PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine whether equal access to health care eliminates racial and socioeconomic disparities in appendicitis outcomes. METHODS: A review of patients younger than 18 years treated for appendicitis for a decade was performed. Outcomes were appendiceal perforation (AP) rate and length of hospitalization (LOH). Independent variables included racial status, annual median per capita income, and parental education level. RESULTS: Seven thousand two hundred forty-seven patients were identified (mean age, 11.6 years; 62% male). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for AP was similar in blacks, Hispanics, and Asians compared to whites. The OR for AP was similar in high- and medium-income families compared to low-income families. The OR for AP was similar in high and medium parental education levels compared to low parental education levels. The adjusted LOH was longer in blacks and similar in Hispanics and Asians compared to whites. The LOH was shorter in high- and similar in medium-income families compared to low-income families. The LOH was similar in all parental education levels. CONCLUSION: Lower socioeconomic background and minority status did not correlate with higher appendiceal perforation rates or a clinically longer LOH in children with equal access to care. The previously reported disparities in pediatric appendicitis outcome are preventable with equal access to care. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine whether equal access to health care eliminates racial and socioeconomic disparities in appendicitis outcomes. METHODS: A review of patients younger than 18 years treated for appendicitis for a decade was performed. Outcomes were appendiceal perforation (AP) rate and length of hospitalization (LOH). Independent variables included racial status, annual median per capita income, and parental education level. RESULTS: Seven thousand two hundred forty-seven patients were identified (mean age, 11.6 years; 62% male). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for AP was similar in blacks, Hispanics, and Asians compared to whites. The OR for AP was similar in high- and medium-income families compared to low-income families. The OR for AP was similar in high and medium parental education levels compared to low parental education levels. The adjusted LOH was longer in blacks and similar in Hispanics and Asians compared to whites. The LOH was shorter in high- and similar in medium-income families compared to low-income families. The LOH was similar in all parental education levels. CONCLUSION: Lower socioeconomic background and minority status did not correlate with higher appendiceal perforation rates or a clinically longer LOH in children with equal access to care. The previously reported disparities in pediatric appendicitis outcome are preventable with equal access to care. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors: Adil H Haider; Valerie K Scott; Karim A Rehman; Catherine Velopulos; Jessica M Bentley; Edward E Cornwell; Waddah Al-Refaie Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2013-01-11 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: Dominic Mack; George Staben Rust; Peter Baltrus; Barbara Moore; Charles Sow; Vijaykumar Patel; Dwayne Thomas Journal: South Med J Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 0.954
Authors: Milton Steinman; Patrícia S Rogeri; Lia L Lenci; Clara C Kirschner; José Carlos Teixeira; Paulo David S Gonçalves; Nelson Akamine; Silvio Possa Journal: BMC Emerg Med Date: 2013-07-26