Improvement in racial disparity among patients undergoing panniculectomy after bariatric surgery.

[BACKGROUND] A disparity exists in patients receiving panniculectomies. We evaluated this disparity and assessed if it persists once patients are integrated into the healthcare system through bariatric surgery.

[METHODS] All patients who received bariatric surgery (n = 2528), panniculectomies (n = 1333) and panniculectomies after bariatric surgery (n = 48) at the University of Pennsylvania between January 1, 2012 and March 1, 2017 were retrospectively identified. Demographic information and post-operative details were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

[RESULTS] 43% (n = 1087) of bariatric surgery patients were African-American compared to 25% (n = 339) of all panniculectomy patients and 52% (n = 25) of panniculectomy after bariatric surgery patients. The racial disparity among all patients receiving a panniculectomy was not present in patients receiving bariatric surgery beforehand (p < 0.001). The average income of patients receiving a panniculectomy for any etiology ($89,000) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than patients receiving a panniculectomy after bariatric surgery ($71,000). After multivariate analysis, race remained associated with the disparity (p = 0.046).

[CONCLUSION] The disparity seen in patients receiving panniculectomies is not present when patients are integrated into the healthcare system through bariatric surgery.