Prolonged length of stay and omission of adjuvant therapy are associated with early mortality after pancreatic adenocarcinoma resection

Background Surgical resection is the preferred treatment for non-metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but post-resection survival is highly variable. We use the National Cancer Database Participant Use Files to investigate risk factors associated with early mortality (survival less than one year) after pancreatic adenocarcinoma resection. Methods 51,345 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma were identified. 16,234 had survival between three months and one year (early mortality), and 35,111 had survival greater than one year. Descriptive analyses and multivariate Cox regression models were performed to identify demographic, perioperative, and tumor biology factors associated with early mortality. A sub-analysis subsequently explored the relationship between the length of stay and chemotherapy utilization. Results Of the 51,345 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 16,234 had early mortality. In multivariate models adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, facility type, tumor characteristics, and hospital risk factors, patients with early mortality also had longer lengths of stay, more unplanned readmissions. They were more likely to receive treatment at non-academic centers. Adjuvant chemotherapy utilization was lower in patients with early mortality, particularly in those with longer lengths of stay. Conclusion Reducing the length of stay, decreasing variability across different forms of health insurance, and increasing access to treatment at academic centers may reduce early mortality. Adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with a reduced risk of early mortality but is highly underutilized, especially in patients with prolonged hospital stays. Given that delays in receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with an increased risk of early mortality, interventions to decrease perioperative complications to ensure timely access to adjuvant chemotherapy may improve survival.