Findings indicate that older veterans living in deprived neighborhoods and identifying as black experience poorer surgical outcomes and higher care fragmentation. The study analyzed 93,644 veterans and identified that black veterans had worse outcomes (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06) and those with increased non-VA care days exhibited higher doors scores (adjusted odds ratio per 20%, 1.01). Notably, veterans in rural areas showed better outcomes than their urban counterparts, suggesting care improvements are necessary for specific demographics.
• Why it matters: Surgical outcomes are affected by social determinants in veterans.
Journal Article by Jacobs MA, Gao Y (…) Hall DE et 8 al. in JAMA Surg