biostudies-literatureJacobs MAHSRD VA1158-1169https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11292565biostudies-literatureUnknown159(10)<h4>Importance</h4>Evaluating how social determinants of health (SDOH) influence veteran outcomes is crucial, particularly for quality improvement.<h4>Objective</h4>To measure associations between SDOH, care fragmentation, and surgical outcomes using a Desirability of Outcome Ranking (DOOR).<h4>Design, setting, and participants</h4>This was a cohort study of US veterans using data from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP; 2013-2019) limited to patients aged 65 years or older with inpatient stays between 2 and 30 days, merged with multiple data sources, including Medicare. Race and ethnicity data were retrieved from VASQIP, Medicare and Medicaid beneficiary summary files, the Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse, and the United States VeJAMA surgerySocial Determinants of Health and Surgical Desirability of Outcome Ranking in Older Veterans.PMC11292565I01 HX003095Stitzenberg KBHall DESchmidt SVaughan Sarrazin MJacobs MADuncan CAGao YShireman PKKao LSMader MHausmann LRMfalseSocial Determinants of Health and Surgical Desirability of Outcome Ranking in Older Veterans.<h4>Importance</h4>Evaluating how social determinants of health (SDOH) influence veteran outcomes is crucial, particularly for quality improvement.<h4>Objective</h4>To measure associations between SDOH, care fragmentation, and surgical outcomes using a Desirability of Outcome Ranking (DOOR).<h4>Design, setting, and participants</h4>This was a cohort study of US veterans using data from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP; 2013-2019) limited to patients aged 65 years or older with inpatient stays between 2 and 30 days, merged with multiple data sources, including Medicare. Race and ethnicity data were retrieved from VASQIP, Medicare and Medicaid beneficiary summary files, the Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse, and the United States Ve2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2026-03-18T14:03:33.204Z2025-08-23T03:06:59.479ZS-EPMC112925653908325510.1001/jamasurg.2024.2489