Utilizing Data Mining Algorithms and Geospatial Analysis to Study Cataract Surgeries in Florida

PURPOSE: To determine statewide cataract surgery rates with cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation (CEIOL) in Florida from 2005 to 2014 among Caucasians, African–Americans, Hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders. METHODS: This is a retrospective database study analyzing ambulatory surgical data in Florida from 2005 to 2014. Using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) and State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Databases (SASD), the authors utilized data mining algorithms to analyze and graphically represent disparities in the delivery of cataract surgery, changes in surgery volume, and demographic characteristics in patients 65 years and older in all Florida counties from 2005 to 2014. RESULTS: Cataract surgeries performed in patients ≥65 years of age represented 1,892,132 (14.90%) of the 12,695,932 total ambulatory surgical procedures from 2005 to 2014 in the HCUP-SASD Florida database. More surgeries were performed in females versus males, P < 0.001. Caucasians, African–Americans, and Hispanics represented 82.23%, 4.95%, and 10.69% of the utilization rate of all CEIOLs, respectively. From 2005 to 2014, the average surgery volume increased by an average rate of change of 1.29%. Cataract surgery penetration in the general population observed a steady decrease from 18.82% in 2005 to 16.66% in 2014. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery in Florida exhibited an unequal distribution with respect to gender and race, and select counties exhibited marked changes in surgical volume over the past 11 years. This study establishes a method for data mining and geospatial analysis to study surgical and epidemiological trends and identify disparities in delivery of healthcare.