Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
1-1-2022
Journal
Neurosurgery
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Meningiomas are the most common intracranial neoplasms. Although genomic analysis has helped elucidate differences in survival, there is evidence that racial disparities may influence outcomes. African Americans have a higher incidence of meningiomas and poorer survival outcomes. The etiology of these disparities remains unclear, but may include a combination of pathophysiology and other factors.
OBJECTIVE: To determine factors that contribute to different clinical outcomes in racial populations.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 305 patients who underwent resection for meningiomas at a single tertiary care facility. We used descriptive statistics and univariate, multivariable, and Kaplan-Meier analyses to study clinical, radiographical, and histopathological differences.
RESULTS: Minority patients were more likely to present through the emergency department than an outpatient clinic (P < .0001). They were more likely to present with more advanced clinical symptoms with lower Karnofsky Performance scores, more frequently had peritumoral edema (P = .0031), and experienced longer postoperative stays in the hospital (P = .0053), and African-American patients had higher hospitalization costs (P = .046) and were more likely to be publicly insured. Extent of resection was an independent predictor of recurrence freedom (P = .039). Presentation in clinic setting trended toward an association with recurrence-free survival (P = .055). We observed no significant difference in gross total resection rates, postoperative recurrence, or recurrence-free survival.
CONCLUSION: Minority patients are more likely to present with severe symptoms, require longer perioperative hospitalization, and generate higher hospitalization costs. This may be due to socioeconomic factors that affect access to health care. Targeting barriers to access, especially to subspecialty care, may facilitate more appropriate and timely diagnosis, thereby improving patient care and outcomes.
Keywords
Brain Neoplasms, Healthcare Disparities, Humans, Meningeal Neoplasms, Meningioma, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Retrospective Studies, Socioeconomic Factors, Meningioma, Meningioma surgery, Racial disparities, Social determinants of health
DOI
10.1227/NEU.0000000000001751
PMID
34982878
PMCID
PMC9514723
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
11-29-2021
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Included in
Bioinformatics Commons, Biomedical Informatics Commons, Data Science Commons, Neurosurgery Commons, Oncology Commons, Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons
