Examining the Hispanic Paradox in Post-Operative Complication Rates
type: CreativeWork
description: INTRODUCTION: Racial disparities exist in both healthcare access and outcomes. Despite high poverty rates, less education, and worse access to healthcare, the Hispanic population as a whole experiences equal, if not better outcomes compared to their non- Hispanic White counterparts. We sought to determine if race was significantly associated with the development of serious post-operative complications (POC) among patients undergoing intra-abdominal general surgical procedures. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing appendectomy, cholecystectomy, or colectomy at a single healthcare system over a 12 month period. Medical records were reviewed for patient demographics, co-morbidities, operative variables, and the occurrence of selected post-operative complications. Variables found to be significantly associated with the development of a POC on univariate analysis were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model to determine the effect of Hispanic race on POC. Additionally, we constructed a propensity score adjusted logistic regression model as a confirmation of our findings. RESULTS: Among 456 patients, 48 (10.5%) developed a POC. Hispanic race, age, tobacco use, selected co-morbidities, surgical procedure and surgical approach were all associated with POC on univariate analysis. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounders, Hispanic race, age, tobacco use, and surgical approach were all significantly associated with POC. Hispanic race was the strongest independent predictor, and was found to be protective against the development of a POC (adjusted OR= 0.22, p-value=0.048). The propensity score adjusted regression model provided a similar estimate of the effect of Hispanic race on POC (adjusted OR= 0.20, p-value=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that Hispanic patients undergoing common intra-abdominal surgical procedures have lower rates of serious post-operative complications, even af…
abstract: INTRODUCTION: Racial disparities exist in both healthcare access and outcomes. Despite high poverty rates, less education, and worse access to healthcare, the Hispanic population as a whole experiences equal, if not better outcomes compared to their non- Hispanic White counterparts. We sought to determine if race was significantly associated with the development of serious post-operative complications (POC) among patients undergoing intra-abdominal general surgical procedures. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing appendectomy, cholecystectomy, or colectomy at a single healthcare system over a 12 month period. Medical records were reviewed for patient demographics, co-morbidities, operative variables, and the occurrence of selected post-operative complications. Variables found to be significantly associated with the development of a POC on univariate analysis were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model to determine the effect of Hispanic race on POC. Additionally, we constructed a propensity score adjusted logistic regression model as a confirmation of our findings. RESULTS: Among 456 patients, 48 (10.5%) developed a POC. Hispanic race, age, tobacco use, selected co-morbidities, surgical procedure and surgical approach were all associated with POC on univariate analysis. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounders, Hispanic race, age, tobacco use, and surgical approach were all significantly associated with POC. Hispanic race was the strongest independent predictor, and was found to be protective against the development of a POC (adjusted OR= 0.22, p-value=0.048). The propensity score adjusted regression model provided a similar estimate of the effect of Hispanic race on POC (adjusted OR= 0.20, p-value=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that Hispanic patients undergoing common intra-abdominal surgical procedures have lower rates of serious post-operative complications, even af…
author: Silviera, Matthew Leon
language: eng
keywords: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery, Hispanic American Studies, Ethnicity, Hispanic Paradox, Post-operative Complications, Race
license: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
date published: 2010
date modified: 2026-07-27T21:22:14Z
provider: Temple University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Temple University. Libraries

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12613/2391