Seniors in Poor Areas More Likely to Die After Surgery

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080930/hl_hsn/seniorsinpoorareasmorelikelytodieaftersurgery;_ylt=AvCMghWveRtCTwMzCYlO8jnVJRIF

Mon Sep 29, 11:46 PM ET

MONDAY, Sept. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly Americans who live in low-income ZIP codes are more likely to die after surgery than those who live in higher-income ZIP codes, according to new research.

The study analyzed death rates among more than one million older adults who had one of six common high-risk heart or cancer surgeries between 1999 and 2003.

The risk of death was between 17 percent and 39 percent higher for patients in low-income ZIP codes, mainly because the quality of care is lower at hospitals in lower socioeconomic areas, the study authors said.

In fact, all patients (regardless of income) who had surgery at hospitals in the poorest areas were more likely to die, while all patients who had surgery at hospitals in the richest areas were less likely to die.