Patient and hospital characteristics associated with delayed diagnosis of appendicitis.
Reyes AM, Royan R, Feinglass J, et al. Patient and hospital characteristics associated with delayed diagnosis of appendicitis. JAMA Surg. 2023;158(3):e227055. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2022.7055.
Delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor outcomes. In this population-based retrospective longitudinal study using inpatient and emergency department discharge data from four states, researchers found that non-Hispanic Black patients were at higher risk for delayed diagnosis of appendicitis compared to White patients. This increased risk for delayed diagnosis translated into higher risks for postoperative 30-day readmission rates. The researchers found that this risk was mitigated when Black patients received care at hospitals serving a more diverse patient population.