Hospitalization outcomes and racial disparities in cervical cancer patients: An analysis of the national inpatient sample data from 2002 to 2014

Background: Little is known about outcomes in patients after being hospitalized for care of cancer or comorbid conditions and the disparity between African-American and White cervical cancer patients. Methods: Using the national inpatient sample (HCUP-NIS) database of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project between 2002-2014, we included 5217 African-American and 21,752 White patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of cervical cancer. We examined racial differences in hospitalization outcomes; length of stay (LOS) in hospital, mortality in hospital, post-operative complications in patients who underwent hysterectomy and discharge disposition. Patients were matched on age at primary diagnosis, insurance status, residential region, and median income of residential area, modified Deyo comorbidity index, stage of disease and treatment. Categorical outcomes were analyzed by conditional logistic regression accounting for matched study design and odds ratios (95%CI) were reported. LOS was analyzed using t-test and beta estimate for difference in means was reported. Results: The LOS was significantly lower for Whites compared to African-American cervical cancer patients when matched on demographic only (beta=-0.41, p-value < 0.0005, presentation + demographic (beta=-0.41, p-value < 0.0006) and treatment + presentation + demographic variables (beta=-0.46, p-value < 0.0001). White cervical cancer patients were commonly discharged to other intermediate nursing facility (OR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.20-1.41, matched on demographic only; OR = 1.31, 95%CI = 1.21-1.43, matched on presentation + demographic; and OR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.22-1.43), matched on treatment + presentation + demographic). Similar trends were seen in both older (>= 65 years) and younger ( < 65 years) patients, when stratified by age. Conclusion: Disparities in hospitalization outcomes in cervical patients are not observed when different characteristics of African-American and White cervical patients are accounted for and matched.