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Health Care Disparities in Patients Undergoing Hysterectomy for Benign Indications: A Systematic Review
Cecilia K Wieslander1, Cara L Grimes, Ethan M Balk
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California; the Division of Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York; the Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island; the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; the Division of Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC; the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Florida Health, Jacksonville, Florida; Occom Health, Newton, Massachusetts; the Division of Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Cooper Health University, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey; the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Louisville Health, Louisville, Kentucky; the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, and the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, the Division of Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas; and the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Objective:
To explore how markers of health care disparity are associated with access to care and outcomes among patients seeking and undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications.
Data Sources:
PubMed, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through January 23, 2022.
Methods Of Study Selection:
The population of interest included patients in the United States who sought or underwent hysterectomy by any approach for benign indications. Health care disparity markers included race, ethnicity, geographic location, insurance status, and others. Outcomes included access to surgery, patient level outcomes, and surgical outcomes. Eligible studies reported multivariable regression analyses that described the independent association between at least one health care disparity risk marker and an outcome. We evaluated direction and strengths of association within studies and consistency across studies.
Tabulation, Integration, And Results:
Of 6,499 abstracts screened, 39 studies with a total of 46 multivariable analyses were included. Having a Black racial identity was consistently associated with decreased access to minimally invasive, laparoscopic, robotic, and vaginal hysterectomy. Being of Hispanic ethnicity and having Asian or Pacific Islander racial identities were associated with decreased access to laparoscopic and vaginal hysterectomy. Black patients were the only racial or ethnic group with an increased association with hysterectomy complications. Medicare insurance was associated with decreased access to laparoscopic hysterectomy, and both Medicaid and Medicare insurance were associated with increased likelihood of hysterectomy complications. Living in the South or Midwest or having less than a college degree education was associated with likelihood of prior hysterectomy.
Conclusion:
Studies suggest that various health care disparity markers are associated with poorer access to less invasive hysterectomy procedures and with poorer outcomes for patients who are undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications. Further research is needed to understand and identify the causes of these disparities, and immediate changes to our health care system are needed to improve access and opportunities for patients facing health care disparities.
Systematic Review Registration:
PROSPERO, CRD42021234511.
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