BACKGROUND The relationship between race and neurosurgical outcomes is poorly characterized despite its importance. The influence of race on short-term patient outcomes, in a pituitary tumor surgery population, was assessed.… Click to show full abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between race and neurosurgical outcomes is poorly characterized despite its importance. The influence of race on short-term patient outcomes, in a pituitary tumor surgery population, was assessed. METHODS Coarsened exact matching was used to retrospectively analyze 567 consecutive pituitary tumor cases from a six-year period (June 07, 2013 to April 29, 2019) at a single, multihospital academic medical center. Outcomes studied include 30-day readmission, mortality, and reoperation. RESULTS 92 exact-matched cases were suitable for analysis. There was a significant difference in 30-day emergency room (ER) visits between the two races (p = 0.0386, OR (black/AA vs white) = 4.5, 95% CI = 1.072, 30.559). There was no observed mortality over the 30-day postoperative period. There was no significant difference in 30-day readmission between the two race cohorts (p = 0.3877). There was no significant difference in return to surgery after index admission within 30 days (p = 1.000). There was no significant difference in return to surgery within 30 days (p = 0.3750). CONCLUSION This study suggests that the effect of race on outcomes is partly mitigated for those whom can attain access, and when socioeconomic factors and comorbidities are controlled for. The noted significant difference in ER visits could be indicative of confounding variables that were not well controlled for and requires further exploration.
               
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