Utilization of comorbidity indices to predict discharge destination and complications following total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Comorbidity indices can help identify patients at risk for postoperative complications. Purpose of this study was to compare different comorbidity indices to predict discharge destination and complications after shoulder arthroplasty.

Methods: Retrospective review of institutional shoulder arthroplasty database of primary anatomic (TSA) and reverse (RSA) shoulder arthroplasties. Patient demographic information was collected in order to calculate Modified Frailty Index (mFI-5), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), age adjusted CCI (age-CCI), and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system (ASA). Statistical analysis performed to analyze length of stay (LOS), discharge destination, and 90-day complications.

Results: There were 1365 patients included with 672 TSA and 693 RSA patients. RSA patients were older and had higher CCI, age adjusted CCI, ASA, and mFI-5 ( < 0.001). RSA patients had longer lengths of stay (LOS), more likely to have an adverse discharge ( < 0.001), and higher reoperation rate ( = 0.003). Age-CCI was most predictive of adverse discharge (AUC 0.721, 95% CI 0.704-0.768).

Discussion: Patients undergoing RSA had more medical comorbidities, experienced greater LOS, higher reoperation rate, and were more likely to have an adverse discharge. Age-CCI had the best ability to predict which patients were likely to require higher-level discharge planning.