1192 Health Disparities Associated with OSA Among Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is predicted to affect over 54 million adults in the U.S. and is highly associated with obesity. Bariatric surgery is a widely accepted treatment for obesity, and current guidelines recommend OSA screening as part of the preoperative evaluation. Although research has highlighted the disparities that exist with postoperative outcomes and with OSA diagnosis and treatment, this study aims to further evaluate some of the disparities faced by OSA patients undergoing bariatric surgery to help identify ways to mitigate some of these adverse outcomes that disproportionately affect certain patients. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted in a large urban tertiary medical center that included OSA patients who underwent bariatric surgery from April 2023 to March 2024. Median and interquartile ranges (Q1, Q3) for preoperative 3% apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), preoperative 3% oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and time from OSA diagnosis to surgery were presented for levels of different socioeconomic status (SES) variables. Statistical significance of difference was tested using Kruskal-Wallis rank sum testing. Results 252 patients were included in the final analysis. AHI was significantly associated with gender (p=0.016), age at time of surgery (p=0.016), and race (p=0.003). ODI was significantly associated with gender (p=0.012) and race (p=0.037). Time from OSA diagnosis to surgery was significantly associated with age (p=0.012). There was no significant association between ODI, AHI, or time to diagnosis for ethnicity, marital status, education, employment, income, or type of insurance. Conclusion Age, race, and gender were found to significantly contribute to differences in ODI, AHI, and length of time between OSA diagnosis and bariatric surgery. Our results show that earlier referral for OSA testing for certain groups may help mitigate some of the adverse effects associated with delay in OSA diagnosis. This adds to the current body of research identifying some of the SES factors that affect outcomes for patients with OSA, particularly for those undergoing bariatric surgery. Further research is needed to help guide current practices in Sleep Medicine and Bariatric Surgery that will help reduce the inequities associated with OSA, thereby reducing the disparities associated with morbidity and mortality among these patients. Support (if any)