Complications and Mortality After Surgery in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on a Multicenter Clinical Database

Objective: To evaluate the postoperative complications and mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: Biochemical measurements, diagnosis codes for CKD and comorbid conditions for surgical patients aged ≥20 years were obtained from electronic medical records of three large hospitals in Taiwan in 2009–2017. We conducted this retrospective cohort study by using propensity score-matching methods to balance the baseline characteristics between CKD and non-CKD groups. The multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of risks of primary outcome (included postoperative mortality) and secondary outcome (included postoperative infectious complications and non-infectious complications) associated with CKD. Results: Among 31950 eligible surgical patients, the adjusted OR of in-hospital mortality in patients with CKD was 5.49 (95% CI 3.42–8.81) compared with that in non-CKD controls. The adjusted ORs of postoperative septicemia, pneumonia and cellulitis in patients with CKD were 5.90 (95% CI 2.12–16.5), 5.39 (95% CI 1.37–21.16), and 4.42 (95% CI 1.57–12.4), respectively, when compared with the non-CKD patients. CKD was also associated with postoperative stroke (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.47–3.31). Conclusion: Patients with CKD are at increased risk of postoperative stroke, infectious complications, and mortality. Our study implicated that it is crucial to improve the levels of hemoglobin and K+ in patients with CKD before surgery. Preventive strategies should be developed to improve clinical outcomes in these populations.