Race and socioeconomic disparities persist in treatment and outcomes of patients with cervical spinal cord injuries: An analysis of the national inpatient sample from 2016 - 2020

This study examines disparities in treatment and outcomes for cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI) based on race and socioeconomic status (SES). It uses data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016-2020 to investigate if inequalities persist despite increased awareness. The study found that minority patients experienced longer wait times for surgery and had longer hospital stays compared to white patients. They were also more likely to be discharged to unfavorable locations like skilled nursing facilities or against medical advice. Patients with lower socioeconomic status also faced unfavorable outcomes, including higher treatment costs and less favorable discharge dispositions compared to those with higher incomes. These disparities highlight the ongoing challenges in achieving equitable healthcare for all patients with cervical SCI.

• 1
  Minority patients were less likely to receive operative management following cervical SCI compared to White patients.
• 2
  Minority patients experienced a longer interval between admission and surgical intervention (3 vs. 2 days, p < 00.001) and a longer LOS (16 vs. 13 days, p < 00.001) compared to White patients.
• 3
  Patients in the lowest socioeconomic status quartile had higher total costs ($221,654 vs. $191,723, p < 0.001) despite shorter length of stay (15 vs. 12 days, p < 0.001).