Concise Commentary: Out for Blood—Persisting Racial Disparities of Postoperative Complications in Minority Patients with IBD

Among minority populations, there is a rising incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and IBD unclassified [1, 2]. Although medical therapy is first line for patients with IBD, surgical intervention is typically reserved for severe or refractory cases. As with other aspects of healthcare, postoperative outcomes are associated with race, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. An analysis using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2005 to 2017 found that Black patients had higher odds of complications, including renal and cardiac issues, death, and serious morbidity, compared with white patients [3]. Prior studies have shown that minority populations often experience inferior postoperative outcomes, including higher morbidity, mortality, and longer hospital stays compared with white patients [3, 4]. …