Trends and regional variation in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty in Switzerland: a population-based small area analysis.

ABSTRACT: Regional variation in procedure use often reflects the uncertainty about the risks and benefit of procedures. In Switzerland, regional variation in vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty rates was high, although the variation declined between 2013 and 2018. Substantial parts of the variation remained unexplained, and likely signal unequal access and differing physician opinion.

Purpose

To assess trends and regional variation in percutaneous vertebroplasty (VP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) use across Switzerland.

Methods

We conducted a population-based analysis using patient discharge data from all Swiss acute care hospitals for 2013-2018. We calculated age/sex-standardized mean procedure rates and measures of variation across VP/BKP-specific hospital areas (HSAs). We assesse

SUBMITTER: Frei AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8608764 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature