Social Vulnerability Tied to Higher Postoperative Complications in Cancer Surgery

Among 34,253 patients undergoing hepatopancreatobiliary cancer surgery, high allostatic load (AL) strongly correlated with increased postoperative risks. Those in socioeconomically vulnerable areas faced a 44% higher likelihood of severe complications and an 85% increased chance of failure to rescue. A significant twofold increase in 30-day mortality was also linked to elevated AL. This study underscores how social stressors exacerbate physiological decline, leading to worse surgical outcomes.