Increased incidence of complicated appendicitis in patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities

Daniela Feingold1, Nupur Shridhar2, Jianyou Liu2

  • 1Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Jacobi Medical Center, 1400 Pelham Parkway South, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.

PubMed

Insights

Patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) are more likely to experience complicated appendicitis. This study highlights potential healthcare disparities in emergency general surgery for individuals with disabilities.

Area of Science:

  • Surgery
  • Public Health
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Healthcare disparities for patients with disabilities in surgery are understudied.
  • Understanding these disparities is crucial for improving surgical care.
  • Patients with disabilities may face unique challenges in accessing timely and effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) present with more complicated appendicitis than those without.
  • To identify potential disparities in emergency general surgery outcomes for patients with NDD.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of acute appendicitis cases (2016-2021) in a large US public hospital system.
  • Inclusion of patients under 50 years old.
  • Identification of NDD patients using ICD-10 codes and matching to controls (1:2 ratio) by age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

Main Results:

  • Patients with NDD had a significantly higher incidence of complicated appendicitis (OR 2.15, p=0.003).
  • NDD patients experienced longer lengths of stay (LOS).
  • Increased rates of post-operative complications were observed in the NDD group.

Conclusions:

  • Patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities face a higher risk of complicated appendicitis.
  • Findings suggest a potential healthcare disparity in emergency general surgery for patients with disabilities.
  • Further research is needed to address and mitigate these disparities.

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