Background
Psychosocial risk factors, including psychiatric disorders, substance use, limited cognitive comprehension, and low socioeconomic or uninsured status, are increasingly recognized in cancer care. However, their independent effects on acute postoperative outcomes after elective cancer surgery remain unclear. This study evaluates the association between psychosocial risk factors and clinical and financial outcomes in patients undergoing cancer resections.
Methods
All adult (≥18 years) records entailing elective resection for lung, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatic, and colon cancer were tabulated from the 2016–2021 Nationwide Readmissions Database. After entropy balancing, multivariable regression models were developed to ascertain the independent association of psychosocial risk factors. with mortality, complications, length of stay, and nonhome discharge.
Results
Of ∼655,376 patients, 223,035 (34.2%) were considered to comprise psychosocial risk factors. Relative to others, the psychosocial risk factors cohort was more commonly female (51.9 vs 47.1%, P < .001), and had a greater Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (4 [3–5] vs 3 [2–4], P < .001). Both groups most frequently underwent resection for colectomy (51.9% vs 51.1%%, P < .001), yet those with psychosocial risk factors had greater rates of lobectomy (27.8% vs 25.8%, P < .001), compared with their counterparts. After entropy balancing, psychosocial risk factors were linked to greater odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.43, 95% confidence interval, 1.31–1.57), respiratory (adjusted odds ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.21–1.31) and infectious (adjusted odds ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–1.21) complications. Furthermore, patients with psychosocial risk factors faced incrementally increased resource use.
Conclusion
Psychosocial risk factors independently predict adverse clinical and financial outcomes after elective cancer operations. Systematic screening for psychosocial risk factors may facilitate targeted interventions to improve care for high-risk patients.