Hypothesis: Being African American does not confer a higher risk of postoperative mortality and complications among apparently healthy children
Methods: Used data from the NSQIP-P database to analyze postop outcomes in children (age less than 18yo) to 30 days postop. Compared outcomes in white vs African American children.
Results: In 172,549 apparently healthy children, the overall incidence of 30-day mortality was 0.02%, postoperative complications was 13.9%, and serious adverse events was 5.7%. African American children had:
3.48 times the odds of dying within 30 days after surgery
27% relative greater odds of developing postoperative complications
8% relative greater odds of developing serious adverse events
Strengths: Analyzed important outcomes, large sample size, considered preop status
Weaknesses: Relatively small number of African American children, hospital sites de-indentified, race was self-assigned, didn’t evaluate other races
Key Point: Being African American is associated with a higher rate of postoperative complications and mortality, even among relatively healthy children.