MNGO-12FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS PREDICT POOR POSTOPERATIVE FOLLOW-UP AFTER MENINGIOMA RESECTION

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Appointment non-attendance and poor follow-up have been cited as contributors to poor patient outcomes and as unnecessary financial burdens on the healthcare system. A number of demographic factors, particularly those associated with low socioeconomic status (SES), have been associated with poor follow-up in different patient populations. We sought to quantify the rates of loss of follow-up after meningioma resection at our institution and to identify any key demographical associations. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 281 patients surgically treated for an intracranial meningioma at a single institution between 2001 and 2013. Records of clinical and radiographic data were retrospectively obtained from the electronic medical record. A Loss of Follow-up variable was created based on patient clinical follow-up within the first postoperative year. Pearson's correlation was used to compare loss of follow-up with continuous variables. Fisher's exact test was used to test for any association between race, gender, educational attainment, insurance status, history of illicit substance and tobacco use, or continued alcohol abuse with loss of follow-up. RESULTS: Overall, 53 (19%) patients demonstrated loss of follow-up within the first postoperative year. A history of tobacco use (p < 0.0001), ongoing alcohol abuse at time of presentation (p = 0.0014), Medicaid coverage (p < 0.0001), and lack of a college degree (p < 0.0001) were all found to be predictors of loss of follow-up at a statistically significant level. CONCLUSIONS: A number of factors associated with low SES are predictors of poor clinical follow-up after meningioma resection. The health risk of poor follow-up in this patient population is significant and increased measures are needed to ensure regular appointment attendance.