Race, Insurance, and Sex-Based Disparities in Access to High-Volume Centers for Pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND: With a large body of literature demonstrating positive volume-outcome relationships for most major operations, minimum volume requirements have been suggested for concentration of cases to high-volume centers (HVCs). However, data are limited regarding disparities in access to these hospitals for pancreatectomy patients. METHODS: The 2005–2018 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried for all elective adult hospitalizations for pancreatectomy. Hospitals performing more than 20 annual cases were classified as HVCs. Mixed-multivariable regression models were developed to characterize the impact of demographic factors and case volume on outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Of an estimated 127,527 hospitalizations, 79.8% occurred at HVCs. Patients at these centers were more frequently white (79.0 vs 70.8%; p < 0.001), privately insured (39.4 vs 34.2%; p < 0.001), and within the highest income quartile (30.5 vs 25.0%; p < 0.001). Adjusted analysis showed that operations performed at HVCs were associated with reduced odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34–0.55), increased odds of discharge to home (AOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04–1.30), shorter hospital stay (β, −0.81 days; 95% CI, −1.2 to −0.40 days), but similar costs. Patients who were female (AOR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79–0.98), non-white (black: AOR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.59–0.75; Hispanic: AOR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.47–0.66; reference, white), insured by Medicaid (AOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.56–0.72; reference, private), and within the lowest income quartile (AOR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59–0.90; reference, highest) had decreased odds of treatment at an HVC. CONCLUSIONS: For those undergoing pancreatectomies, HVCs realize superior clinical outcomes but treat lower proportions of female, non-white, and Medicaid populations. These findings may have implications for improving access to high-quality centers.