What Role does Marital Status Play in the Outcome of Abdominoplasties? A Single-Surgeon Experience With 712 Cases.

Abstract

Marital status is a commonly reported demographic variable in scientific literature. Numerous reports suggested difference in the medical outcomes of patients when stratified based on marital status. Although many reports suggested that married patient exhibit improved survival when compared to their counterparts, other reports could not replicate similar conclusions. determine whether marital status plays a role in the postoperative outcomes of elective abdominoplasty patients. The medical records of all abdominoplasty patients operated by a single surgeon over the course of 20 years were reviewed. Information regarding the preoperative state of patients, surgical procedure, and postoperative outcomes was evaluated in respect to the patients marital status. Seven-hundred and twelve patients were included in this study, of whom 516 (%) were married. No difference in preoperative characteristics, medical background, surgical procedure or concomitant surgeries was found. Analysis of adverse events did not demonstrate a statistically significant association with marital status. Additionally, when all unwed patients were grouped together, the results did not differ. Marital status does not play a critical role in the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing elective abdominoplasties for cosmetic indications. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .