A study comparing the area deprivation index and social vulnerability index in lumbar spine patients found the latter was better for evaluating postoperative outcomes, according to a publication in the Dec. 1 issue of Spine.
Five notes:
1. One hundred eighty-two patients who had elective one- or two-level posterior spine surgery between January 2015 and September 2021 were included. They all had surgery at the same institution.
2. Researchers calculated ADI and SVI values from the patient's addresses, and they were grouped based on values and minimum clinically important difference thresholds for pain interference and physical function.
3. Researchers found race wasn't a significant predictor of MCID for pain interference or physical function. A univariate logistic regression found that among SVI themes, socioeconomic status, housing type and transportation had significant affects on patient outcomes.
4. The study concluded, "ADI and SVI quartile assignment were predictors of MCID achievement. While ADI and SVI may both identify patients at risk for adverse outcomes following lumbar fusion, SVI offers greater granularity in terms of isolating themes of disadvantage impacting MCID achievement."