Neighborhood Disparities Predict Readmission in Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurosurgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Socioeconomic and neighborhood disadvantages are increasingly studied for their impact on otolaryngologic conditions.
• The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) quantifies neighborhood-level disadvantage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and outcomes after endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery (EESBS).
• Specifically, to examine the impact of ADI on hospital length of stay and 30-day readmission rates.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed.
• Data from 64 patients who underwent EESBS between August 2020 and April 2024 at an academic institution were analyzed.
• National ADI was calculated for each patient.

Main Results:

• The mean national ADI was 78.0.
• The average hospital length of stay was 4.2 days, with an 18.8% 30-day readmission rate.
• After adjusting for age, gender, and intraoperative CSF leak, a higher national ADI was significantly associated with increased 30-day readmission (OR = 2.30, P = .035).

Conclusions:

• Neighborhood disadvantage, as indicated by the national ADI, is associated with a higher likelihood of readmission following EESBS.
• These findings underscore the importance of considering socioeconomic factors in the postoperative care of EESBS patients.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to validate these results.