Socioeconomic Disparities in the Utilization of Total Hip Arthroplasty

There is increasing focus on highlighting disparities in both access to and equity of care in orthopedics and understanding the impact disparities have on patient health. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate socioeconomic-related factors affecting whether a patient undergoes total hip arthroplasty (THA) after a diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

From 2011 to 2018, patients ≥40 years of age diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis were identified in the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, a comprehensive all-payer database collecting preadjudicated claims in New York State. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision/Tenth Revision codes were used to identify the initial diagnosis and subsequent THA. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of patient factors on the likelihood of undergoing THA.

Of 142,681 hip osteoarthritis diagnoses, 48.6% proceeded to THA. Compared to non-Hispanic white patients, Asian (odds ratio [OR] 0.65, P < .0001), Black (OR 0.51, P < .0001), and “Other” race (OR 0.54, P < .0001) had lower odds of THA. Hispanic patients (OR 0.55, P < .0001) had lower odds of surgery. Compared to commercial insurance, Medicare (OR 0.83, P < .0001), Medicaid (OR 0.49, P < .0001), Self-pay (OR 0.78, P < .0001), and workers’ compensation (OR 0.71, P < .0001) had lower odds of THA. Having one or more Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 0.45, P < .0001) was associated with lower odds of THA, as was increased social deprivation (OR 0.99, P < .0001).

THA is associated with disparities among race, gender, primary insurance, and social deprivation. Additional research is necessary to identify the cause of these disparities to improve equity in patient care.