Baseline and Implant Encounter Characteristics
Patient demographic characteristics (age, sex, US region) were
ascertained using data from the CMS enrollment file. Patient baseline
comorbidities were defined as the presence of diagnosis and procedure
codes on any encounter claim during the 12 months prior to implant (see
full ICD-10 and CPT code list in Appendix 2 .) Comorbidities
included end-stage renal disease (ESRD), renal dysfunction, coronary
artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, tricuspid valve disease,
atrial fibrillation, left bundle branch block, supraventricular
tachycardia, ventricular arrythmia, steroid use, diabetes, heart
failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hyperlipidemia, and
hypertension. History of any cardiovascular events and procedures (acute
myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, transcatheter
aortic valve, and percutaneous coronary intervention) were also
included. A Charlson Comorbidity
Index (CCI) score was also calculated for each
patient.7 Characteristics of the implant encounter
hospitalization were also identified, including whether the implant
occurred in the inpatient or outpatient hospital setting, whether the
patient was admitted for the implant procedure hospitalization through
the emergency department, whether the patient was implanted during the
weekend, the time from admission to the implant procedure, and whether
the patient had a concomitant cardiac procedure (transcatheter aortic
valve replacement or atrial fibrillation ablation) during the pacemaker
implant procedure.