Effect of Household Income on Short-Term Outcomes Following Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor Resection.

The objective of this study is to elucidate the impact of income on short-term outcomes in a cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor resection population.  This is a retrospective regression analysis.  This study was done at a single, multihospital, urban academic medical center.  Over 6 years (from June 7, 2013, to April 24, 2019), 277 consecutive CPA tumor cases were reviewed.  Outcomes studied included readmission, emergency department evaluation, unplanned return to surgery, return to surgery after index admission, and mortality. Univariate analysis was conducted among the entire population with significance set at a -value <0.05. The population was divided into quartiles based on median household income and univariate analysis conducted between the lowest (quartile 1 [Q1]) and highest (quartile 4 [Q4]) socioeconomic quartiles, with significance set at a -value <0.05. Stepwise regression was conducted to determine the correlations among study variables and to identify confounding factors.  Regression analysis of 273 patients demonstrated decreased rates of unplanned reoperation (  = 0.015) and reoperation after index admission (  = 0.035) at 30 days with higher standardized income. Logistic regression between the lowest (Q1) and highest (Q4) socioeconomic quartiles demonstrated decreased unplanned reoperation (  = 0.045) and decreasing but not significant reoperation after index admission (  = 0.15) for Q4 patients. No significant difference was observed for other metrics of morbidity and mortality.  Higher socioeconomic status is associated with decreased risk of unplanned reoperation following CPA tumor resection.