TREND IN OPEN AND LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY RATES ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES (2015-2024)
Author(s)
Csaba Könczei, MD, MSc1, Zsuzsanna Kívés, BSc, MSc, PhD2, Kristóf Mangel, MSc3, Eniko Fulop, MSc1, Bettina Kovács, BSc, MSc1, Róbert Pónusz, MSc, PhD2;
1University of Pécs, Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary, 2University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, Pécs, Hungary, 3National Directorate General for Hospitals, Legal department, Budapest, Hungary
1University of Pécs, Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary, 2University of Pécs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute for Health Insurance, Pécs, Hungary, 3National Directorate General for Hospitals, Legal department, Budapest, Hungary
OBJECTIVES: The general time of the treatment of many invasive interventions have been reduced due to the minimal-invasive surgery (MIS). MIS has a paramount importance in many countries having advanced healthcare system. The purpose of the study is to compare international trends in open and laparoscopic appendectomy rates across Central and Eastern European countries.
METHODS: A retrospective comparative analysis was conducted based on surgical data from Central and Eastern Europe for the period 2015-2024. The study database was the OECD Data Explorer for Health Statistics. Appendectomy rates were analyzed per 100,000 population across three intervals (2015-2019, 2020-2022, 2023-2024), stratified by surgical approach (open vs. laparoscopic). Cumulative inpatient and day-case turnover and average proportional distributions of surgical techniques were also assessed.
RESULTS: In Central Europe, open appendectomy rates ranged from 73.7-165.0/100,000 population in 2015-2019, remained similar during 2020-2022 (68.4-167.0), and slightly decreased in 2023-2024 (77.8-159.8). Laparoscopic appendectomy rates increased steadily from 20.7-146.0 to 44.9-145.5 per 100,000 population over the same periods. In Eastern Europe, open appendectomy rates were higher and more dominant, ranging from 91.0-159.2 in 2015-2019 and stabilizing at 67.3-95.9 by 2023-2024, while laparoscopic rates remained substantially lower (8.26-32.5/100,000). Between 2015 and 2024, inpatient care accounted for over 99.8% of appendectomy cases in both regions, regardless of surgical technique. Day-case surgery remained negligible, representing ≤0.14% of all procedures. The surgical technique distribution represented regional disparities: MIS appendectomy was 42.31% in Central Europe and 14.29% in Eastern Europe.
CONCLUSIONS: Substantial regional differences persist in appendectomy practice across Europe. Despite technological advances, appendectomy continues to be delivered almost exclusively as inpatient care in both regions. These findings highlight the opportunities for efficiency gains and policy interventions to support MIS and day-case surgical pathways.
METHODS: A retrospective comparative analysis was conducted based on surgical data from Central and Eastern Europe for the period 2015-2024. The study database was the OECD Data Explorer for Health Statistics. Appendectomy rates were analyzed per 100,000 population across three intervals (2015-2019, 2020-2022, 2023-2024), stratified by surgical approach (open vs. laparoscopic). Cumulative inpatient and day-case turnover and average proportional distributions of surgical techniques were also assessed.
RESULTS: In Central Europe, open appendectomy rates ranged from 73.7-165.0/100,000 population in 2015-2019, remained similar during 2020-2022 (68.4-167.0), and slightly decreased in 2023-2024 (77.8-159.8). Laparoscopic appendectomy rates increased steadily from 20.7-146.0 to 44.9-145.5 per 100,000 population over the same periods. In Eastern Europe, open appendectomy rates were higher and more dominant, ranging from 91.0-159.2 in 2015-2019 and stabilizing at 67.3-95.9 by 2023-2024, while laparoscopic rates remained substantially lower (8.26-32.5/100,000). Between 2015 and 2024, inpatient care accounted for over 99.8% of appendectomy cases in both regions, regardless of surgical technique. Day-case surgery remained negligible, representing ≤0.14% of all procedures. The surgical technique distribution represented regional disparities: MIS appendectomy was 42.31% in Central Europe and 14.29% in Eastern Europe.
CONCLUSIONS: Substantial regional differences persist in appendectomy practice across Europe. Despite technological advances, appendectomy continues to be delivered almost exclusively as inpatient care in both regions. These findings highlight the opportunities for efficiency gains and policy interventions to support MIS and day-case surgical pathways.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH38
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
STA: Surgery