Do-Not-Resuscitate status as an independent risk factor for patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture

AIM: To determine morbidity and mortality in hip fracture patients and also to assess for any independent associations between Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) status and increased post-operative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgical repair of hip fractures. METHODS: We conducted a propensity score matched retrospective analysis using de-identified data from the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (ACS NSQIP) for all patients undergoing hip fracture surgery over a 7 year period in hospitals across the United States enrolled in the ACS NSQIP with and without DNR status. We measured patient demographics including DNR status, co-morbidities, frailty and functional baseline, surgical and anaesthetic procedure data, post-operative morbidity/complications, length of stay, discharge destination and mortality. RESULTS: Of 9218 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 13.6% had a DNR status, 86.4% did not. Mortality was higher in the DNR compared to the non-DNR group, at 15.3% vs 8.1% and propensity score matched multivariable analysis demonstrated that DNR status was independently associated with mortality (OR = 2.04, 95%CI: 1.46-2.86, P < 0.001). Additionally, analysis of the propensity score matched cohort demonstrated that DNR status was associated with a significant, but very small increased likelihood of post-operative complications (0.53 vs 0.43 complications per episode; OR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.04-1.41, P = 0.004). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and unplanned reintubation were significantly less likely in patients with DNR status. CONCLUSION: While DNR status patients had higher rates of post-operative complications and mortality, DNR status itself was not otherwise associated with increased morbidity. DNR status appears to increase 30-d mortality via ceilings of care in keeping with a DNR status, including withholding reintubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.