Social vulnerability is associated with increased morbidity following colorectal surgery

Vulnerable populations and the emergency ventral hernia: A retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Ventral hernias can be repaired electively; however, many circumstances require emergency repair. The association between sociodemographic status and rate of emergency repair are unclear and the Social Vulnerability Index may be a useful tool to better understanding this association. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between Social Vulnerability Index and emergency ventral hernia repair.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2012-2018) data for patients at a level 1 trauma center. We included patients who had an open ventral hernia repair. Social Vulnerability Index was based on residential address at the time of surgery. We conducted univariate and bivariate statistics, including χ2 and Mann-Whitney U tests to compare high and low social vulnerability.

RESULTS

Our sample had 1,017 patients. Patients who underwent emergency operations were older (P = .025) and had higher Social Vulnerability Index (P = .029). Patients in the high Social Vulnerability Index group were 1.5 times more likely to receive emergency surgery (P = .047). Emergency repair was also associated with increased frequency of nonhome discharge (9% vs 2%, P = .001) and higher mean work relative value unit (15.4 vs 11.9, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Patients requiring emergency ventral hernia repair have significantly higher Social Vulnerability Index than those undergoing elective repair. This vulnerable population also has increased cost associated with the repair and higher rates of nonhome discharge. This work provides a foundation for efforts to reach patients in high Social Vulnerability Index environments at an earlier stage to achieve earlier elective repair.

Impact of social vulnerability index on patients with alcohol-related liver disease

INTRODUCTION

Alcohol related liver disease (ALD) affects diverse communities with individual and social characteristics that can impact outcomes. The social vulnerability index (SVI) assigns a score between 0 and 1, where higher scores represent an increased risk of social vulnerability. We sought to assess the impact of SVI on outcomes of patients hospitalized with ALD with access to social support services.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Hospitalizations for ALD at our institution between March and August 2019 were reviewed. All patients were assigned an SVI score based on their residential census tract. Per our standard practice, patients were screened by care coordinators to identify needs for rehabilitation counseling, and care coordination after discharge. Demographics, hepatic decompensation, critical care needs, readmission, and mortality were compared.

RESULTS

Among 73 patients admitted for alcoholic hepatitis, 32 had a low SVI and 42 had a high SVI. African American patients were more likely to have a higher SVI (35% vs 0%, p=<0.001). No significant difference in outcomes based on SVI was noted. There were 393 patients admitted for alcoholic cirrhosis including 166 with a low SVI and 227 with a high SVI. Patients that were African American (23.6% vs 5.5%, p=<0.001) or disabled (41.4% vs 29.5%, p = 0.008) had a higher SVI. No significant difference in outcomes based on SVI was noted.

CONCLUSION

Most patients admitted for ALD had a high SVI; however, SVI did not impact hospitalization outcomes.

Social vulnerability and perioperative outcomes after colectomy for colon cancer

BACKGROUND

The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) has previously been demonstrated to correlate with worse postoperative outcomes after surgery, but the association of SVI with short- and long-term outcomes after colon cancer surgery has been underexplored.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of Medicare patients aged 65 to 99 years who underwent colectomy for colon cancer between 2016 and 2020, merged with SVI at the census tract level. We tested the association between SVI with emergent colectomy and 30-day and 1-year mortality using a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for patient demographics and hospital characteristics.

RESULTS

The cohort included 169,498 patients who underwent colectomy for colon cancer. Medicare patients living in areas in the highest quintile of social vulnerability were more likely to undergo unplanned colectomy for colon cancer than those in the lowest quintile (35.6% vs 28.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.36; 95% CI, 1.31-1.41; P < .001). Similarly, patients living in areas in the highest quintile of social vulnerability experienced higher risk-adjusted rates of 30-day mortality (3.4% vs 2.9%; aOR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.12-1.29; P < .001) and 1-year mortality (10.8% vs 8.6%; aOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.22-1.37; P < .001) than patients living in the lowest quintile of social vulnerability. When evaluating the elective and unplanned cohorts separately, these differences persisted.

CONCLUSION

Among Medicare patients undergoing colectomy for colon cancer, high social vulnerability was associated with an increased risk of unplanned operations and worse short- and long-term postoperative outcomes in both the emergent and elective settings. Providers should seek to mitigate disparate surgical outcomes by addressing structural inequities in social resources.

Social vulnerability and surgery outcomes: a cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND

Post-operative complications present a challenge to the healthcare system due to the high unpredictability of their incidence. Socioeconomic conditions have been established as social determinants of health. However, their contribution relating to postoperative complications is still unclear as it can be heterogeneous based on community, type of surgical services, and sex and gender. Uncovering these relations can enable improved public health policy to reduce such complications.

METHODS

In this study, we conducted a large population cross-sectional analysis of social vulnerability and the odds of various post-surgical complications. We collected electronic health records data from over 50,000 surgeries that happened between 2012 and 2018 at a quaternary health center in St. Louis, Missouri, United States and the corresponding zip code of the patients. We built statistical logistic regression models of postsurgical complications with the social vulnerability index of the tract consisting of the zip codes of the patient as the independent variable along with sex and race interaction.

RESULTS

Our sample from the St. Louis area exhibited high variance in social vulnerability with notable rapid increase in vulnerability from the south west to the north of the Mississippi river indicating high levels of inequality. Our sample had more females than males, and females had slightly higher social vulnerability index. Postoperative complication incidence ranged from 0.75% to 41% with lower incidence rate among females. We found that social vulnerability was associated with abnormal heart rhythm with socioeconomic status and housing status being the main association factors. We also found associations of the interaction of social vulnerability and female sex with an increase in odds of heart attack and surgical wound infection. Those associations disappeared when controlling for general health and comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that social vulnerability measures such as socioeconomic status and housing conditions could affect postsurgical outcomes through preoperative health. This suggests that the domains of preventive medicine and public health should place social vulnerability as a priority to achieve better health outcomes of surgical interventions.

Social Vulnerability Index and Survivorship after Colorectal Cancer Resection

BACKGROUND

Race and socioeconomic status incompletely identify patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) at the highest risk for screening, treatment, and mortality disparities. Social vulnerability index (SVI) was designed to delineate neighborhoods requiring greater support after external health stressors, summarizing socioeconomic, household, and transportation barriers by census tract. SVI is implicated in lower cancer center use and increased complications after colectomy, but its influence on long-term prognosis is unknown. Herein, we characterized relationships between SVI and CRC survival.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients undergoing resection of stage I to IV CRC from January 2010 to May 2023 within an academic health system were identified. Clinicopathologic characteristics were abstracted using institutional National Cancer Database and NSQIP. Addresses from electronic health records were geocoded to SVI. Overall survival and cancer-specific survival were compared using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods.

RESULTS

A total of 872 patients were identified, comprising 573 (66%) patients with colon tumor and 299 (34%) with rectal tumor. Patients in the top SVI quartile (32%) were more likely to be Black (41% vs 13%, p < 0.001), carry less private insurance (39% vs 48%, p = 0.02), and experience greater comorbidity (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status III: 86% vs 71%, p < 0.001), without significant differences by acuity, stage, or CRC therapy. In multivariable analysis, high SVI remained associated with higher all-cause (hazard ratio 1.48, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.96, p < 0.01) and cancer-specific survival mortality (hazard ratio 1.71, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.67, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

High SVI was independently associated with poorer prognosis after CRC resection beyond the perioperative period. Acknowledging needs for multi-institutional evaluation and elaborating causal mechanisms, neighborhood-level vulnerability may inform targeted outreach in CRC care.

Understanding the Impact of Enhanced Recovery Programs on Social Vulnerability, Race, and Colorectal Surgery Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Increasing social vulnerability, measured by the Social Vulnerability Index, has been associated with worse surgical outcomes. However, less is known about the impact of social vulnerability on patients who underwent colorectal surgery under enhanced recovery programs.

OBJECTIVE

We hypothesized that increasing social vulnerability is associated with worse outcomes before enhanced recovery implementation, but that after implementation, disparities in outcomes would be reduced.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study using multivariable logistic regression to identify associations of social vulnerability and enhanced recovery with outcomes.

SETTINGS

Institutional American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

PATIENTS

Patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery (2010-2020). Enhanced recovery programs were implemented in 2015. Those adhering to 70% or more of enhanced recovery program components were defined as enhanced recovery and all others as nonenhanced recovery.

OUTCOMES

Length of stay, complications, and readmissions.

RESULTS

Of 1523 patients, 589 (38.7%) were in the enhanced recovery group, with 625 patients (41%) in the lowest third of the Social Vulnerability Index, 411 (27%) in the highest third. There were no differences in Social Vulnerability Index distribution by the enhanced recovery group. On multivariable modeling, social vulnerability was not associated with increased length of stay, complications, or readmissions in the enhanced recovery group. Black race was associated with increased length of stay in both the nonenhanced recovery (OR 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3) and enhanced recovery groups (OR 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4). Enhanced recovery adherence was associated with reductions in racial disparities in complications as the Black race was associated with increased odds of complications in the nonenhanced recovery group (OR 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.0) but not in the enhanced recovery group (OR 0.8; 95% CI, 0.4-1.6).

LIMITATIONS

Details of potential factors affecting enhanced recovery program adherence were not assessed and are the subject of current work by this team.

CONCLUSION

High social vulnerability was not associated with worse outcomes among both enhanced recovery and nonenhanced recovery colorectal patients. Enhanced recovery program adherence was associated with reductions in racial disparities in complication rates. However, disparities in length of stay remain, and work is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms driving these disparities. See Video Abstract .

COMPRENDIENDO EL IMPACTO DE LOS PROGRAMAS DE RECUPERACIN MEJORADA EN LA VULNERABILIDAD SOCIAL, LA RAZA Y LOS RESULTADOS DE LA CIRUGA COLORRECTAL

ANTECEDENTES:El aumento de la vulnerabilidad social medida por el índice de vulnerabilidad social se ha asociado con peores resultados quirúrgicos. Sin embargo, se sabe menos sobre el impacto de la vulnerabilidad social en los pacientes de cirugía colorrectal bajo programas de recuperación mejorados.OBJETIVO:Planteamos la hipótesis de que el aumento de la vulnerabilidad social se asocia con peores resultados antes de la implementación de la recuperación mejorada, pero después de la implementación, las disparidades en los resultados se reducirían.DISEÑO:Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo que utilizó regresión logística multivariable para identificar asociaciones de vulnerabilidad social y recuperación mejorada con los resultados.ESCENARIO:Base de datos institucional del Programa de Mejora Nacional de la Calidad de la Cirugía del American College of Surgeons.PACIENTES:Pacientes sometidos a cirugía colorrectal electiva (2010-2020). Programas de recuperación mejorada implementados en 2015. Aquellos que se adhieren a ≥70% de los componentes del programa de recuperación mejorada definidos como recuperación mejorada y todos los demás como recuperación no mejorada.MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:Duración de la estancia hospitalaria, complicaciones y reingresos.RESULTADOS:De 1.523 pacientes, 589 (38,7%) estaban en el grupo de recuperación mejorada, con 732 (40,3%) pacientes en el tercio más bajo del índice de vulnerabilidad social, 498 (27,4%) en el tercio más alto, y no hubo diferencias en la distribución del índice vulnerabilidad social por grupo de recuperación mejorada. En el modelo multivariable, la vulnerabilidad social no se asoció con una mayor duración de la estancia hospitalaria, complicaciones o reingresos en ninguno de los grupos de recuperación mejorada. La raza negra se asoció con una mayor duración de la estadía tanto en el grupo de recuperación no mejorada (OR1,2, IC95% 1,1-1,3) como en el grupo de recuperación mejorada (OR1,2, IC95% 1,1-1,4). La adherencia a la recuperación mejorada se asoció con reducciones en las disparidades raciales en las complicaciones, ya que la raza negra se asoció con mayores probabilidades de complicaciones en el grupo de recuperación no mejorada (OR1,9, IC95% 1,2-3,0), pero no en el grupo de recuperación mejorada (OR0,8, IC95% 0,4-1,6).LIMITACIONES:No se evaluaron los detalles de los factores potenciales que afectan la adherencia al programa de recuperación mejorada y son el tema del trabajo actual de este equipo.CONCLUSIÓN:La alta vulnerabilidad social no se asoció con peores resultados entre los pacientes colorrectales con recuperación mejorada y sin recuperación mejorada. Una mayor adherencia al programa de recuperación se asoció con reducciones en las disparidades raciales en las tasas de complicaciones. Sin embargo, persisten disparidades en la duración de la estadía y es necesario trabajar para comprender los mecanismos subyacentes que impulsan estas disparidades. (Traducción-Dr. Felipe Bellolio ).

Presentation Acuity and Surgical Outcomes for Patients With Health Insurance Living in Highly Deprived Neighborhoods

Importance

Insurance coverage expansion has been proposed as a solution to improving health disparities, but insurance expansion alone may be insufficient to alleviate care access barriers.

Objective

To assess the association of Area Deprivation Index (ADI) with postsurgical textbook outcomes (TO) and presentation acuity for individuals with private insurance or Medicare.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2013-2019) merged with electronic health record data from 3 academic health care systems. Data were analyzed from June 2022 to August 2023.

Exposure

Living in a neighborhood with an ADI greater than 85.

Main Outcomes and Measures

TO, defined as absence of unplanned reoperations, Clavien-Dindo grade 4 complications, mortality, emergency department visits/observation stays, and readmissions, and presentation acuity, defined as having preoperative acute serious conditions (PASC) and urgent or emergent cases.

Results

Among a cohort of 29 924 patients, the mean (SD) age was 60.6 (15.6) years; 16 424 (54.9%) were female, and 13 500 (45.1) were male. A total of 14 306 patients had private insurance and 15 618 had Medicare. Patients in highly deprived neighborhoods (5536 patients [18.5%]), with an ADI greater than 85, had lower/worse odds of TO in both the private insurance group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.87; 95% CI, 0.76-0.99; P = .04) and Medicare group (aOR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-1.00; P = .04) and higher odds of PASC and urgent or emergent cases. The association of ADIs greater than 85 with TO lost significance after adjusting for PASC and urgent/emergent cases. Differences in the probability of TO between the lowest-risk (ADI ≤85, no PASC, and elective surgery) and highest-risk (ADI >85, PASC, and urgent/emergent surgery) scenarios stratified by frailty were highest for very frail patients (Risk Analysis Index ≥40) with differences of 40.2% and 43.1% for those with private insurance and Medicare, respectively.

Conclusions and Relevance

This study found that patients living in highly deprived neighborhoods had lower/worse odds of TO and higher presentation acuity despite having private insurance or Medicare. These findings suggest that insurance coverage expansion alone is insufficient to overcome health care disparities, possibly due to persistent barriers to preventive care and other complex causes of health inequities.

Social vulnerability is associated with higher risk-adjusted rates of postoperative complications in a broad surgical population

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine if an association between Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and risk-adjusted complications exists in a broad spectrum of surgical patients.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Growing evidence supports the impact of social circumstances on surgical outcomes. SVI is a neighborhood-based measure accounting for sociodemographic factors putting communities at risk.

METHODS

This was a multi-hospital, retrospective cohort study including a sample of patients within one healthcare system (2012-2017). Patient addresses were geocoded to determine census tract of residence and estimate SVI. Patients were grouped into low SVI (score<75) and high SVI (score≥75) cohorts. Perioperative variables and postoperative outcomes were tracked and compared using local ACS-NSQIP data. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to generate risk-adjusted odds ratios of postoperative complications in the high SVI cohort.

RESULTS

Overall, 31,224 patients from five hospitals were included. Patients with high SVI were more likely to be racial minorities, have 12/18 medical comorbidities, have high ASA class, be functionally dependent, be treated at academic hospitals, and undergo emergency operations (all p ​< ​0.05). Patients with high SVI had significantly higher rates of 30-day mortality, overall morbidity, respiratory, cardiac and infectious complications, urinary tract infections, postoperative bleeding, non-home discharge, and unplanned readmissions (all p ​< ​0.05). After risk-adjustment, only the associations between high SVI and mortality and unplanned readmission became non-significant.

CONCLUSIONS

High SVI was associated with multiple adverse outcomes even after risk adjustment for preoperative clinical factors. Targeted preventative interventions to mitigate risk of these specific complications should be considered in this high-risk population.

Association of social vulnerability with receipt of hernia repair in Texas

BACKGROUND

The effect of social health determinants on hernia surgery receipt is unclear. We aimed to assess the association of the social vulnerability index with the likelihood of undergoing elective and emergency hernia repair in Texas.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort analysis of the Texas Hospital Inpatient Discharge Public Use Data File and Texas Outpatient Surgical and Radiological Procedure Public Use Data File from 2016 to 2019. Patients ≥18 years old with inguinal or umbilical hernia were included. Social vulnerability index and urban/rural status were merged with the database at the county level. Patients were stratified based on social vulnerability index quartiles, with the lowest quartile (Q1) designated as low vulnerability, Q2 and Q3 as average, and Q4 as high vulnerability. Wilcoxon rank sum, t test, and χ2 analysis were used, as appropriate. The relative risk of undergoing surgery was calculated with subgroup sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

Of 234,843 patients assessed, 148,139 (63.1%) underwent surgery. Compared to patients with an average social vulnerability index, the low social vulnerability index group was 36% more likely to receive surgery (relative risk: 1.36, 95% CI 1.34-1.37), whereas the high social vulnerability index group was 14% less likely to receive surgery (relative risk: 0.86, 95% CI 0.85-0.86). This remained significant after stratifying for age, sex, insurance status, ethnicity, and urban/rural status (P < .05). For emergency admissions, there was no difference in receipt of surgery by social vulnerability index.

CONCLUSION

Vulnerable patients are less likely to undergo elective surgical hernia repair, even after adjusting for demographics, insurance, and urbanicity. The social vulnerability index may be a useful indicator of social determinants of health barriers to hernia repair.

The Effect of Social Vulnerability on Initial Stage and Treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVE

The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) is a composite metric for social determinants of health. The objective of this study was to determine if SVI influences stage at presentation for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and subsequent therapies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

NSCLC patients from our local contribution to the National Cancer Database (2011-2021) were grouped into low SVI (<75 %ile) and high SVI (>75 %ile) cohorts. Demographics, cancer-related variables, and treatment modalities were compared. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to control for the impact of demographics on cancer presentation and for the impact of oncologic variables on treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 1,662 NSCLC patients, 435 (26 %) were defined as high SVI. Compared to the 1,227 (74 %) low SVI patients, highly vulnerable patients were more likely to be male (53.3 % vs 46.0 %, p = 0.009), non-White (17.2 % vs 9.7 %, p < 0.0001), have comorbidities (29.4 % vs 23.1 %, p = 0.009) and present at a higher AJCC clinical T, M and overall stage (all p < 0.05). These findings persisted on multivariable analysis, with highly vulnerable patients having 1.5x the odds (95 %CI: 1.23-1.86, p < 0.001) of presenting at more advanced stage. Patients with high SVI were less likely to be recommended for and receive surgery (40.9 % vs 53.2 %, p < 0.001), and this finding persisted after controlling for stage at presentation (OR 1.37, 95 %CI 1.04-1.80).

CONCLUSIONS

Highly vulnerable patients present at a more advanced clinical stage and are less likely to be recommended and receive surgery, even after controlling for stage at presentation. Further investigation into these findings is warranted to achieve more equitable oncologic care.

Social vulnerability and new mobility disability among adults with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2: Michigan COVID-19 Recovery Surveillance Study

OBJECTIVE

Understanding the relationship between social factors and persistent COVID-19 health outcomes, such as onset of a disability after a SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection, is an increasingly important public health issue. The purpose of this paper is to examine associations between social vulnerability and new onset of a mobility disability post-COVID-19 diagnosis.

METHODS

We used data from the Michigan COVID-19 Recovery Surveillance Study, a population-based probability survey of adults with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Michigan between January 2020-May 2022 (n = 4295). We used the Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index (MHSVI), with high county-level social vulnerability defined at or above the 75th percentile. Mobility disability was defined as new difficulty walking or climbing stairs. We regressed mobility disability on the overall MHSVI, as well as sub-themes of the index (socioeconomic status, household composition/disability, minority and language, housing type, healthcare access, and medical vulnerability), using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for age, race, sex, education, employment, and income.

RESULTS

Living in a county with high (vs. low) social vulnerability was associated with 1.38 times higher odds (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.18-1.61) of reporting a new mobility disability after a COVID-19 diagnosis after adjustment. Similar results were observed for the socioeconomic status and household composition/disability sub-themes. In contrast, residents of highly racially diverse counties had lower odds (odds ratio 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.89) of reporting a new mobility disability compared to low diversity counties.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitigating the effects of social vulnerabilities requires additional resources and attention to support affected individuals.

Social Vulnerability and Surgery Outcomes: A Cross-sectional Analysis

Background

Post-operative complications present a challenge to the healthcare system due to the high unpredictability of their incidence. However, the socioeconomic factors that relate to postoperative complications are still unclear as they can be heterogeneous based on communities, types of surgical services, and sex and gender.

Methods

In this study, we conducted a large population cross-sectional analysis of social vulnerability and the odds of various post-surgical complications. We built statistical logistic regression models of postsurgical complications with social vulnerability index as the independent variable along with sex interaction.

Results

We found that social vulnerability was associated with abnormal heart rhythm with socioeconomic status and housing status being the main association factors. We also found associations of the interaction of social vulnerability and female sex with an increase in odds of heart attack and surgical wound infection.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that social vulnerability measures such as socioeconomic status and housing conditions could be related to health outcomes. This suggests that the domain of preventive medicine should place social vulnerability as a priority to achieve its goals.

Social vulnerability is associated with increased postoperative morbidity following esophagectomy

OBJECTIVES

The effect of a patient's Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) on complication rates after esophagectomy remains unstudied. The purpose of this study was to determine how social vulnerability influences morbidity following esophagectomy.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of a prospectively collected esophagectomy database at one academic institution, 2016 to 2022. Patients were grouped into low-SVI (<75%ile) and high-SVI (>75%ile) cohorts. The primary outcome was overall postoperative complication rate; secondary outcomes were rates of individual complications. Perioperative patient variables and postoperative complication rates were compared between the 2 groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for covariates.

RESULTS

Of 149 patients identified who underwent esophagectomy, 27 (18.1%) were in the high-SVI group. Patients with high SVI were more likely to be of Hispanic ethnicity (18.5% vs 4.9%, P = .029), but there were no other differences in perioperative characteristics between groups. Patients with high SVI were significantly more likely to develop a postoperative complication (66.7% vs 36.9%, P = .005) and had greater rates of postoperative pneumonia (25.9% vs 6.6%, P = .007), jejunal feeding-tube complications (14.8% vs 3.3%, P = .036), and unplanned intensive care unit readmission (29.6% vs 12.3%, P = .037). In addition, patients with high SVI had a longer postoperative hospital length of stay (13 vs 10 days, P = .017). There were no differences in mortality rates. These findings persisted on multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with high SVI have greater rates of postoperative morbidity following esophagectomy. The effect of SVI on esophagectomy outcomes warrants further investigation and may prove useful in identifying populations that benefit from interventions to mitigate these complications.

Importance of social vulnerability on long-term outcomes after heart transplantation

The relationship between social determinants of health and outcomes after heart transplantation has not been examined. The social vulnerability index (SVI) uses United States census data to determine the social vulnerability of every census tract based on 15 factors. This retrospective study seeks to examine the impact of SVI on outcomes after heart transplantation. Adult heart recipients who received a graft between 2012 and 2021 were stratified into SVI percentiles of <75% and SVI of ≥75%. The primary endpoint was survival. The median SVI was 48% (interquartile range: 30%-67%) among 23 700 recipients. One-year survival was similar between groups (91.4 vs 90.7%, log-rank P = .169); however, 5-year survival was lower among individuals living in vulnerable communities (74.8% vs 80.0%, P < .001). This finding persisted despite risk adjustment for other factors associated with mortality (survival time ratio 0.819, 95% confidence interval: 0.755-0.890, P < .001). The incidences of 5-year hospital readmission (81.4% vs 75.4%, P < .001) and graft rejection (40.3% vs 35.7%, P = .004) were higher among individuals living in vulnerable communities. Individuals living in vulnerable communities may be at increased risk of mortality after heart transplantation. These findings suggest there is an opportunity to focus on these recipients undergoing heart transplantation to improve survival.

Neighborhood Social Vulnerability and Interstage Weight Gain: Evaluating the Role of a Home Monitoring Program

Background Poor interstage weight gain is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. We sought to examine the association of neighborhood social vulnerability and interstage weight gain and determine if this association is modified by enrollment in our institution's Infant Single Ventricle Management and Monitoring Program (ISVMP). Methods and Results We performed a retrospective single-center study of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome before (2007-2010) and after (2011-2020) introduction of the ISVMP. The primary outcome was interstage weight gain, and the secondary outcome was interstage growth failure. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the association between the Social Vulnerability Index and the outcomes. We introduced an interaction term into the models to test for effect modification by the ISVMP. We evaluated 217 ISVMP infants and 111 pre-ISVMP historical controls. The Social Vulnerability Index was associated with interstage growth failure (P=0.001); however, enrollment in the ISVMP strongly attenuated this association (P=0.04). Pre-ISVMP, as well as high- and middle-vulnerability infants gained 4 g/d less and were significantly more likely to experience growth failure than low-vulnerability infants (high versus low: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 12.5 [95% CI, 2.5-62.2]; middle versus low: aOR, 7.8 [95% CI, 2.0-31.2]). After the introduction of the ISVMP, outcomes did not differ by Social Vulnerability Index tertile. Infants with middle and high Social Vulnerability Index scores who were enrolled in the ISVMP gained 4 g/d and 2 g/d more, respectively, than pre-ISVMP controls. Conclusions In infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, high social vulnerability is a risk factor for poor interstage weight gain. However, enrollment in the ISVMP significantly reduces growth disparities.

Racial disparities in postoperative outcomes persist for patients with inflammatory bowel disease under a colorectal enhanced recovery program

INTRODUCTION

Enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) reduce racial disparities in surgical outcomes for general colorectal surgery populations. It is unclear, however, if disparities in IBD populations are impacted by ERPs.

METHODS

Retrospective study comparing IBD patients undergoing major elective colorectal operations before (2006-2014) and after (2015-2021) ERP implementation using ACS-NSQIP data. The primary outcome of length of stay (LOS) was analyzed by negative binomial regression, and secondary outcomes (complications and readmissions) by logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 466 IBD patients, 47% were pre-ERP and 53% were ERP patients. In multivariable analysis stratified by ERP period, Black race was associated with increased odds of complications in the pre-ERP (OR 3.6, 95%CI 1.4-9.3) and ERP groups (OR 3.1 95%CI 1.3-7.6). Race was not a predictor of LOS or readmission in either group. High social vulnerability was associated with increased odds of readmission pre-ERP (OR 15.1, 95%CI 2.1-136.3), but this disparity was mitigated under ERPs (OR 1.4, 95%CI 0.4-5.6).

CONCLUSION

While ERPs mitigated some disparities by social vulnerability, racial disparities persist in IBD populations even under ERPs. Further work is needed to achieve surgical equity for IBD patients.

A socioecological qualitative analysis of barriers to care in colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

Although specific social determinants of health have been associated with disparities in surgical outcomes, there exists a gap in knowledge regarding the mechanisms of these associations. Gaining perspectives from multiple socioecological levels can help elucidate these mechanisms. Our study aims to identify social determinants of health that act as barriers or facilitators to surgical care among colorectal surgery stakeholders.

METHODS

We recruited participants representing 5 socioecological levels: patients (individual); caregivers/surgeons (interpersonal); and leaders in hospitals (organizational), communities (community), and government (policy). Patients participated in focus groups, and the remaining participants underwent individual interviews. Semistructured interview guides were used to explore barriers and facilitators to surgical care at each socioecological level. Transcripts were analyzed by 3 coders in an inductive thematic approach with content analyses. The intercoder agreement was 93%.

RESULTS

Six patient focus groups (total n = 18) and 12 key stakeholder interviews were conducted. The mean age of patients was 54.7 years, 66% were Black, and 61% were female. The most common diseases were colorectal cancer (28%), inflammatory bowel disease (28%), and diverticulitis (22%). Key social determinants of health impacting surgical care emerged at each level: individual (clear communication, mental stress), interpersonal (provider communication and trust, COVID-related visitation restrictions), organizational (multiple forms of contact, quality educational materials, scheduling systems, discrimination), community (community and family support and transportation), and policy (charity care, patient advocacy organizations, insurance coverage).

CONCLUSION

Key social determinants of health-impacting care among colorectal surgery patients emerged at each socioecological level and may provide targets for interventions to reduce surgical disparities.

The association of social vulnerability with colorectal enhanced recovery program failure

Background

Enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) improve outcomes, but over 20 % of patients fail ERP and the contribution of social vulnerability is unknown. This study aimed to characterize the association between social vulnerability and ERP adherence and failure.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of colorectal surgery patients between 2015 and 2020 utilizing ACS-NSQIP data. Patients who failed ERP (LOS > 6 days) were compared to patients not failing ERP. The CDC's social vulnerability index (SVI) was used to assess social vulnerability.

Result

273 of 1191 patients (22.9 %) failed ERP. SVI was a significant predictor of ERP failure (OR 4.6, 95 % CI 1.3-16.8) among those with >70 % ERP component adherence. SVI scores were significantly higher among patients non-adherent with 3 key ERP components: preoperative block (0.58 vs. 0.51, p < 0.01), early diet (0.57 vs. 0.52, p = 0.04) and early foley removal (0.55 vs. 0.50, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Higher social vulnerability was associated with non-adherence to 3 key ERP components as well as ERP failure among those who were adherent with >70 % of ERP components. Social vulnerability needs to be recognized, addressed, and included in efforts to further improve ERPs.

Key message

Social vulnerability is associated with non-adherence to enhanced recovery components and ERP failure among those with high ERP adherence. Social vulnerability needs to be addressed in efforts to improve ERPs.

The social vulnerability index as a risk stratification tool for health disparity research in cancer patients: a scoping review

PURPOSE

The social vulnerability index (SVI), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a novel composite measure encompassing multiple variables that correspond to key social determinants of health. The objective of this review was to investigate innovative applications of the SVI to oncology research and to employ the framework of the cancer care continuum to elucidate further research opportunities.

METHODS

A systematic search for relevant articles was performed in five databases from inception to 13 May 2022. Included studies applied the SVI to analyze outcomes in cancer patients. Study characteristics, patent populations, data sources, and outcomes were extracted from each article. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

RESULTS

In total, 31 studies were included. Along the cancer care continuum, five applied the SVI to examine geographic disparities in potentially cancer-causing exposures; seven in cancer diagnosis; fourteen in cancer treatment; nine in treatment recovery; one in survivorship care; and two in end-of-life care. Fifteen examined disparities in mortality.

CONCLUSION

In highlighting place-based disparities in patient outcomes, the SVI represents a promising tool for future oncology research. As a reliable geocoded dataset, the SVI may inform the development and implementation of targeted interventions to prevent cancer morbidity and mortality at the neighborhood level.

Association of Cumulative Colorectal Surgery Hospital Costs, Readmissions, and Emergency Department/Observation Stays with Insurance Type

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Medicare's Hospital Readmission Reduction Program disproportionately penalizes safety-net hospitals (SNH) caring for vulnerable populations. This study assessed the association of insurance type with 30-day emergency department visits/observation stays (EDOS), readmissions, and cumulative costs in colorectal surgery patients.

METHODS

Retrospective inpatient cohort study using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2013-2019) with cost data in a SNH. The odds of EDOS and readmissions and cumulative variable (index hospitalization and all 30-day EDOS and readmissions) costs were modeled adjusting for frailty, case status, presence of a stoma, and open versus laparoscopic surgery.

RESULTS

The cohort had 245 private, 195 Medicare, and 590 Medicaid/uninsured cases, with a mean age 55.0 years (SD = 13.3) and 52.9% of the cases were performed on male patients. Most cases were open surgeries (58.7%). Complication rates were 41.8%, EDOS 12.0%, and readmissions 20.1%. Medicaid/uninsured had increased odds of urgent/emergent surgeries (aOR = 2.15, CI = 1.56-2.98, p < 0.001) and complications (aOR = 1.43, CI = 1.02-2.03, p = 0.042) versus private patients. Medicaid/uninsured versus private patients had higher EDOS (16.6% versus 4.1%) and readmissions (22.9% versus 14.3%) rates and higher odds of EDOS (aOR = 4.81, CI = 2.57-10.06, p < 0.001), and readmissions (aOR = 1.62, CI = 1.07-2.50, p = 0.025), while Medicare patients had similar odds versus private. Cumulative variable cost %change was increased for Medicare and Medicaid/uninsured, but Medicaid/uninsured was similar to private after adjusting for urgent/emergent cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased urgent/emergent cases in Medicaid/uninsured populations drive increased complications odds and higher costs compared to private patients, suggesting lack of access to outpatient care. SNH care for higher cost populations, receive lower reimbursements, and are penalized by value-based programs. Increasing healthcare access for Medicaid/uninsured patients could reduce urgent/emergent surgeries, resulting in fewer complications, EDOS/readmissions, and costs.

Prevalence of and factors associated with limited health literacy in spine patients

BACKGROUND

Limited health literacy exacerbates health inequity and has serious implications for patient care. It hinders successful communication and comprehension of relevant health information, which can lead to suboptimal care. Despite the evidence regarding the significance of health literacy, the topic has received little consideration in orthopedic spine patients.

PURPOSE

To investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with limited health literacy among outpatients presenting to a tertiary urban academic hospital-based orthopedic spine center.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectionals.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Patients 18 years of age or older seen at a tertiary urban academic hospital-based multi-surgeon outpatient spine center.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The Newest Vital Sign (NVS) health literacy assessment.

METHODS

Between December 2021 and March 2022, 447 consecutive English-speaking patients over the age of 18 years and new to the outpatient spine clinic were approached for participation in a cross-sectional survey study, of which 405 agreed to participate. Patients completed the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) health literacy assessment tool, the Rapid Estimation of Adult Literacy in Medicine Short Form (REALM-SF), and a sociodemographic survey (including race/ethnicity, level of education, employment status, income, and marital status). The NVS scores were divided into limited (0-3) and adequate (4-6) health literacy. REALM-SF scores were classified into reading levels below ninth grade (0-6) or at least ninth grade (7). Additional demographic data was extracted from patient records. Online mapping tools were used to collect the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) for each patient. Subsequently, multivariable regression modeling was performed to identify independent factors associated with limited health literacy.

RESULTS

The prevalence of limited health literacy in patients presenting to an urban academic outpatient spine center was 33% (135/405). Unadjusted analysis found that patients who were socioeconomically disadvantaged (eg, unemployed, lower household income, publicly insured and higher SVI) and had more unfavorable social determinant of health features (eg, housing concerns, higher ADI, less years of education, below ninth grade reading level, unmarried) had high rates of limited health literacy. Adjusted regression analysis demonstrated that limited health literacy was independently associated with higher ADI state decile, living less than 10 years at current address, having housing concerns, not being employed, non-native English speaking, having less years of education and below ninth grade reading level.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that a substantial portion of the patients presenting to an outpatient spine center have limited health literacy, more so if they are socially disadvantaged. Future efforts should investigate the impact of limited health literacy on access to care, treatment outcomes and health care utilization in orthopedic patients. Neighborhood social vulnerability measures may be a feasible way to identify patients at risk of limited health literacy in clinical practice and offer opportunities for tailored patient care. This may contribute to prioritizing the mitigation of disparities and aid in the development of meaningful interventions to improve health equity in orthopedics.

Social Vulnerability and Emergency General Surgery among Medicare Beneficiaries

BACKGROUND

Although the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was created to identify vulnerable populations after unexpected natural disasters, its ability to identify similar groups of patients undergoing unexpected emergency surgical procedures is unknown. We sought to examine the association between SVI and outcomes after emergency general surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

This study is a cross-sectional review of 887,193 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent 1 of 4 common emergency general surgery procedures (appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, and ventral hernia repair) performed in the urgent or emergent setting between 2014 and 2018. These data were merged with the SVI at the census-track level of residence. Risk-adjusted outcomes (30-day mortality, serious complications, readmission) were evaluated using a logistic regression model accounting for age, sex, comorbidity, year, procedure type, and hospital characteristics between high and low social vulnerability quintiles and within the 4 SVI subthemes (socioeconomic status; household composition and disability; minority status and language; and housing type and transportation).

RESULTS

Compared with beneficiaries with low social vulnerability, Medicare beneficiaries living in areas of high social vulnerability experienced higher rates of 30-day mortality (8.56% vs 8.08%; adjusted odds ratio 1.07; p < 0.001), serious complications (20.71% vs 18.40%; adjusted odds ratio 1.17; p < 0.001), and readmissions (16.09% vs 15.03%; adjusted odds ratio 1.08; p < 0.001). This pattern of differential outcomes was present in subgroup analysis of all 4 SVI subthemes but was greatest in the socioeconomic status and household composition and disability subthemes.

CONCLUSIONS

National efforts to support patients with high social vulnerability from natural disasters may be well aligned with efforts to identify communities that are particularly vulnerable to worse postoperative outcomes after emergency general surgery. Policies targeting structural barriers related to household composition and socioeconomic status may help alleviate these disparities.