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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Keloids develop due to a dysregulated wound-healing process resulting in aberrant fibroproliferative wounds. A recent study has suggested that poor dietary habits cause an inflammatory state that may contribute to keloids.5 Food deserts have been associated with an increased risk of obesity; increased proinflammatory cytokines stored in adipose tissue pose an additional risk for keloid development.6-9 This study evaluates whether living in food deserts is associated with higher rates of obesity and keloid recurrence.
METHODS: We performed a single institution retrospective chart review of patients who underwent keloid treatment between 2019-2023. A spatial join between the USDA Food Access Research Atlas and patient coordinates was performed to determine whether patients resided within food deserts.
RESULTS: Data was collected resulted in 165 patients; 102 patients received clinical treatment and 63 patients underwent surgical treatment. Among the 165 patients, 55 (33%) lived within areas classified as food deserts and 110 (67%) lived outside of these areas. Within the group of patients residing in food deserts, 45% were obese (BMI > 30), 60% African American, 18% Caucasian, 7% Hispanic or Latino, and 40% experienced keloid recurrence following surgical removal. Of the patients residing outside of food deserts, 38% were obese, 48% African American, and 31% Caucasian, 15% Hispanic or Latino, and 30% experienced keloid recurrence following surgical removal.
CONCLUSION: Patients with keloids residing within food deserts exhibited a higher rate of obesity and keloid recurrence following surgical removal compared to the patients residing outside of food deserts.