Long-Term Trajectories of Postoperative Recovery in Younger and Older Veterans.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Major surgery sometimes involves long recovery or even permanent institutionalization. Little is known about long-term trajectories of postoperative recovery, as surgical registries are limited to 30-day outcomes and care can occur across various institutions.

Objective

To characterize long-term postoperative recovery trajectories.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective cohort study used Veterans Affairs (VA) Surgical Quality Improvement Program data (2016 through 2019) linked to the Residential History File, combining data from the VA, Medicare/Medicaid, and other sources to capture most health care utilization by days. Patients were divided into younger (younger than 65 years) or older (65 years or older) subgroups, as Medicare eligibility i

SUBMITTER: Jacobs MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11500012 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature