Lower socioeconomic status is correlated with worse outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Abstract

Background: Socioeconomic status has been recognized as a crucial social determinant of health influencing patient outcomes. Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is a validated measure of an area's socioeconomic status. Limited data exists on the impact of ADI and clinical outcomes and complications following rotator cuff repair (RCR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact socioeconomic factors have on outcomes following primary arthroscopic RCR.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up. Patients who underwent primary rotator cuff repair at a single institution from March 2014 to September 2022 were identified. Patient demographics, pre-and post-operative visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores, range of motion, complications, and subsequent ipsilateral shoulder surgeries were collected. ADI was collected from an online mapping database using each patient's home address. Patients were split into ADI terciles, with ADI1 representing the least disadvantaged group and ADI3 representing the most disadvantaged group. Analysis of variance and T-test were used for continuous variables, and chi-square analyses were conducted for categorical variables.

Results: In total, 467 patients underwent RCR and had complete demographic data and postoperative follow-ups over a year. There was a significant difference in race, with 78.2% of patients identifying as black in ADI3 and 18.1% in ADI1 (P < .001). Pre-operative PROMIS-Pain Interference, VAS, forward flexion, and abduction were significantly worse in ADI3 compared to ADI1 (P = .001, P < .001, P = .012, and P = .023). At one-year postoperative, patients in ADI3 scored significantly worse than patients in ADI1 in PROMIS- Upper Extremity score (P = .016), PROMIS- Pain Interference (P < .001), VAS (P < .001), forward flexion (P < .001) and abduction (P = .034). Higher ADI scores were associated with a positive correlation for pain (r = .258, P = < 0.001) a negative correlation with upper extremity function (r = - .233, P = .026), a positive correlation with pain interference (r = .355, P < .001), and negative correlation with forward flexion (r = - .227, P < .001). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications (P = .54), retears (P = .47), or reoperations rates (P = .22).

Conclusion: Lower socioeconomic status measured by ADI is associated with worse preoperative and 1-year postoperative pain, shoulder function, and range of motion following RCR. However, no differences were appreciated between cohorts regarding reoperation or complications.

Level of evidence iii: Retrospective Cohort Study.