Faculty Collaboration Database

Racial differences in the use of invasive cardiovascular procedures in the Department of Veterans Affairs medical system. N Engl J Med 1993 Aug 26;329(9):621-7

Date

08/26/1993

Pubmed ID

8341338

DOI

10.1056/NEJM199308263290907

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0027226050 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   412 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have found racial differences in the use of invasive cardiovascular procedures, which may be due in part to the greater financial incentives to perform such procedures in white patients. In Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, direct financial incentives affecting use of the procedures are minimized for both patients and physicians.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the use of cardiovascular procedures among black and white male veterans discharged from Veterans Affairs hospitals with primary diagnoses of cardiovascular disease or chest pain during fiscal years 1987 through 1991. We used coded discharge data to determine whether cardiac catheterization, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass grafting was performed during or immediately after such admissions. We used logistic-regression analysis to adjust for the primary discharge diagnosis, the presence of coexisting conditions, age, marital status, type of eligibility to receive care at Veterans Affairs hospitals, geographic region, and whether the hospital was equipped to perform bypass surgery. We classified the primary diagnosis as myocardial infarction, unstable angina, angina, chronic ischemia, chest pain, or "other" cardiovascular diagnosis.

RESULTS: After we adjusted for all the potential confounders, we found that white veterans were more likely than black veterans to undergo cardiac catheterization (odds ratio, 1.38; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.34 to 1.42), angioplasty (odds ratio, 1.50; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.38 to 1.64), and coronary artery bypass surgery (odds ratio, 2.22; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.09 to 2.36).

CONCLUSIONS: Even when financial incentives are absent, whites are more likely than blacks to undergo invasive cardiac procedures. These findings suggest that social or clinical factors affect the use of these procedures in blacks and whites.

Author List

Whittle J, Conigliaro J, Good CB, Lofgren RP

Author

Jeffrey Whittle MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary
Cardiac Catheterization
Coronary Artery Bypass
Health Services Accessibility
Heart Diseases
Humans
Male
Regression Analysis
Retrospective Studies
Veterans