title: Disparities in patients presenting to the emergency department with potential acute coronary syndrome: it matters if you are Black or White.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore disparities between non-Hispanic Blacks and non-Hispanic Whites presenting to the emergency department (ED) with potential acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Individuals with fewer resources have worse health outcomes and these individuals are disproportionately those of color.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study enrolled 663 patients in four EDs. Clinical presentation, treatment, and patient-reported outcome variables were measured at baseline, 1, and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blacks with confirmed ACS were younger; had lower income; less education; more risk factors; more symptoms, and longer prehospital delay at presentation compared to Whites. Blacks experiencing palpitations, unusual fatigue, and chest pain were more than 3 times as likely as Whites to have ACS confirmed. Blacks with ACS had more clinic visits and more symptoms 1 month following discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant racial disparities remain in clinical presentation and outcomes for Blacks compared to Whites presenting to the ED with symptoms suggestive of ACS.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: hdevon1@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Holli A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: DeVon
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Larisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Salem Health Systems, Salem, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Julie J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zerwic
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Barth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Riley
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000208:ethnology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D044465:White People
keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; African American; Health disparities; Race; Symptoms