Cost variation of nonelective surgery for ulcerative colitis across the United States

Although clinical outcomes of surgery for ulcerative colitis (UC) have improved in the modern biologic era, expenditures continue to increase. A contemporary cost analysis of UC operative care is lacking. The present study aimed to characterize risk factors and center-level variation in hospitalization costs after nonelective resection for UC.

All adults with UC in the 2016-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database undergoing nonelective colectomy or rectal resection were identified. Mixed-effects models were developed to evaluate patient and hospital factors associated with costs. Random effects were estimated and used to rank hospitals by increasing risk-adjusted center-level costs. High-cost hospitals (HCHs) in the top decile of expenditure were identified, and their association with select outcomes was subsequently assessed.

An estimated 10,280 patients met study criteria with median index hospitalization costs of $40,300 (IQR, $26,400-$65,000). Increased time to surgery was significantly associated with a +$2500 increment in costs per day. Compared with low-volume hospitals, medium- and high-volume centers demonstrated a -$5900 and -$8200 reduction in costs, respectively. Approximately 19.2% of variability in costs was attributable to interhospital differences rather than patient factors. Although mortality and readmission rates were similar, HCH status was significantly associated with increased complications (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.39), length of stay (+10.1 days), and nonhome discharge (AOR, 1.78).

The present work identified significant hospital-level variation in the costs of nonelective operations for UC. Further efforts to optimize time to surgery and regionalize care to higher-volume centers may improve the value of UC surgical care in the United States.