Lower Income Levels Linked to Poorer Surgical Outcomes

A meta-analysis involving over 24 million patients reveals that lower income and wealth levels significantly correlate with worse postoperative outcomes within 90 days of surgery. Those with Medicaid, Medicare, or uninsured status exhibited higher odds of complications, mortality, and readmission compared to privately insured individuals. Specifically, Medicaid patients faced a 1.85 times higher risk of 30-day mortality, emphasizing the vital role of socioeconomic factors in surgical care. This insight calls for improved risk stratification in perioperative preparations.