The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Access to Hysterectomy Within One Hospital System

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study seeks to study how the pandemic affected access to hysterectomy within one tertiary care hospital system, specifically evaluating racial breakdown. METHODS: This study is a retrospective observational study within one hospital system. Institutional review board (IRB) approval was exempt. All hysterectomy cases were compiled for 7 months before the COVID-19 pandemic, during the pandemic, and 7 months after. The records for each patient were accessed to find patient demographics. RESULTS: Of the 840 hysterectomies performed in 7 months prior to the pandemic, 37.66% were performed on patients identifying as “White,” 27.77% on “Black/African-American” patients, 20.26% on “Hispanic” patients, and 7.63% on “Asian American” patients. Of the 54 hysterectomies performed during the pause on elective surgeries, 50.00% were per- formed on patients identifying as “White,” 35.19% on “Black/African- American” patients, 7.41% on “Hispanic” patients, and 7.41% on “Asian American” patients. There was a significant 12.85% (P<.001, CI 5.36- 20.35) decrease in cases performed on those identifying as “Hispanic” during the pandemic. Of the 860 hysterectomies performed in the 7 months after the pandemic, 40.93% were performed on those identifying as “White,” 29.07% on “African-American” patients, 14.88% on “Hispanic” patients, and 8.02% on “Asian-American” patients. CONCLUSION: The racial percentages did drastically change during the COVID-19 pandemic. The percentage of hysterectomy cases performed on those identifying as “White” increased 12.34%. The percentage of hysterectomies performed on those identifying as “Hispanic” decreased 12.85%. This shift in racial breakdown in hysterectomy cases performed before and during the pandemic may allow a glimpse into how hospitals prioritized certain gynecologic surgeries as “elective.”.