Racial/ethnic variations in physician recommendations for cardiac revascularization.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine whether physician recommendations for cardiac revascularization vary according to patient race.


METHODS
We studied patients scheduled for coronary angiography at 2 hospitals, one public and one private, between November 1997 and June 1999. Cardiologists were interviewed regarding their recommendations for cardiac resvacularization.


RESULTS
African American patients were less likely than Whites to be recommended for revascularization at the public hospital (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.12, 0.77) but not at the private hospital (adjusted OR = 1.69; 95% CI = 0.69, 4.14).


CONCLUSIONS
Physician recommendations for cardiac revascularization vary by patient race. Further studies are needed to examine physician bias as a factor in racial disparities in cardiac care and outcomes.
Ibrahim
Said A
SA
Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA.said.ibrahim2@med.va.gov
Whittle
Jeff
J
Bean-Mayberry
Bevanne
B
Kelley
Mary E
ME
Good
Chester
C
Conigliaro
Joseph
J
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000601:surgery; D016304:Hospitals, Private / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*