Socioeconomic Influences on Short-term Postoperative Outcomes in Patients With Oral Cavity Cancer Undergoing Free Flap Reconstruction

Objective To evaluate the associations between median household income (MHI) and area deprivation index (ADI) on postoperative outcomes in oral cavity cancer. Study Design Retrospective review (2000-2019). Setting Single-institution tertiary medical center. Methods MHI and ADI were matched from home zip codes. Main postoperative outcomes of interest were length of tracheostomy use, length of hospital stay, return to oral intake, discharge disposition, and 60-day readmissions. Linear and logistic regression controlled for age, sex, race, body mass index, tobacco and alcohol use history, primary tumor location, disease staging at presentation, and length of surgery. A secondary outcome was clinical disease staging (I-IV) at time of presentation. Results The cohort (N = 681) was 91.3% White and 38.0% female, and 51.7% presented with stage IV disease. The median age at the time of surgery was 62 years (interquartile range [IQR], 53-71). The median MHI was $47,659 (IQR, $39,324-$58,917), and the median ADI was 67 (IQR, 48-79). ADI and MHI were independently associated with time to return of oral intake (beta = 0.130, P = .022; beta = -0.092, P = .045, respectively). Neither was associated with length of tracheostomy, hospital stay, discharge disposition, or readmissions. MHI quartiles were associated with a lower risk of presenting with more advanced disease (Q3 vs Q1: adjusted odds ratio, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.32-0.97]). Conclusion MHI is associated with oral cavity cancer staging at the time of presentation. MHI and ADI are independently associated with postoperative return to oral intake following intraoral tumor resection and free flap reconstruction.