Abstract
Objectives:
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.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / statistics & numerical data
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Black or African American / statistics & numerical data*
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Cardiac Catheterization*
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Cardiology Service, Hospital / classification
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Cardiology Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
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Coronary Angiography
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Coronary Artery Bypass / statistics & numerical data
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Coronary Stenosis / diagnosis
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Coronary Stenosis / ethnology*
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Coronary Stenosis / surgery
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Hospitals, Private / statistics & numerical data
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Hospitals, University / statistics & numerical data
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Hospitals, Veterans / statistics & numerical data
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Humans
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Middle Aged
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Myocardial Revascularization / statistics & numerical data*
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Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
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Socioeconomic Factors
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White People / statistics & numerical data*