Excess mortality caused by medical injury

Linda N. Meurer, Hongyan Yang, Clare E. Guse, Carla Russo, Karen J. Brasel, Peter M. Layde

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: We wanted to estimate excess risk of in-hospital mortality associated with medical injuries identified using an injury surveillance system, after controlling for risk of death resulting from comorbidities. METHODS: The Wisconsin Medical Injuries Prevention Program (WMIPP) screening criteria were used to identify medical injuries, defined as "any untoward harm associated with a therapeutic or diagnostic healthcare intervention," among discharge diagnoses for all 562,317 patients discharged from 134 acute care hospitals in Wisconsin in 2002. We then derived estimates for crude and adjusted relative risk of in-hospital mortality associated with the presence of a medical injury diagnosis. Logistic regression adjusted for baseline risk of mortality using a comorbidity index, age, sex, Diagnosis Related Groups, hospital characteristics, and clustering within hospital. RESULTS: There were 77,666 discharges that met WMIPP criteria for at least 1 medical injury (13.8%). Crude risk ratios for death ranged from 1.27 to 2.4 for those with medical injuries within 1 of 4 categories: drugs/biologics; devices, implants, and grafts; procedures; and radiation. After adjustment, estimates of excess mortality decreased, and significance persisted only for injuries related to procedures (39%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 28%-52%) and devices, implants, and grafts (16%; 95% CI, 3%-30%). CONCLUSIONS: Estimates of excess mortality that do not account for baseline mortality risk may be exaggerated. Findings have implications for the care family physicians provide in the hospital and for the advice they give their patients who are concerned about the risks of hospitalization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)410-416
Number of pages7
JournalAnnals of family medicine
Volume4
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adverse effects
  • Comorbidity
  • Hospital mortality
  • Iatrogenic disease
  • Medical errors
  • Medication errors
  • Postoperative complications
  • Quality of health care
  • Research methods
  • Safety, medical device

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Family Practice

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