Racial differences in 30-day mortality for pulmonary embolism.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies reported a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality for Black patients who had pulmonary embolism than for White patients. We used a large statewide database to compare 30-day mortality (defined as death within 30 days from the date of latest hospital admission) for Black and White patients who were hospitalized because of pulmonary embolism.


METHODS
The study cohort consisted of 15531 discharged patients who had been treated for pulmonary embolism at 186 Pennsylvania hospitals between January 2000 and November 2002. We used random-effects logistic regression to model 30-day mortality for Black and White patients, and adjusted for patient demographic and clinical characteristics.


RESULTS
The unadjusted 30-day mortality rates were 9.0% for White patients, 10.3% for Blacks, and 10.9% for patients of other or unknown race. When adjusted for severity of disease using a validated clinical prognostic model for pulmonary embolism, Black patients had 30% higher odds of 30-day mortality compared with White patients at the same site (adjusted odds ratio = 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1,1.6). Neither insurance status nor hospital volume was a significant predictor of 30-day mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Black patients who had pulmonary embolism had significantly higher odds of 30-day mortality compared with White patients.
Ibrahim
Said A
SA
Veterans Administration Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pa 15240, USA. said.ibrahim2@va.gov
Stone
Roslyn A
RA
Obrosky
D Scott
DS
Sartorius
Jennifer
J
Fine
Michael J
MJ
Aujesky
Drahomir
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality*; D020379:Risk Adjustment; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*