High social vulnerability predicts worse outcomes in colon cancer surgery

A study involving 169,498 Medicare patients revealed that those living in areas of high social vulnerability had significantly worse perioperative outcomes after colectomy for colon cancer. Patients in the highest social vulnerability quintile were 1.36 times more likely to require unplanned surgeries and faced higher 30-day and 1-year mortality rates compared to those in the lowest quintile. Findings remained consistent across both emergency and elective procedures, highlighting the need for addressing structural inequities in surgical care.