(A550) Food Desert Residence Does Not Affect Postoperative Risk After Head and Neck Cancer Reconstruction

Introduction: This study investigated the association between food desert residence and postoperative outcomes in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing free flap reconstruction.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 282 patients who underwent free flap reconstruction for HNC at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) from 2020 to 2022. Patients were categorized based on their residential status: food desert or no food desert. Clinical data and postoperative outcomes were extracted from the electronic health record (EHR).

Results: Of the 282 patients, 22.6% resided in USDA-defined food deserts. Interestingly, food desert residence appeared to be protective against recurrence, with a recurrence rate of 8% in food deserts and 22% in non-food deserts (p = 0.0243). Furthermore, individuals living in USDA food deserts experienced a mean length of stay that was 2.25 days longer (95% CI: 0.07 to 4.44, p = 0.0435) than those outside of food deserts. Readmission rates were not significantly different between the groups (p=0.2328), with a 28.6% readmission rate in the food desert group and 21% in the non-food desert group.

Conclusions: This study suggests that residing in a food desert may not significantly increase the risk of adverse postoperative outcomes in HNC patients following free flap reconstruction. While no significant differences were found in readmission rates, further investigation is warranted to explore the complex relationship between food access, socioeconomic factors, and patient outcomes in this population.