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Comparative Study
. 2017 Aug;214(2):312-317.
doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2017.02.009. Epub 2017 Feb 9.

Racial and ethnic variations in one-year clinical and patient-reported outcomes following breast reconstruction

Nicholas L Berlin  1 , Adeyiza O Momoh  2 , Ji Qi  1 , Jennifer B Hamill  1 , Hyungjin M Kim  3 , Andrea L Pusic  4 , Edwin G Wilkins  5
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Racial and ethnic variations in one-year clinical and patient-reported outcomes following breast reconstruction

Nicholas L Berlin et al. Am J Surg. 2017 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Existing studies evaluating racial and ethnic disparities focus on describing differences in procedure type and the proportion of women who undergo reconstruction following mastectomy. This study seeks to examine racial and ethnic variations in clinical and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following breast reconstruction.

Methods: The Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium is an 11 center, prospective cohort study collecting clinical and PROs following autologous and implant-based breast reconstruction. Mixed-effects regression models, weighted to adjust for non-response, were performed to evaluate outcomes at one-year postoperatively.

Results: The cohort included 2703 women who underwent breast reconstruction. In multivariable models, Hispanic or Latina patients were less likely to experience any complications and major complications. Black or African-American women reported greater improvements in psychosocial and sexual well-being.

Conclusions: Despite differences in pertinent clinical and socioeconomic variables, racial and ethnic minorities experienced equivalent or better outcomes. These findings provide reassurance in the context of numerous racial and ethnic health disparities and build upon our understanding of the delivery of surgical care to women with or at risk for developing breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Breast reconstruction; Outcomes research; Patient-reported outcomes; Public health; Socioeconomic factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The BREAST-Q is owned by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the University of British Columbia. Dr. Pusic is a co-developer of the BREAST-Q and receives royalties when it is used in “for profit” industry-sponsored clinical trials.

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