Background: Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is one of the most common bariatric procedures worldwide, but the impact of social determinants of health on postoperative outcomes for this procedure has not been well characterized. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact that social determinants of health have on postoperative outcomes after vertical sleeve gastrectomy.
Method: This was a population-based study using the MARINER-15 database, an all-payer claims database. The primary endpoint of this study was the development of any complication, including cardiac complication, acute kidney injury, deep vein thrombosis, wound complication, hematoma, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, transfusion, or urinary tract infection within 60 days, 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality, or readmission within 30 or 90 days in patients undergoing vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedures.
Results: Individuals in the social determinants of health cohort had a significantly longer length of stay when compared with those without social determinants of health (3.07 days vs 1.582 days, P < .001). These patients were more likely to develop any complication within 60 days after surgery (hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.40) but were less likely to return for readmission within 30 and 90 days (hazard ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.66-0.96; hazard ratio 0.85 95% confidence interval 0.72-0.99).
Conclusion: Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is an effective treatment for morbid obesity and its associated comorbidities. Although patients with social determinants of health are more likely to develop any of the analyzed postoperative complications within 60 days, they are less likely to return for readmission, highlighting the importance of focused follow-up and other measures to avoid lapses in care and eliminate further barriers to care in this population.
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