A comprehensive analysis of age and 30-day complications following total shoulder arthroplasty: nonagenarians, octogenarians, and septuagenarians

Background: Increased age is a well-known risk factor for development of osteoarthritis. Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is a common treatment option for patients with severe glenohumeral osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the septuagenarian, octogenarian, and nonagenarian populations and postoperative outcomes following TSA. Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for all patients who underwent TSA between 2015 and 2020. Patients were divided into cohorts based on age: sexagenarians (60-69), septuagenarians (70-79), octogenarians (80-89), and nonagenarians (90+). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associations between age and postoperative complications. Results: On bivariate analysis, compared to sexagenarians, septuagenarians were significantly associated with higher rates of myocardial infarction (P = .038), blood transfusion (P < .001), organ/space surgical site infection (P = .048), readmission (P = .005), and nonhome discharge (P < .001. Compared to septuagenarians, octogenarians were significantly associated with higher rates of urinary tract infection (P < .001), blood transfusion (P < .001), readmission (P = .002), non-home discharge (P < .001), and mortality (P = .027). Compared to octogenarians, nonagenarians were significantly associated with higher rates of sepsis (P = .013), pneumonia (P = .003), reintubation (P = .009), myocardial infarction (P < .001), blood transfusion (P < .001), readmission (P = .026), nonhome discharge (P < .001), and mortality (P < .001). Conclusion: From age 60, each decade of age was identified to be an increasingly significant predictor for blood transfusion, readmission, and nonhome discharge following TSA. From age 70, each decade of age was additionally identified to be an increasingly significant predictor for mortality.