Delayed Diagnostic Paracentesis Is Associated with Increased Preventable Healthcare Utilization in Disadvantaged Patient Populations with Advanced Liver Disease and Elevated INR

Abstract

Background: Patients hospitalized with cirrhosis, ascites, and elevated INR often experience delays in timely diagnostic paracentesis.

Aims: Identify whether delays in diagnostic paracentesis were associated with adverse outcomes in a hospital system serving a large disadvantaged population.

Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of patients admitted from January 2017 to October 2019 with cirrhosis, ascites, and INR ≥ 1.5 across a multi-hospital health system in central Texas. We examined demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with diagnostic paracentesis (1) ≤ 24 h; (2) > 24 h; (3) therapeutic only or no paracentesis. We used logistic regression to examine differences in clinical outcomes controlling for confounders.

Results: 479 patients met inclusion criteria. 30.0% (N = 143) were Latino, 6.7% (N = 32) African American, and 67.8% (N = 325) under or uninsured. 54.1% of patients received a diagnostic paracentesis ≤ 24 h of admission and 21.1% did not receive a diagnostic paracentesis during the hospitalization. Undergoing diagnostic paracentesis > 24 h of admission was associated with a 2.3 day increase in length of stay (95% CI 0.8-3.8), and OR 1.7 for an Emergency Room visit within 30 days of discharge (95% CI 1.1-2.7) compared to receiving a diagnostic paracentesis ≤ 24 h. Patients receiving diagnostic paracentesis in radiology were more likely to have a delay in procedure OR 5.8 (95% CI 2.8-8.6).

Conclusion: Delayed diagnostic paracentesis is associated with increased preventable healthcare utilization compared with timely diagnostic paracentesis. Health systems should support efforts to ensure timely diagnostic paracentesis for patients with advanced liver disease, including performance at the bedside.

Keywords: Ascites; Cirrhosis; Disadvantaged; Elevated INR; Paracentesis.