Racial and sex disparities in utilization rates for shoulder arthroplasty in the United States disparities in shoulder arthroplasty

Josef K Eichinger; Alyssa R Greenhouse; Meghana V Rao; Eric R Gordon; Daniel Brinton; Xinning Li; Emily J Curry; Richard J Friedman

doi:10.1016/j.jor.2019.02.029

Racial and sex disparities in utilization rates for shoulder arthroplasty in the United States disparities in shoulder arthroplasty

J Orthop. 2019 Feb 28;16(3):195-200. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2019.02.029. eCollection 2019 May-Jun.

Authors

Josef K Eichinger¹, Alyssa R Greenhouse¹, Meghana V Rao¹, Eric R Gordon¹, Daniel Brinton¹, Xinning Li², Emily J Curry², Richard J Friedman¹

Affiliations

¹ Medical University of South Carolina, USA.
² Boston University, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate racial disparities in shoulder arthroplasty (SA), accounting for demographic factors such as sex and age.

Methods: Data for SAs (2011-2014) was queried from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Population-adjusted SA utilization rates, racial and sex differences by age, length of stay, insurer, and comorbidities were calculated.

Results: Caucasians aged 45-64 are 54% more likely than African-Americans and 74% than Hispanics to receive surgery. For patients aged 65-84, the disparity is wider for African-Americans and narrower for Hispanics.

Conclusions: Policymakers and physicians should focus on further national efforts to alleviate healthcare disparities.

Keywords: Geographic variation; Healthcare utilization; Racial disparity; Shoulder arthroplasty.

Grants and funding

UL1 TR001450/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States