Obstructive sleep apnea surgery practice patterns in the United States: 2000 to 2006

To determine obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgical volume, types, costs, and trends. To explore whether specific patient and hospital characteristics are associated with the performance of isolated palate versus hypopharyngeal surgery and with costs.

Cross-sectional study.

Inpatient and outpatient medical facilities in the United States.

OSA procedures were identified in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 2000, 2004, and 2006 and from State Ambulatory Surgery Databases and State Inpatient Databases for 2006 from four representative states (California, New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin). National combined inpatient and outpatient surgery estimates for 2006 were generated using a combination of databases. Chi-square and regression analysis examined procedure volume and type and inpatient procedure costs.

In 2006, an estimated 35,263 surgeries were performed in inpatient and outpatient settings, including 33,087 palate, 6561 hypopharyngeal, and 1378 maxillomandibular advancement procedures. The odds of undergoing isolated palate surgery were higher for younger (18-39 yrs) and black patients. Outpatient procedures were more common than inpatient procedures. Inpatient surgical volume declined from 2000 to 2006, but it was not possible to evaluate trends in total volumes. In 2006, mean costs were approximately $6000 per admission. For inpatient procedures in 2004 and 2006, costs were higher for hypopharyngeal (vs isolated palate) surgery, in rural hospitals, and for patients who were younger, with greater medical comorbidity, and with primary Medicaid coverage.

Surgical treatment is performed in 0.2 percent of all adults with OSA annually. Validation of the exploratory findings concerning procedure type and cost requires additional studies, ideally including adjustment for clinical factors.