title: Racial disparities in outcomes after appendectomy for acute appendicitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although black patients with acute appendicitis have been shown to be less likely than whites to undergo laparoscopic appendectomy, it is unknown whether they suffer increased complications after surgical management of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis from 2005 through 2009, using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, was conducted. Rates of serious and overall morbidity were compared between blacks and whites, with adjustment for preoperative risk factors, the severity of appendicitis, and surgical approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blacks were more likely than whites to suffer serious postoperative complications (4.8% vs 3.3%; adjusted odds ratio vs whites, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-1.67; P = .0002) or any complication (8.4% vs 6.0%; adjusted odds ratio vs whites, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.50; P = .0007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Racial disparities in postoperative outcomes exist for even a procedure as ubiquitous as appendectomy. More research is needed to determine the underlying reasons for these disparities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. scarb005@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Scarborough
authors.forename: Kyla M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Theodore N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Pappas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*