Social determinants of health and their impact on postcolectomy surgery readmissions: a multistate analysis, 2009-2014.

To examine the effect of race/ethnicity, insurance status and median household income on postoperative readmissions following colectomy. Multivariate analysis of hospital discharge data from California, Florida, Maryland and New York from 2009 to 2014. Primary outcomes included adjusted odds of 30- and 90-day readmissions following colectomy by race, insurance status and median income quartile.  Total 330,840 discharges included. All 30-day readmissions were higher for black patients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.07). Both 30- and 90-day readmissions were higher for Medicaid (aOR: 1.30 and 1.26) and Medicare (aOR: 1.30 and 1.29). The 30- and 90-day readmissions were lower in the highest income quartiles. Race, insurance status and median household income are all independent predictors of disparity in readmissions following colectomy.