Racial inequalities in the use of procedures for patients with ischemic heart disease in Massachusetts.
To examine interracial differences in the utilization of coronary angiography, coronary artery bypass grafting, and coronary angioplasty for white and black patients, we examined all admissions for circulatory diseases or chest pain to Massachusetts hospitals in 1985. After controlling for age, sex, payer, income, primary diagnoses, and the number of secondary diagnoses, whites underwent significantly more angiography and coronary artery bypass grafting procedures. Whites also underwent more angioplasty procedures, but the difference was not statistically significant. Although utilization differences may reflect patient preference or different levels of disease severity and socioeconomic status not adequately accounted for, this study suggests that substantial racial inequalities exist in the use of procedures for patients hospitalized with coronary heart disease.
Wenneker
M B
MB
Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115.
Epstein
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People