A new report published in The Spine Journal studies racial, ethic and socioeconomic disparities in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
Researchers examined data for 403 patients collected over six years with patients reporting demographic data. Researchers found:
• The average curve magnitude was greater in black patients than white patients
• Black patients were more likely to present with curves in the surgical range
• Black patients were more likely to have surgery as the initial treatment than white patients
• Black patients had more limited healthcare plans and lower incomes on average than the white patients
• Patients with higher access to insurance presented at a younger age than those with limited access plans
• No difference in Cobb angle at presentation was reported based on income or type of insurance
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