CHOLECOVID: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on outcomes of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a national cohort study

System shocks can expose inequities — but they can also test resilience.

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This national STRATA and CHOLECOVID study examined outcomes of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis across Aotearoa New Zealand before, during, and after the COVID‑19 pandemic.

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While overall surgical outcomes and access to timely cholecystectomy were maintained despite major system disruption, patients treated during the pandemic were more comorbid, more obese, and physiologically more unwell. These risk factors are known to be unevenly distributed across populations, with Māori disproportionately affected by conditions such as obesity and diabetes.

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Importantly, although short‑term postoperative outcomes were comparable across phases, the study highlights how existing structural health inequities shape who presents sicker during periods of constrained access and stress on the system.

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By demonstrating both system resilience and differential patient burden, this work underscores the need to pair surgical recovery and preparedness planning with equity‑focused prevention, access, and chronic disease strategies — ensuring that future disruptions do not widen existing gaps in health outcomes.

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Read the full article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38426369/