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J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2023; 84(06): 560-566
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1757613
Original Article

Health Care Disparities in Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Tumors: An Experience from Neighboring Urban Public and Private Hospitals

Authors

  • Alex J. Gordon

    1   NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States

  • Yosef Dastagirzada

    2   Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States

  • Jamie Schlacter

    1   NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States

  • Sonal Mehta

    3   Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States

  • Nidhi Agrawal

    3   Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States

  • John G. Golfinos 

    2   Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States

  • Richard Lebowitz

    4   Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States

  • Donato Pacione

    2   Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States

  • Seth Lieberman

    4   Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States
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Abstract

Objectives Few studies have assessed the role of socioeconomic health care disparities in skull base pathologies. We compared the clinical history and outcomes of pituitary tumors at private and public hospitals to delineate whether health care disparities exist in pituitary tumor surgery.

Methods We reviewed the records of patients who underwent transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection at NYU Langone Health and Bellevue Hospital. Seventy-two consecutive patients were identified from each hospital. The primary outcome was time-to-surgery from initial recommendation. Secondary outcomes included postoperative diabetes insipidus, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, and gross total resection.

Results Of 144 patients, 23 (32%) public hospital patients and 24 (33%) private hospital patients had functional adenomas (p = 0.29). Mean ages for public and private hospital patients were 46.5 and 51.1 years, respectively (p = 0.06). Private hospital patients more often identified as white (p < 0.001), spoke English (p < 0.001), and had private insurance (p < 0.001). The average time-to-surgery for public and private hospital patients were 46.2 and 34.8 days, respectively (p = 0.39). No statistically significant differences were found in symptom duration, tumor size, reoperation, CSF leak, or postoperative length of stay; however, public hospital patients more frequently required emergency surgery (p = 0.03), developed transient diabetes insipidus (p = 0.02), and underwent subtotal resection (p = 0.04).

Conclusion Significant socioeconomic differences exist among patients undergoing pituitary surgery at our institution's hospitals. Public hospital patients more often required emergency surgery, developed diabetes insipidus, and underwent subtotal tumor resection. Identifying these differences is an imperative initial step in improving the care of our patients.

Keywords

pituitary tumor - transsphenoidal surgery - health care disparity - practice setting

Note

Presented at 31st Annual North American Skull Base Society Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, February 2022.




Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 03. Mai 2022

Angenommen: 29. August 2022

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
10. Oktober 2022

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