Influence of Insurance Status and Demographic Factors on Outcomes Following Tracheostomy.

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Health services research
• Surgical outcomes

Background:

• Limited data exists on how socioeconomic and demographic factors influence tracheostomy outcomes.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for improving patient care and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), demographic factors, and insurance status with hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, and mortality after tracheostomy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 523 patients undergoing tracheostomy from 2016-2017.
• Patients categorized into low-, middle-, and high-income groups.
• Analysis included age, sex, race, ethnicity, body mass index, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI); outcomes assessed were hospital/ICU LOS and mortality.

Main Results:

• No significant association found between lower SES and increased morbidity or mortality post-tracheostomy.
• Hispanic or Latino ethnicity was associated with increased odds of 30-day mortality (OR: 4.43, P=.020).
• Higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) also correlated with increased 30-day mortality (OR: 1.12, P=.039).

Conclusions:

• Lower socioeconomic status does not appear to negatively impact tracheostomy outcomes.
• Despite lower CCI scores, Hispanic patients experienced higher 30-day mortality, suggesting unique population-specific factors require investigation.
• Further targeted research is recommended to understand and address disparities in tracheostomy outcomes.