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ImportanceEnglish language proficiency has been reported to correlate with disparities in health outcomes. Therefore, it is important to identify and describe the association of language barriers with perioperative care and surgical outcomes to inform efforts aimed at reducing health care disparities.ObjectiveTo examine whether limited English proficiency compared with English proficiency in adult patients is associated with differences in perioperative care and surgical outcomes.Evidence ReviewA systematic review was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts, and CINAHL of all English-language publications from database inception to December 7, 2022. Searches included Medical Subject Headings terms related to language barriers, perioperative or surgical care, and perioperative outcomes. Studies that investigated adults in perioperative settings and involved quantitative data comparing cohorts with limited English proficiency and English proficiency were included. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Because of heterogeneity in analysis and reported outcomes, data were not pooled for quantitative analysis. Results are reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols guideline.FindingsOf 2230 unique records identified, 29 were eligible for inclusion (281 266 total patients; mean [SD] age, 57.2 [10.0] years; 121 772 [43.3%] male and 159 240 [56.6%] female). Included studies were observational cohort studies, except for a single cross-sectional study. Median cohort size was 1763 (IQR, 266-7402), with a median limited English proficiency cohort size of 179 (IQR, 51-671). Six studies explored access to surgery, 4 assessed delays in surgical care, 14 assessed surgical admission length of stay, 4 assessed discharge disposition, 10 assessed mortality, 5 assessed postoperative complications, 9 assessed unplanned readmissions, 2 assessed pain management, and 3 assessed functional outcomes. Surgical patients with limited English proficiency were more likely to experience reduced access in 4 of 6 studies, delays in obtaining care in 3 of 4 studies, longer surgical admission length of stay in 6 of 14 studies, and more likely discharge to a skilled facility than patients with English proficiency in 3 of 4 studies. Some additional differences in associations were found between patients with limited English proficiency who spoke Spanish vs other languages. Mortality, postoperative complications, and unplanned readmissions had fewer significant associations with English proficiency status.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this systematic review, most of the included studies found associations between English proficiency and multiple perioperative process-of-care outcomes, but fewer associations were seen between English proficiency and clinical outcomes. Because of limitations of the existing research, including study heterogeneity and residual confounding, mediators of the observed associations remain unclear. Standardized reporting and higher-quality studies are needed to understand the impact of language barriers on perioperative health disparities and identify opportunities to reduce related perioperative health care disparities.
ImportanceEnglish language proficiency has been reported to correlate with disparities in health outcomes. Therefore, it is important to identify and describe the association of language barriers with perioperative care and surgical outcomes to inform efforts aimed at reducing health care disparities.ObjectiveTo examine whether limited English proficiency compared with English proficiency in adult patients is associated with differences in perioperative care and surgical outcomes.Evidence ReviewA systematic review was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts, and CINAHL of all English-language publications from database inception to December 7, 2022. Searches included Medical Subject Headings terms related to language barriers, perioperative or surgical care, and perioperative outcomes. Studies that investigated adults in perioperative settings and involved quantitative data comparing cohorts with limited English proficiency and English proficiency were included. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Because of heterogeneity in analysis and reported outcomes, data were not pooled for quantitative analysis. Results are reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols guideline.FindingsOf 2230 unique records identified, 29 were eligible for inclusion (281 266 total patients; mean [SD] age, 57.2 [10.0] years; 121 772 [43.3%] male and 159 240 [56.6%] female). Included studies were observational cohort studies, except for a single cross-sectional study. Median cohort size was 1763 (IQR, 266-7402), with a median limited English proficiency cohort size of 179 (IQR, 51-671). Six studies explored access to surgery, 4 assessed delays in surgical care, 14 assessed surgical admission length of stay, 4 assessed discharge disposition, 10 assessed mortality, 5 assessed postoperative complications, 9 assessed unplanned readmissions, 2 assessed pain management, and 3 assessed functional outcomes. Surgical patients with limited English proficiency were more likely to experience reduced access in 4 of 6 studies, delays in obtaining care in 3 of 4 studies, longer surgical admission length of stay in 6 of 14 studies, and more likely discharge to a skilled facility than patients with English proficiency in 3 of 4 studies. Some additional differences in associations were found between patients with limited English proficiency who spoke Spanish vs other languages. Mortality, postoperative complications, and unplanned readmissions had fewer significant associations with English proficiency status.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this systematic review, most of the included studies found associations between English proficiency and multiple perioperative process-of-care outcomes, but fewer associations were seen between English proficiency and clinical outcomes. Because of limitations of the existing research, including study heterogeneity and residual confounding, mediators of the observed associations remain unclear. Standardized reporting and higher-quality studies are needed to understand the impact of language barriers on perioperative health disparities and identify opportunities to reduce related perioperative health care disparities.
Background/Purpose Medicare’s Hospital Readmission Reduction Program disproportionately penalizes safety-net hospitals (SNH) caring for vulnerable populations. This study assessed the association of insurance type with 30-day emergency department visits/observation stays (EDOS), readmissions, and cumulative costs in colorectal surgery patients. Methods Retrospective inpatient cohort study using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2013–2019) with cost data in a SNH. The odds of EDOS and readmissions and cumulative variable (index hospitalization and all 30-day EDOS and readmissions) costs were modeled adjusting for frailty, case status, presence of a stoma, and open versus laparoscopic surgery. Results The cohort had 245 private, 195 Medicare, and 590 Medicaid/uninsured cases, with a mean age 55.0 years (SD = 13.3) and 52.9% of the cases were performed on male patients. Most cases were open surgeries (58.7%). Complication rates were 41.8%, EDOS 12.0%, and readmissions 20.1%. Medicaid/uninsured had increased odds of urgent/emergent surgeries (aOR = 2.15, CI = 1.56–2.98, p < 0.001) and complications (aOR = 1.43, CI = 1.02–2.03, p = 0.042) versus private patients. Medicaid/uninsured versus private patients had higher EDOS (16.6% versus 4.1%) and readmissions (22.9% versus 14.3%) rates and higher odds of EDOS (aOR = 4.81, CI = 2.57–10.06, p < 0.001), and readmissions (aOR = 1.62, CI = 1.07–2.50, p = 0.025), while Medicare patients had similar odds versus private. Cumulative variable cost %change was increased for Medicare and Medicaid/uninsured, but Medicaid/uninsured was similar to private after adjusting for urgent/emergent cases. Conclusions Increased urgent/emergent cases in Medicaid/uninsured populations drive increased complications odds and higher costs compared to private patients, suggesting lack of access to outpatient care. SNH care for higher cost populations, receive lower reimbursements, and are penalized by value-based programs. Increasing healthcare access for Medicaid/uninsured patients could reduce urgent/emergent surgeries, resulting in fewer complications, EDOS/readmissions, and costs.
Background and purpose Emergency colectomies are associated with a higher risk of complications compared to elective ones. A critical assessment of complications occurring beyond post-operative day 30 (POD30) is lacking. This study aimed to assess the readmission rate and factors associated with readmission 6-months following emergency colectomy. Methods A retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent emergency colectomy (2010–2018) was performed using the Nationwide Readmissions Database. The cohort was divided into two groups: (i) no readmission and (ii) emergency readmission(s) for complications related to colectomy (defined using ICD-9/10 codes). Readmissions were categorized as either “early” (POD0–30) or “late” (> POD30). Differences between groups were described and multivariable regression controlling for relevant covariates defined a priori were used to identify factors associated with timing of readmission and cost. Results Of 141,481 eligible cases, 13.22% (n = 18,699) were readmitted within 6-months of emergency colectomy for colectomy-related complications, 61.63% of which were “late” readmissions (> POD30). The most common reasons for “late” readmission were for bleeding, gastrointestinal, and infectious complications (20.80%, 25.30%, and 32.75%, respectively). On multiple logistic regression, female gender (OR 1.12; 95%CI 1.04–1.21), open procedures (OR 1.12, 95%CI 1.011–1.24), and sigmoidectomies (OR 1.51, 95%CI 1.39–1.65, relative to right hemicolectomies) were the strongest predictors of “late” readmission. On multiple linear regression, “late” readmissions were associated with a $1717.09 USD (95%CI $1717.05–$1717.12) increased cost compared to “early” readmissions. Discussion The majority of colectomy-related readmissions following emergency colectomy occur beyond POD30 and are associated with cases that are of overall higher morbidity, as well as open sigmoidectomies. Given the associated increased cost of care, mitigation of such readmissions by close follow-up prior to and beyond POD30 is advisable.
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