Patient “No-Show” Prior to Elective Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Increases Risk of Postoperative Anemia

Abstract

Background

Patients who “no-show” (NS) clinical appointments are at a higher risk of poor healthcare outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize the relationship between patient NS prior to primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 90-day complication risk after THA.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 4147 patients undergoing primary THA. Patients were divided based on whether they NS at least 1 appointment vs always attend (AA) appointments. Information collected included number of NS and attended appointments, demographics, comorbidities, and 90-day postoperative complications. Regression analyses were run to identify relationships between NS status and postoperative outcomes, as well as factors that would predict NS status.

Results

Compared to AA patients, NS patients had an increased odds of a postoperative complication (odds ratio:1.3, P = .0005), specifically postoperative anemia (odds ratio: 1.3, P = .0004). When comparing NS and AA patients who both experienced postoperative anemia-related complications, the NS patients had significantly greater intraoperative blood loss compared to AA patients (mean ± standard deviation: 412.6 mL ± 310.2 vs 357.3 mL ± 269.0, P = .028). NS patients also had a greater rate of symptomatic anemia compared to AA patients (100 [3%] vs 25 cases [2%], P = .018). Age, smoking status, gender, race, body mass index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and insurance status were independent predictors of missing clinical appointments.

Conclusions

There was an increased risk for complications, specifically anemia-related complications, in THA patients who NS preoperatively. Demographic factors were independently associated with higher odds of missing a scheduled clinical appointment. The results suggest orthopedic surgeons should consider NS data to pre-emptively assess risk for complications following THA.

Level of Evidence

Level III.