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Multicenter Study
. 2025 Jan 1;145(1):115-123.
doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005771. Epub 2024 Oct 31.

Effects of Social Determinants of Health and Social Support on Surgical Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Hysterectomy

Adam M Hare  1 , Erryn Tappy, Joseph I Schaffer, Kelsey Kossl, Bertille Gaigbe-Togbe, Anjani Kapadia, Alexis A Dieter, Jennifer Hamner, Amanda K Laporte, Tsung Mou, Margaret G Mueller, Josephine Doo, Amy J Park, Graham C Chapman, Gina Northington, Marie Shockley, Cheryl B Iglesia, Michael Heit
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Effects of Social Determinants of Health and Social Support on Surgical Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Hysterectomy

Adam M Hare et al. Obstet Gynecol. .

Abstract

Objective: To describe composite 30-day postoperative complication rates among patients undergoing hysterectomy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to determine baseline and postoperative mental health symptoms, levels of social support, and socioeconomic status and their association with hysterectomy outcomes.

Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study at eight centers across the United States enrolled patients who underwent minimally invasive hysterectomy for benign indications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients completed preoperative and postoperative surveys assessing mental health (PHQ-9 [Patient Health Questionnaire]), social support (MOS-SS [Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey]), and socioeconomic status (Hollingshead Index [Hollingshead Four Factor Index of Socioeconomic Status]). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection rates and 30-day composite complication rates were measured and categorized by Clavien-Dindo Grade. Bivariate associations of survey data on complications were assessed. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of 30-day complications and complication severity.

Results: Postoperative complications within 30 days occurred in 67 of 273 (24.5%) patients. Most (88.1%) complications were mild, but eight (11.9%) experienced severe complications. Only three patients (1.1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. There were no differences in complication rates when comparing race and ethnicity, age, or socioeconomic status. Survey responses that indicated more depression and worse support from preoperative to postoperative were seen in patients with severe complications ( P =.008 and P =.09, respectively). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that an increase in support scores was protective against severe complications ( P =.02). Worsening depression scores were associated with more severe complications ( P =.03).

Conclusion: This study showed a high rate of complications (24.5%) among patients who underwent hysterectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lower social support and worse mental health status are associated with worse postoperative outcomes after hysterectomy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial Disclosure Joseph Schaffer reported receiving royalty payments from McGraw-Hill. Margaret Mueller disclosed that her institution received funding from the NIH, she received payment from Butler/Snow and she received educational honoraria from Axonics. Gina Northington disclosed that her institution received funding from NIH/NICHD. She received funding from ABOG and the American Urogynecologic Association. Cheryl Iglesia received payment from UpToDate, the Patty Brisben Foundation Medical Advisory Board, and the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons Executive Board. She is the NICHD PFDN Advisory Board Chair, a US FDA Special Government Employee, and ObGyn Devices panel member. The other authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest.

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