Postoperative mortality after surgery for brain tumors by patient insurance status in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine whether being uninsured is associated with higher in-hospital postoperative mortality when undergoing surgery in the United States for a brain tumor.

Design

Retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2008.

Setting

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample contains all inpatient records from a stratified sample of 20% of hospitals in 37 states.

Patients

A total of 28,581 patients, aged 18 to 65 years, who underwent craniotomy for a brain tumor. Three groups were studied: Medicaid recipients and privately insured and uninsured patients.

Main outcome measure

The main outcome measure was in-hospital postoperative death. Associations between this outcome and insurance status were examined

SUBMITTER: Momin EN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3571758 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature