The Impact of Diabetes on Outcomes and Health Care Costs Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objectives: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is commonly used to treat an array of cervical spine pathology and is associated with good outcomes and low complication rates. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common comorbidity for patients undergoing ACDF, but the literature is equivocal about the impact it has on outcomes. Because DM is a highly prevalent comorbidity, it is crucial to determine if it is an associated risk factor for outcomes after ACDF procedures. Methods: Patients at a single institution from 2008 to 2016 undergoing ACDF were compared on the basis of having a prior diagnosis of DM versus no DM. The 2 cohorts were compared utilizing univariate tests and multivariate logistic and linear regressions. Results: Data for 2470 patients was analyzed. Diabetic patients had significantly higher Elixhauser scores (P