The effect of Hispanic ethnicity on surgical outcomes: An analysis of the NSQIP database

Am J Surg. 2019 Apr;217(4):618-633. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.10.004. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Abstract

Background: Existing literature has shown racial/ethnic disparities between white and black surgical populations, however, surgical outcomes for Hispanic patients are limited in both scope and quantity.

Methods: Data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2007 to 2015 was used to analyze surgical outcomes in approximately 3.5 million patients.

Results: Overall, Hispanics experienced lower odds of mortality compared to non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native patients (all P < 0.0001). No difference was found in mortality odds between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Asian or Native Hawaiian patients. Hispanics experienced minimal disparities in complications as compared to non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black but had a higher rate of select complications when compared to Non-Hispanic Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander.

Conclusion: Hispanics, in general, had lower odds of 30-day postoperative mortality and major morbidity compared to most of the races/ethnicities included in the ACS NSQIP database.

Keywords: Hispanic epidemiological paradox; Hispanic health outcomes; NSQIP; Surgery; Surgical outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Databases, Factual
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications / ethnology*
  • Postoperative Complications / mortality*
  • Surgical Procedures, Operative / mortality*
  • United States / epidemiology