Researchers examined whether patient race represented an independent predictor of unplanned 30-day hospital readmission following spinal surgery, in a Spine study.
The study included 600 patients who received elective spinal surgery at an academic medical center. Researchers pinpointed unplanned 30-day readmissions, which were the result of surgical or nonsurgical complications. They utilized multivariate logistic regression to see if black patients possessed an increased chance of 30-day readmission compared to white patients.
Here are five observations:
1. The study revealed black patients experienced a higher readmission rate (10.56 percent) than white patients (7.86 percent).
2. The researchers determined race, body mass index, sex, age, smoking, diabetes and fusion levels all correlated with increased 30-day readmission rates in a univariate analysis.
3. Via a multivariate logistic regression model, researchers identified race as an independent predictor of 30-day readmission following elective spinal surgery.
4. The study revealed no significant variants between the two groups in terms of baseline, one-year and two-year patient-reported outcomes.
5. In conclusion, researchers said their findings imply black patients possess a higher likelihood of readmission 30-days post-operation. They suggest organizations decrease these disparities by emphasizing race-based measures as well as improved post-discharge care.