Disparities in Outcomes for Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease at a Private vs Public Hospital in New York City

In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), social determinants of health contribute to health inequalities. We aimed to compare patients with IBD treated at a private nonprofit vs public hospital in New York City.

We performed a retrospective study of adult patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis with established IBD care. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, healthcare utilization, treatment modalities, and clinical outcomes were collected. Using a series of linear mixed and logistic models, the differences between care at a private nonprofit vs public hospital were assessed while controlling for factors that differed between them.

Our study included 418 patients with IBD, 209 from each hospital. Compared with public hospital patients, private hospital patients were more likely to be White, be non-Hispanic, and have private insurance (all P = .0005) and less likely to face housing instability (P < .0001), face unemployment (P = .0004), be current smokers (P = .03), or be foreign born (P < .0001). Patients at the private hospital were more likely to have multiple anti-tumor necrosis factor (P = .0001) and biologic use (P < .0001). Public hospital patients were less likely to be considered endoscopically adherent (odds ratio [OR], 0.377; P = .001) and more likely to visit the emergency department (OR, 5.01; P < .0001) and be hospitalized (OR, 1.92; P = .05).

Our study is the first to identify significant differences in patient demographics, disease phenotype, treatments and clinical outcomes between patients treated for IBD at a private nonprofit vs public hospital. Our data suggest that social determinants of health drive disparities in the utilization of healthcare facilities.