Older Black men more likely to die after surgery than others

Editor's Note

This study led by researchers at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, finds that postoperative mortality was higher in Black men than Black women, White men, and White women.

A total of 1,868,036 Black and White Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 to 99 years undergoing one of eight surgical procedures were analyzed.

Adjusted analysis found that postoperative mortality overall was higher in Black men (3.05%), compared with Black women (2.18%), White men (2.69%), and White women (2.38%).

When the surgical procedures were performed electively, there was a higher mortality rate in Black men (1.30%), compared with Black women (0.79%), White men (0.85%), and White women (0.82%). There were no statistically significant differences in mortality rates when the procedures were performed nonelectively.

The differences in mortality appeared within 7 days of surgery and persisted for up to 60 days postoperatively.

The findings highlight the need to understand better the unique challenges Black men undergoing surgery face, the researchers say.