Thousands of lives could have been saved if racial and ethnic disparities in surgical outcomes were addressed, according to a large national study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2023 annual meeting. The study, which analyzed data from over 1.5 million inpatient procedures, revealed that approximately 12,000 Black and Hispanic patients who died after surgery in the past two decades may have survived if they had received equal care to their white counterparts.
The research sheds light on the grave consequences of inequities in surgical outcomes. Black patients were found to be 42% more likely to die after surgery compared to white patients, while Hispanic patients faced a 21% higher risk. Without intensified efforts to bridge these racial and ethnic gaps in surgical outcomes, preventable deaths will continue among minority patients, warned the researchers. They emphasized the urgency of developing equity policies to address these disparities and highlighted that even a 2% reduction in excess mortality rates for Black patients could prevent around 3,000 post-surgery deaths in the next decade.
Lead author of the study, Dr. Christian Mpody, stressed that their findings aimed to move beyond mere documentation of disparities in surgical outcomes by quantifying the human toll associated with these disparities. He emphasized the importance of recognizing that every statistic represents real people with families and lives. By illustrating the potential impact of racial and ethnic disparities on mortality rates, the study aims to raise awareness among policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the general public.
The research drew on the Nationwide Inpatient Sample data, analyzing over a million surgical procedures performed at 7,740 U.S. hospitals between 2000 and 2020. The study revealed that regional disparities played a role in the higher mortality rates among Black and Hispanic patients. Black patients faced significantly higher mortality rates in the Northeast, while Hispanic patients experienced elevated mortality rates in the West. However, the study did not pinpoint the specific causes of death.
Dr. Mpody emphasized that regional disparities may not necessarily indicate inferior surgical care, but rather reflect broader population health and socioeconomic conditions. The research team is currently investigating the underlying reasons for these regional variations.
While the study did not evaluate the effectiveness of specific interventions or policies, Dr. Mpody outlined a three-pronged approach to addressing these disparities, involving research, education, and service. The authors recommended increasing investment in disparity research, incorporating lectures on race and racism into medical and nursing school curricula, and promoting cultural competency training within healthcare systems. They also suggested focusing on diversity in grand rounds, investing in patient education and health literacy, developing personalized medicine approaches tailored to individual patients’ needs and racial considerations, and increasing the number of minority healthcare providers.
As racial and ethnic disparities in surgical outcomes persist, it is crucial for stakeholders to join forces and work towards comprehensive solutions. By prioritizing research, education, and service, healthcare systems can strive for equitable care that saves lives and ensures better outcomes for all patients.
