Use of cardiovascular procedures among black persons and white persons: a 7-year nationwide study in patients with renal disease.
BACKGROUND
Black persons historically undergo fewer invasive cardiovascular procedures than white persons.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether acquisition of Medicare health insurance and comprehensive care for severe illness reduce ethnic disparity in use of cardiovascular procedures.


METHODS
7-year longitudinal analyses in a cohort from the United States Renal Data System.


METHODS
Health care institutions in the United States.


METHODS
Nationwide random sample of 4987 adult black and white patients with incident end-stage renal disease (ESRD) from 303 dialysis facilities in 1986 to 1987.


METHODS
Medical history and service use records, physical examination, and laboratory data. Main outcome measures were receipt of a coronary catheterization or revascularization procedure before (baseline) and after (follow-up) development of ESRD and acquisition of Medicare, adjusted for clinical and socioeconomic variables.


RESULTS
At baseline, 9.9% of white patients and 2.8% of black patients had had a cardiac procedure; the odds were almost three times greater in white than in black patients (adjusted odds ratio, 2.92 [95% CI, 2.04 to 4.18]). During follow-up, white patients were only 1.4 times more likely than black patients to have a procedure (adjusted relative risk, 1.41 [CI, 1.13 to 1.77]); rates were 7.8% for white persons and 8.5% for black persons. In patients with Medicare coverage before development of ESRD, the initial three-fold difference in procedure use was eliminated over follow-up (odds ratio, 1.05 [CI, 0.56 to 1.60]). For procedures after hospital admission for myocardial infarction or coronary disease, no difference between ethnic groups was seen during follow-up (relative risk, 1.12 [CI, 0.68 to 1.85]).


CONCLUSIONS
Differences between ethnic groups in use of cardiovascular procedures narrowed markedly once a serious illness (ESRD) developed and adequate insurance coverage was ensured; the disparity was eliminated in patients with previous Medicare insurance or a stronger indication for a procedure. These findings suggest that almost equal access to care is attainable by combining insurance with delivery of comprehensive, clinically appropriate care.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
G L
GL
Daumit
J A
JA
Hermann
J
J
Coresh
N R
NR
Powe
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data