Influence Of Social Deprivation On Outcome Of Open Arterial Surgery In Tertiary Care: An Observational Study

Background and Objective: Health equity is playing an increasing role in British government health policy. Evidence of social deprivation affecting outcomes in surgery is poor. This study aimed to assess the influence of social deprivation on the outcome of major arterial surgery. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken in patients undergoing elective or emergency open surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysms or lower limb arterial reconstruction over an eight and a half year period within one institution. Patient deprivation was calculated for each patient with the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) score. This was then entered into multivariate models to determine its effect on mortality and postoperative length of stay after adjustment for confounders. Results: Five hundred and six patients were included in the study. There were 45 deaths (8.9%) and median (IQR) postoperative length of stay was 8 (4-15) days. The median (IQR) IMD score was 46.4 (28.3-64.5). IMD score correlated with ASA grade and was significantly higher in smokers, patients with respiratory disease and those with left ventricular failure. IMD (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.99-1.03; p = .45) did not affected mortality, which was associated with aortic surgery, emergency surgery, and high ASA grade. Postoperative length of stay, which was longer with/after aortic surgery, tissue loss, emergency surgery, high ASA grade, low haemoglobin, and age over 80years was also independent of deprivation (Spearman's rho = -0.49, p = .28). Discussion: No effect of social deprivation on mortality or length of stay in patients undergoing major arterial surgery was identified.