The Association of Neighborhood Disadvantage with Surgical Outcomes and Follow-up Adherence in Patients with Cleft Palate

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between neighborhood-level social disadvantage, as measured by Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and Childhood Opportunity Index (COI), and postoperative outcomes and follow-up care after primary or secondary cleft palate repair.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingAcademic tertiary care center.PatientsPediatric patients with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP ± L).InterventionsPrimary palatoplasty, revision palatoplasty, or closure of oronasal fistula.Main outcome measuresPostoperative complications and clinic follow-up adherence.ResultsA total of 244 patients were included in the study. Among all patients, there was only a moderate correlation between patients' ADI and COI quintiles (R² = 0.465, <i>P</i> < .001). In patients undergoing primary palatoplasty, greater ADI neighborhood deprivation was significantly associated with a greater number of no-show (<i>P</i> = .011) and cancelled (<i>P</i> = .025) clinic appointments. In patients undergoing revision palatoplasty, greater ADI neighborhood deprivation was significantly associated with higher rates of postoperative complications (<i>P</i> = .016) and a greater number of no-show clinic appointments (<i>P</i> = .036). Greater COI disadvantage was associated with significantly higher rates of hospital readmission (<i>P</i> = .049) and fewer cancelled clinic appointments (<i>P</i> = .049) in revision palatoplasties. Neighborhood disadvantage was not predictive of any oronasal fistula repair postoperative outcomes, follow-up adherence, or patient characteristics at surgery.ConclusionsNeighborhood-level social disadvantage indices are predictive of suboptimal surgical outcomes and follow-up adherence in patients undergoing cleft palate surgery and could be used to identify patients who may benefit from additional clinic outreach and support.