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. 2024 Jun 18;83(24):2440-2454.
doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.03.430.

Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Predictive Models for Outcomes After Congenital Heart Surgery

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Free article

Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Predictive Models for Outcomes After Congenital Heart Surgery

Sarah Crook et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. .
Free article

Abstract

Background: Despite documented associations between social determinants of health and outcomes post-congenital heart surgery, clinical risk models typically exclude these factors.

Objectives: The study sought to characterize associations between social determinants and operative and longitudinal mortality as well as assess impacts on risk model performance.

Methods: Demographic and clinical data were obtained for all congenital heart surgeries (2006-2021) from locally held Congenital Heart Surgery Collaborative for Longitudinal Outcomes and Utilization of Resources Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database data. Neighborhood-level American Community Survey and composite sociodemographic measures were linked by zip code. Model prediction, discrimination, and impact on quality assessment were assessed before and after inclusion of social determinants in models based on the 2020 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database Mortality Risk Model.

Results: Of 14,173 total index operations across New York State, 12,321 cases, representing 10,271 patients at 8 centers, had zip codes for linkage. A total of 327 (2.7%) patients died in the hospital or before 30 days, and 314 children died by December 31, 2021 (total n = 641; 6.2%). Multiple measures of social determinants of health explained as much or more variability in operative and longitudinal mortality than clinical comorbidities or prior cardiac surgery. Inclusion of social determinants minimally improved models' predictive performance (operative: 0.834-0.844; longitudinal 0.808-0.811), but significantly improved model discrimination; 10.0% more survivors and 4.8% more mortalities were appropriately risk classified with inclusion. Wide variation in reclassification was observed by site, resulting in changes in the center performance classification category for 2 of 8 centers.

Conclusions: Although indiscriminate inclusion of social determinants in clinical risk modeling can conceal inequities, thoughtful consideration can help centers understand their performance across populations and guide efforts to improve health equity.

Keywords: congenital; outcomes; risk model; social determinants; surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Funding Support and Author Disclosures This work was supported by National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01 HL150044), National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health (T32 MH019733), and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (T32 HS000055). The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the National Institutes of Health, Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality, or New York State Department of Health. Examples of analysis performed within this paper are only examples. They should not be used in real-world analytic products. The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.

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