Disparities in Long-Term Mortality Following Bariatric Surgery Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Patients

Limited studies have reported disparities in short-term mortality between race and ethnic groups. Disparities in long-term mortality between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White patients have not been well described. This study compared long-term mortality between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White patients who underwent bariatric surgery from 1979 to 2018. Long-term all-cause, external-caused, and non-external caused mortality between the two groups from 1979 to 2020 were compared.

Summary statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and percent were used to present characteristics of patients at baseline. Cox regression was used to identify factors associated with long-term mortality.

A total of 19,943 surgical patients were included in the analysis, 19% of which were Hispanic. Mean (SD) age at surgery for Hispanic and non-Hispanic White patients were 41(12) and 43(12) years old (p < 0.01), respectively. Hispanic patients had a higher risk of all-cause death than non-Hispanic White patients (14.6% vs. 12.9%, p < 0.01), respectively. The percentage of non-external (11.2% vs. 10.4%) and external causes (3.1% vs. 2.1%) of death was also greater among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic White patients. Cox regressions showed Hispanic patients had a higher risk of mortality by 39% (all-cause mortality: HR 1.39, p < 0.01), 35% (non-external caused death: HR 1.35, p < 0.01), and 55% (externally caused death: HR 1.55, p < 0.01) than non-Hispanic White patients.

Study results imply disparities in long-term mortality following bariatric surgery between majority and minority patients exist. However, reasons for apparent disparities in long-term mortality are not well defined, suggesting further research is needed to better understand outcome differences.