The Influence of Disparities on Prostate Cancer at Diagnosis in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most diagnosed noncutaneous malignancy and second leading-cause of cancer death in men, yet screening is decreasing. As PCa screening has become controversial, socioeconomic disparities in PCa diagnosis and outcomes widen. This study was designed to determine the current disparities influencing PCa diagnosis in Charlotte, NC. METHODS: The Levine Cancer Institute database was queried for patients with PCa, living in metropolitan Charlotte. Socioeconomic status (SES) was determined by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI); higher ADI indicated lower SES. Patients were compared by their National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk stratification. Artificial intelligence predictive models were trained and heatmaps were created, demonstrating the geographic and socioeconomic disparities in late-stage PCa. RESULTS: Of the 802 patients assessed, 202 (25.2%) with high-risk PCa at diagnosis were compared with 198 (24.7%) with low-risk PCa. High-risk PCa patients were older (69.8 ± 9.0 vs. 64.0 ± 7.9 years; p < 0.001) with lower SES (ADI block: 98.4 ± 20.9 vs. 92.1 ± 19.8; p = 0.004) and more commonly African-American (White: 66.2% vs. 78.3%, African-American: 31.3% vs. 20.7%; p = 0.009). On regression, ADI block was an independent predictor (odds ratio [OR] = 1.013, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.002-1.024; p = 0.024) of high-risk PCa at diagnosis, whereas race was not (OR = 1.312, 95% CI 0.782-2.201; p = 0.848). A separate regression demonstrated higher ADI (OR = 1.016, 95% CI 1.004-1.027; p = 0.006) and older age (OR = 1.083, 95% CI 1.054-1.114; p < 0.001) were independent predictors for high-risk PCa. Findings, depicted in heatmaps, demonstrated the geographic locations where men with PCa were predicted to have high-risk disease based on their age and SES. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic status was more closely associated with high-risk PCa at diagnosis than race. Although, of any variable, age was most predictive. The heatmaps identified areas that would benefit from increased awareness, education, and screening to facilitate an earlier PCa diagnosis.

Prospective, international analysis of quality of life outcomes in recurrent versus primary ventral hernia repairs.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL) has become a key outcome measure following ventral hernia repair (VHR), but recurrent and primary VHR have not been compared in this context previously. METHODS: The International Hernia Mesh Registry (2008-2019) was used to identify patients with QOL data scored by the Carolinas Comfort Scale preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 year. RESULTS: Repairs were performed in 227 recurrent and 1,122 primary VHs. Recurrent patients had a higher BMI, larger defects, and were more likely to have preoperative pain, but other comorbidities were equal. Recurrence rates at 1 year were equivalent. Recurrent patients had a greater improvement in pain (-6.3 ± 10.2 vs -4.3 ± 8.3,p = 0.002) and movement limitation (-5.5 ± 10.0 vs -3.2 ± 7.2,p < 0.001) compared to primary patients, but they had increased postoperative mesh sensation (4.6 ± 7.7 vs 2.7 ± 5.5,p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent VHRs led to improved pain and movement limitation, but increased mesh sensation. These findings may be useful for preoperative counseling in the elective setting.

Defining surgical risk in octogenarians undergoing paraesophageal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: With an aging population, the utility of surgery in elderly patients, particularly octogenarians, is of increasing interest. The goal of this study was to analyze outcomes of octogenarians versus non-octogenarians undergoing paraesophageal hernia repair (PEHR). METHODS: The Nationwide Readmission Database was queried for patients > 18 years old who underwent PEHR from 2016 to 2018. Exclusion criteria included a diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancy or a concurrent bariatric procedure. Patients ≥ 80 were compared to those 18-79 years old using standard statistical methods, and subgroup analyses of elective and non-elective PEHRs were performed. RESULTS: From 2016 to 2018, 46,450 patients were identified with 5425 (11.7%) octogenarians and 41,025 (88.3%) non-octogenarians. Octogenarians were more likely to have a non-elective operation (46.3% vs 18.2%, p < 0.001), and those undergoing non-elective PEHR had a higher mortality (5.5% vs 1.2%, p < 0.001). Outcomes were improved with elective PEHR, but octogenarians still had higher mortality (1.3% vs 0.2%, p < 0.001), longer LOS (3[2, 5] vs 2[1, 3] days, p < 0.001), and higher readmission rates within 30 days (11.1% vs 6.5%, p < 0.001) compared to non-octogenarian elective patients. Multivariable logistic regression showed that being an octogenarian was not independently predictive of mortality (odds ratio (OR) 1.373[95% confidence interval 0.962-1.959], p = 0.081), but a non-elective operation was (OR 3.180[2.492-4.057], p < 0.001). Being an octogenarian was a risk factor for readmission within 30 days (OR 1.512[1.348-1.697], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Octogenarians represented a substantial proportion of patients undergoing PEHR and were more likely to undergo a non-elective operation. Being an octogenarian was not an independent predictor of perioperative mortality, but a non-elective operation was. Octogenarians' morbidity and mortality was reduced in elective procedures but was still higher than non-octogenarians. Elective PEHR in octogenarians is reasonable but should involve a thorough risk-benefit analysis.