid overdose, and acute pain were also more common among patients with OUD.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac surgery patients with OUD have multiple readmissions but are rarely provided adequate addiction management during their index admission. Greater emphasis on multidisciplinary management is necessary to limit costs and morbidity associated with readmission or reoperation.