ABSTRACT
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 (nâ¯=â¯2528), panniculectomies (nâ¯=â¯1333) and panniculectomies after bariatric surgery (nâ¯=â¯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% (nâ¯=â¯1087) of bariatric surgery patients were African-American compared to 25% (nâ¯=â¯339) of all panniculectomy patients and 52% (nâ¯=â¯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 (pâ¯<â¯0.001). The average income of patients receiving a panniculectomy for any etiology ($89,000) was significantly higher (pâ¯<â¯0.001) than patients receiving a panniculectomy after bariatric surgery ($71,000). After multivariate analysis, race remained associated with the disparity (pâ¯=â¯0.046). CONCLUSION: The disparity seen in patients receiving panniculectomies is not present when patients are integrated into the healthcare system through bariatric surgery.