Login to Access Video or Poster Abstract: MP62-12
Sources of Funding: None

Introduction

Recent data is showing a rise in the use of Ureteroscopy (URS) compared to Shockwave Lithotripsy (SWL), which is attributed to more widely available equipment and expertise as well as higher stone-free rates. We compared the sociodemographics of patients who underwent URS vs SWL to evaluate for URS utilization trends based on age, gender, race and location.

Methods

The State Ambulatory Surgery and Service Database (SASD) for the state of Wisconsin for the years 2012 and 2013 was accessed which contains information regarding outpatient encounters and was queried for Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes pertaining to URS and SWL. We evaluated the data for usage of URS and SWL based on age, gender, race and Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) code (indicating population of patient residence location). Univariate and Chi-Square analyses was used to compare the rate of URS vs SWL encounters based on gender, age, race, and location.

Results

A total of 16,587 encounters were identified for URS and SWL. 10,077 (62%) encounters contained a CPT code for URS vs 6,207 (38%) for SWL. URS utilization varied based on age, specifically pediatric patients were more likely to undergo URS vs SWL when compared to adults (73% vs 62%, OR 1.8 (1.23 - 2.64), p = 0.002). Adults 80 years old and older were also more likely to undergo URS compared to other adult ages (73.4% vs 61%, OR 1.75 (1.49 - 2.06), p < 0.001). We found no difference in the rates of URS encounters according to gender (p = 0.863). Caucasian patients were more likely to have URS vs Black patients (OR 1.58, 1.32 - 1.88, p < 0.001). Hispanic patients were more likely to undergo URS compared to Caucasian patients (OR 1.32, 0.61 - 0.928, p = 0.008). Patients living in a large town (10,000 - 50,000 people) were more likely to have URS compared to those living in a metropolitan area (>50,000 people) (66% vs 61%, OR 1.25, CI 1.13 - 1.38, p < 0.001) or a rural area (<2,500 people) (66% vs 60%, OR 1.30, CI 1.14 - 1.50, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

URS encounters are more common than SWL (62% vs 38%). Pediatric patients and those 80 years old and older were more likely to undergo URS. No difference was seen in relation to gender. Hispanic patients had the highest percentage of URS encounters followed by White, then Black patients. Patients living in a large town had the highest percentage of URS encounters.

Funding

None