Acute cholecystitis - infection of the gallbladder - is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions in the United States. Removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the only definitive treatment for acute cholecystitis. More than a third of patients with acute cholecystitis who do not undergo surgery will experience gallstone-related complications within 2 years of initial diagnosis. For this reason, cholecystectomy at the time of initial episode is considered the standard of care. Whether the risks of surgery are lower than the burdens of recurrent disease in patients with limited life-expectancy is unclear. Surgical decision-making for elder nursing home residents is challenging. Our overarching research objective is to improve care for nursing home residents by providing them and their health care providers realistic information about risks and benefits of treatment for common surgical diseases. For some conditions that are usually treated surgically, the risks of surgery for nursing home residents may outweigh the burdens of future disease complications that may never occur during their remaining lifetime. Nonsurgical therapies such as percutaneous gallbladder drainage or antibiotic therapy alone may be more appropriate. The objective of the proposed study is to better understand the use and outcomes of surgery and nonsurgical therapy to treat acute cholecystitis in elder nursing home residents. To inform nursing home residents and their health care providers about risks and benefits of different treatment strategies our project has three specific aims: [1) To evaluate current treatments for acute cholecystitis among nursing home residents and determine resident and provider characteristics associated with the use of cholecystectomy and nonsurgical treatment, 2) to identify determinants of short term outcomes after surgery and nonsurgical treatment among nursing home residents with acute cholecystitis and compare the outcomes of residents undergoing surgical v nonsurgical treatment and 3) to determine the association between resident and provider characteristics and longitudinal functional outcomes, survival, and recurrent gallbladder disease after initial treatment for acute cholecystitis and compare longitudinal outcomes of residents undergoing surgical and nonsurgical treatment. The approach is innovative because, in addition to comorbidity, we will evaluate the impact of cognitive and functional status - important and powerful predictors of life expectancy - on treatment choice and outcomes for acute cholecystitis in the entire nursing home population age 65 and older in the United States. This study is significant because currently there is no information about treatment and outcomes for this common disease in this large and vulnerable population. For individuals with limited life expectancy, determining the individualized treatment that alleviates suffering and best maintain function is essential. Better knowledge of the safety and effectiveness of alternative treatment strategies in subgroups of nursing home residents will minimize the harm of both under-treatment and overtreatment of this common disease.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed research will examine the use and outcomes of surgery and nonsurgical treatment for acute cholecystitis (infection of the gallbladder) among elder nursing home residents in the United States. Understanding realistic short and long-term risks and benefits of different treatments will guide surgical decision-making in this vulnerable, rapidly growing population. Data driven individualized treatment will reduce the harm of both overtreatment and under-treament of this common disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG044425-04
Application #
9232948
Study Section
Aging Systems and Geriatrics Study Section (ASG)
Program Officer
Salive, Marcel
Project Start
2014-04-15
Project End
2018-03-31
Budget Start
2017-04-01
Budget End
2018-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$292,432
Indirect Cost
$107,932
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
094878337
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94118
Kata, Anna; Sudore, Rebecca; Finlayson, Emily et al. (2018) Increasing Advance Care Planning Using a Surgical Optimization Program for Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2017-2021
Seib, Carolyn D; Chomsky-Higgins, Kathryn; Gosnell, Jessica E et al. (2018) Patient Frailty Should Be Used to Individualize Treatment Decisions in Primary Hyperparathyroidism. World J Surg 42:3215-3222