SIR 2024
Women's Health
Jack Lin, B.A.
University of Miami Medical Student
University of Miami
Financial relationships: Full list of relationships is listed on the CME information page.
Chloe E. Issa, B.S.
University of Miami Medical Student
University of Miami
Financial relationships: Full list of relationships is listed on the CME information page.
Anmol Patel, MS-4
Medical Student
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Financial relationships: Full list of relationships is listed on the CME information page.
Konrad Kozlowski, MS3
Medical Student
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Financial relationships: Full list of relationships is listed on the CME information page.
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) remains an under-recognized cause of chronic pelvic pain. This study aims to analyze the prevalence, demographics, and discharge patterns of potential patients with PCS using the HCUP NIS database between 2018-2020.
Materials and Methods:
Using the HCUP NIS dataset from 2018-2020, potential PCS cases were filtered based on a combination of primary ICD codes: I862 (Pelvic varices), R102 (Pelvic pain), and secondary codes related to conditions associated with female genital organs, menstrual cycle, and chronic pain. To qualify as a potential case, a patient had to have at least one primary and one secondary code. Data was analyzed using SAS and SPSS.
Results:
A total of 5,275 discharge cases consistent with PCS were identified, which weighted to 26,374 cases nationally. The majority of patients were females (94%), with a mean age of 44.43 and a median age of 42 (IQR 35-50). The average hospital stay was 3.18 days, with a median of 2.00 (IQR 1-4) days. Most of the patients (85.5%) were discharged to home/self-care, while 7.4% were transferred to home under the care of an organized home health service organization. Urban population ( >50k) constituted 77.9% of the sample, with racial demographics showing 61.0% white, 17.5% black, 14.2% Hispanic, 1.9% Asian, and 0.5% Native American. Regarding insurance, 18.2% were under Medicaid, 27.8% were under Medicare, and 46.7% had private insurance. With respect to median household income based on patient zip codes, 32.8% belonged to the top quartile, while 27.7% fell into the second quartile.
Conclusion:
PCS demonstrates a notable prevalence, underscoring the need for greater awareness, recognition, and even potential PCS workups. The predominant care-seeking pattern in urban environments for patients reporting symptoms associated with PCS illuminates a potential disparity in PCS care accessibility in non-urban settings. Moreover, the mismatch in racial demographics to national averages hints at potential sociodemographic disparities, suggesting a deeper health equity concern in PCS diagnosis and care. With most patients being discharged to home or self-care after diagnosis, there's a heightened emphasis on the value of outpatient care and the requisite awareness of PCS for not just IR physicians, but also those in many other specialties. It is imperative to pursue further studies to delve deeper into the intricacies of PCS, from its diagnosis to its comprehensive management.