Abstract
Objective
The purpose was to study whether racial disparities in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) utilization and outcomes have declined over time.
Methods
We used the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1998 to 2011. We used chi-squared test to compare characteristics, Cochran-Armitage test to compare utilization rates, and Cochran-Armitage test and logistic regression to compare time-trends in outcomes by race.
Results
From 1998 to 2011, 176,141 Whites and 7694 Blacks underwent TSA. Compared to Whites, Blacks who underwent TSA were younger (69.1 vs. 64.2 years; p < 0.0001), more likely to be female (54.9 vs. 71.0 %; p < 0.0001), and have rheumatoid arthritis or avascular necrosis as the underlying diagnosis (1.7 vs. 3.0 % and 1.7 vs. 6.1 %; p < 0.0001 for both) and a Deyo-Charlson index of 2 or higher (8.5 vs. 16.7 %; p < 0.0001). Compared to Whites, Blacks had much lower TSA utilization rate/100,000 in 1998 (2.97 vs. 0.83; p < 0.0001) and in 2011 (12.27 vs. 3.33; p < 0.0001); racial disparities increased from 1998 to 2011 (p < 0.0001). A higher proportion of Blacks than Whites had a hospital stay greater than median in 1998–2000, 62 vs. 51.4 % (p = 0.02), and in 2009–2011, 34.4 vs. 27.3 % (p < 0.0001); disparities did not change over time (p = 0.31). These disparities in utilization were borderline significant in adjusted analyses. There were no racial differences in proportion discharged to inpatient medical facility in 1998–2000, 15.2 vs. 15.0 % (p = 0.95), and in 2009–2011, 12.3 vs. 11.1 % (p = 0.37), respectively.
Conclusions
We found increasing racial disparities in TSA utilization. Some disparities in outcomes exist as well. Patients, surgeons, and policy-makes should be aware of these findings and take action to reduce racial disparities.
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Contributors
JS designed the study. RR obtained the data and performed data programming and data analyses. JS and RR reviewed the analyses. JS drafted the first draft of the manuscript. RR made revisions and edits to the report. All authors approved the final version of the report.
Conflict of Interest
There are no financial or non-financial conflicts related directly to this study. JAS has received research and travel grants from Takeda and Savient and consultant fees from Savient, Takeda, Ardea, and Regeneron. RR has no competing interests.
Grant Support
No direct funding was obtained for this study. JAS is supported by the resources and the use of facilities at the VA Medical Center at Birmingham, Alabama, USA. JAS is also supported by grants from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (AHRQ CERTs) U19 HS021110, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institute of Aging (NIA), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) and research contract CE-1304-6631 from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
Data Sharing
These data are publically available through the HCUP center.
We will share data with any investigator interested in replicating these findings or interested in future collaborations, pursuant to institutional and Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulations, in accordance with patient privacy, confidentiality, and HIPAA laws/regulations.
IRB Approval
The study was approved by the IRB at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
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Singh, J.A., Ramachandran, R. Persisting Racial Disparities in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Utilization and Outcomes. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 3, 259–266 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-015-0138-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-015-0138-3