Akinpelu Toluwani, Dadzie Aaron I, Jacobsen Victoria M, Alia Valentine S, Shah Nikhil R, Diaz Edward M, Bolton Daniel
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, TX, USA.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, TX, USA.
Am J Surg. 2025 Feb;240:115908. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.115908. Epub 2024 Aug 19.
The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) has historically high incidence of congenital defects (CDs) necessitating intervention by pediatric surgical specialties. We examined mortality in this region and related workforce patterns.
Mortality data related to CDs (2007-2021) and surgical workforce trends/projections (2024-2032) were collected using multiple databases: National Vital Statistics System, Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Medical Board, Center for Disease Control.
Nationally, RGV counties rank as high as 5th in CD mortality rates. Between 2020 and 2024, 3 of 4 studied pediatric surgical specialties experienced stagnant/decreasing workforces ranging from 0 to 66 %. Furthermore, the RGV is projected to have some of the most marked state-wide disparities in surgical providers over the next 8 years.
High infant mortality rates along with ongoing and future shortages of surgical specialists is concerning. These results may inform allocation of public health resources and workforce distribution to improve outcomes.
里奥格兰德河谷（RGV）先天性缺陷（CD）的发病率历来很高，需要小儿外科专科进行干预。我们研究了该地区的死亡率及相关劳动力模式。
使用多个数据库收集与先天性缺陷相关的死亡率数据（2007 - 2021年）以及外科劳动力趋势/预测数据（2024 - 2032年）：国家生命统计系统、德克萨斯州卫生服务部、德克萨斯州医学委员会、疾病控制中心。
在全国范围内，RGV各县的先天性缺陷死亡率排名高达第五。在2020年至2024年期间，所研究的四个小儿外科专科中有三个的劳动力停滞/下降，降幅在0%至66%之间。此外，预计在未来8年里，RGV在全州外科医疗服务提供者方面将存在一些最显著的差距。
高婴儿死亡率以及当前和未来外科专科医生的短缺令人担忧。这些结果可能为公共卫生资源的分配和劳动力分布提供参考，以改善结果。
