Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Receipt of Regional Anesthesia Among Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery

The objective of this study was to assess differences in the use of perioperative regional anesthesia for thoracic surgery based on race and ethnicity. This retrospective cohort study used data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2015 to 2020. The study authors applied a multivariate logistic regression in which the dependent variable was the primary endpoint (regional versus no regional anesthesia). The primary independent variables were race and ethnicity. Multiple healthcare systems in the United States. Participants were ≥18 years of age and undergoing thoracic surgery. Regional anesthesia. On adjusted multivariate analysis, Hispanic patients had lower odds (odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% CI 0.46-0.80, p = 0.0003) of receiving regional anesthesia for postoperative pain control compared to non-Hispanic patients. There was no significant difference in the odds of regional anesthesia when comparing racial cohorts (ie, White, Black, Asian, or other). There were differences observed in the provision of regional anesthesia for thoracic surgery among ethnic groups. Although the results of this study should not be taken as evidence for healthcare disparities, it could be used to support hypotheses for future studies that aim to investigate causes of disparities and corresponding patient outcomes.