Clinical and Economical Outcomes Associated with Parathyroidectomy: A 5-Year Population-Based Study in a Middle-Income Country with Universal Health Coverage

Parathyroidectomy (PTX) is one of the most frequently performed surgeries in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The objective of this study was to determine the intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mortality and hospital readmission rates within the 30-day postoperative period, and the total cost of the care episode and to determine possible prognostic factors in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) adult patients taken to PTX in the Colombian contributory health system. Methods. Retrospective cohort study of ESRD adult patients affiliated to the Colombian contributory health system, on dialysis for at least 3 months, undergoing PTX between January 1, 2012, and November 30, 2016. The clinical outcomes evaluated were rehospitalization at 30 days, hospital stay, and ICU requirement. The costs associated with the hospitalization event in which the PTX was performed from the perspective of the third payer were estimated. Results. The study included 478 patients. The mortality rate was 2.09 per 100 surgeries, the ICU admission rate was 32.64 per 100 surgeries, the 30-day hospital readmission percentage of the postoperative period was 16.74%, and the average length of hospital stay was 5.02 days. The median total costs of care for the entire procedure was USD $ 7,814.27 (p25-p75: 3,922.03-9,372.68), with significant regional differences. The geographical region was shown as a prognostic factor associated with clinical outcomes and the cost of care. Conclusions. There are large regional differences in readmission, ICU admission and mortality rates, and costs of dialysis ESRD patients undergoing PTX belonging to the Colombian contributory regime. The geographic region behaves as an independent predictor of clinical outcomes and costs.