Coronary arteriography and coronary bypass survey among whites and other racial groups relative to hospital-based incidence rates for coronary artery disease: findings from NHDS.
To assess racial differences in health care utilization for coronary artery disease (CAD) the data of the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) from 1979-84 were examined. Discharge rates for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were utilized as a measure of hospital-based incidence and relative need for the designated cardiac procedures. Although 35-74 year old Black men had discharge rates of AMI that were 77 per cent of those observed for White men, they underwent coronary arteriography half as often and were only a third as likely to have coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Black women in this age range were hospitalized at a slightly higher rate than White women for AMI, yet experienced a 19 per cent lower rate of coronary arteriography and a 52 per cent lower rate of CABG surgery. These data suggest a racial bias in the pattern of care delivered for CAD in US hospitals at the present time.
Ford
E
E
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago.
Cooper
R
R
Castaner
A
A
Simmons
B
B
Mar
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000208:ethnology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D014481:United States; D044465:White People