Poorer surgical outcomes linked to lower socioeconomic status

Editor's Note

This study from researchers at the Cleveland Clinic found a consistent, strong association between geographic indicators for socioeconomic status and important surgical outcomes.

Of 1,573,740 hospital discharges analyzed, adjusted odds of inpatient mortality significantly increased as geographic distress increased across all measures of geographic risk.

The odds of routine discharge increased, and the odds of 30-day readmission decreased with a decrease in geographic distress.

Further work is needed to understand the associations between socioeconomic status and outcomes and to develop interventions and policies to address them, the researchers say.