Characterizing differential risk effects of body mass index for Asian patients in the United States undergoing breast reconstruction

Abstract

BackgroundAsian patient populations continue to be underrepresented in both plastic surgery research and rates of breast reconstruction. Better elucidation of reconstruction in Asian women may help guide patient-directed counseling. This study investigates the differential effect of body mass index (BMI), a well-known risk factor, for Asian patients in outcomes after breast reconstruction. MethodsAsian and White breast reconstruction patients were identified by CPT code in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Within each cohort, BMI was converted into percentile ranks for standardized comparisons between cohorts. The effects of BMI on occurrence of complications for Asian and White patients were then quantified with multivariate logistic regression models. ResultsThe final cohort included 86,514 White patients and 4,813 Asian patients, of which 9,876 (11%) and 424 (8.8%) experienced at least one postoperative complication. The average BMI of White patients who experienced complications was 29.2±6.3kg/m2, a higher average than that of Asian patients, 25.6±4.8kg/m2. Higher BMI percentile was a significant predictor of increased risk of complications in White patients (OR: 1.005, 95% CI: 1.004-1.006, p<0.001). In Asian patients, however, BMI percentile was not a significant predictor of postoperative complications (OR: 1.001, 95% CI: 0.997-1.005, p=0.62). BMI percentile significantly predicted risk of unplanned reoperation in both cohorts (p<0.001 and p=0.029, respectively). ConclusionsWhereas BMI is a direct predictor of complications in White populations, this effect is held more inconsistently for Asian patients. Such trends can guide more informed interpretations of BMI in current risk algorithms. Data availability statementThe data that support the findings of this study are publicly available.