Language, Race, Ethnicity, and Insurance-related Disparities in Blepharoptosis Surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Health Services Research
• Health Equity

Background:

• Patient demographics like primary language, race, ethnicity, and insurance can influence healthcare access and utilization.
• Blepharoptosis (drooping eyelid) diagnosis and treatment may be subject to disparities across different patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess variations in blepharoptosis surgical rates, waiting times, and outcomes based on patient demographics and insurance.
• To identify potential healthcare disparities in the surgical management of blepharoptosis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 5045 patients diagnosed with blepharoptosis.
• Analysis of primary outcomes including surgical procedure, diagnosis-to-procedure interval, procedure type, and complications.
• Comparison of surgical rates across demographic groups (ethnicity, primary language) and insurance types.

Main Results:

• Hispanic patients were diagnosed with blepharoptosis younger (60 years) than the average (64 years).
• Hispanic (20.8%) and Asian (18.5%) patients had higher surgical rates compared to White (13.0%) and Black (12.8%) patients.
• Non-English speakers (Vietnamese, Mandarin, Spanish) and patients requiring interpreters underwent surgery more frequently than English speakers.

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities exist in blepharoptosis surgical rates among ethnic and linguistic groups.
• Hispanic and Asian patients, along with non-English speakers, show higher rates of blepharoptosis surgery.
• These findings highlight the need to address healthcare access and equity in managing blepharoptosis.