Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation. 2005;111:1225-1232
doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000157732.03358.64
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sonel, A. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sonel, A. F.
Related Collections
Right arrow Acute coronary syndromes

(Circulation. 2005;111:1225-1232.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.


Coronary Heart Disease

Racial Variations in Treatment and Outcomes of Black and White Patients With High-Risk Non–ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes

Insights From CRUSADE (Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes With Early Implementation of the ACC/AHA Guidelines?)

Ali F. Sonel, MD; Chester B. Good, MD, MPH; Jyotsna Mulgund, MS; Matthew T. Roe, MD, MHS; W. Brian Gibler, MD; Sidney C. Smith, Jr, MD; Mauricio G. Cohen, MD; Charles V. Pollack, Jr, MD, MA; E. Magnus Ohman, MD; Eric D. Peterson, MD, MPH, for the CRUSADE Investigators

From the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Pittsburgh, Pa (A.F.S., C.B.G.); the Division of Cardiology and Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC (J.M., M.T.R., E.D.P.); the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio (W.B.G.); the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC (S.C.S., M.G.C., E.M.O.); Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Mich (R.J.Z.); and the Department of Emergency Medicine, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa (C.V.P.).

Correspondence to Ali F. Sonel, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive Division, 111C-U, Pittsburgh, PA 15240. E-mail ali.sonel{at}med.va.gov

Received September 30, 2004; revision received January 12, 2005; accepted January 13, 2005.

Background— Black patients with acute myocardial infarction are less likely than whites to receive coronary interventions. It is unknown whether racial disparities exist for other treatments for non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS) and how different treatments affect outcomes.

Methods and Results— Using data from 400 US hospitals participating in the CRUSADE (Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the ACC/AHA Guidelines?) National Quality Improvement Initiative, we identified black and white patients with high-risk NSTE ACS (positive cardiac markers and/or ischemic ST-segment changes). After adjustment for demographics and medical comorbidity, we compared the use of therapies recommended by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for NSTE ACS and outcomes by race. Our study included 37 813 (87.3%) white and 5504 (12.7%) black patients. Black patients were younger; were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, and renal insufficiency; and were less likely to have insurance coverage or primary cardiology care. Black patients had a similar or higher likelihood than whites of receiving older ACS treatments such as aspirin, ß-blockers, or ACE inhibitors but were significantly less likely to receive newer ACS therapies, including acute glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, acute and discharge clopidogrel, and statin therapy at discharge. Blacks were also less likely to receive cardiac catheterization, revascularization procedures, or smoking cessation counseling. Acute risk-adjusted outcomes were similar between black and white patients.

Conclusions— Black patients with NSTE ACS were less likely than whites to receive many evidence-based treatments, particularly those that are costly or newer. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess the long-term impact of these treatment disparities on clinical outcomes.


Key Words: ethnic groups • coronary disease • therapy • myocardial infarction




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Circ Cardiovasc Qual OutcomesHome page
E. D. Peterson, M. T. Roe, J. S. Rumsfeld, R. E. Shaw, R. G. Brindis, G. C. Fonarow, and C. P. Cannon
A Call to ACTION (Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network): A National Effort to Promote Timely Clinical Feedback and Support Continuous Quality Improvement for Acute Myocardial Infarction
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes, September 1, 2009; 2(5): 491 - 499.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HeartHome page
C. Melloni and L K. Newby
Risk factor management after acute coronary syndromes
Heart, September 1, 2009; 95(17): 1382 - 1384.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Circ Cardiovasc Qual OutcomesHome page
K. Melsop, M. M. Brooks, D. B. Boothroyd, and M. A. Hlatky
Effect of Race on the Clinical Outcomes in the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation Trial
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes, May 1, 2009; 2(3): 186 - 190.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Policy Politics Nursing PracticeHome page
D. Greene Jackson, P. Hamilton, S. Hutchinson, and J. Huber
The Effect of Patients' Race on Provider Treatment Choices in Coronary Care: A Literature Review for Model Development
Policy Politics Nursing Practice, February 1, 2009; 10(1): 40 - 63.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
AJPHHome page
L. A. Siminoff, L. R. M. Hausmann, and S. Ibrahim
Barriers to Obtaining Diagnostic Testing for Coronary Artery Disease Among Veterans
Am J Public Health, December 1, 2008; 98(12): 2207 - 2213.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JAMAHome page
R. H. Mehta, L. Liang, A. M. Karve, A. F. Hernandez, J. S. Rumsfeld, G. C. Fonarow, and E. D. Peterson
Association of Patient Case-Mix Adjustment, Hospital Process Performance Rankings, and Eligibility for Financial Incentives
JAMA, October 22, 2008; 300(16): 1897 - 1903.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical SciencesHome page
M. A. Popa, L. G. Branch, and R. Andel
The White-Black Disability Gap Revisited: Does an Incident Heart Attack Change This Gap?
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., April 1, 2008; 63(4): 420 - 425.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Med Care Res RevHome page
A. M. Davis, L. M. Vinci, T. M. Okwuosa, A. R. Chase, and E. S. Huang
Cardiovascular Health Disparities: A Systematic Review of Health Care Interventions
Med Care Res Rev, October 1, 2007; 64(5_suppl): 29S - 100S.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
AJPHHome page
M. Hravnak, J. Whittle, M. E. Kelley, S. Sereika, C. B. Good, S. A. Ibrahim, and J. Conigliaro
Symptom Expression in Coronary Heart Disease and Revascularization Recommendations for Black and White Patients
Am J Public Health, September 1, 2007; 97(9): 1701 - 1708.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JAMAHome page
I. Popescu, M. S. Vaughan-Sarrazin, and G. E. Rosenthal
Differences in Mortality and Use of Revascularization in Black and White Patients With Acute MI Admitted to Hospitals With and Without Revascularization Services
JAMA, June 13, 2007; 297(22): 2489 - 2495.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
R. H. Mehta, S. Milford-Beland, E. D. Peterson, D. L. Bhatt, M. E. Farkouh, G. X. Brogan, W. B. Gibler, E. M. Ohman, and M. T. Roe
Characterizing Young Patients With Diabetes and Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes
Diabetes Care, March 1, 2007; 30(3): 731 - 733.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
R. H. Mehta, M. T. Roe, J. Mulgund, E. M. Ohman, C. P. Cannon, W. B. Gibler, C. V. Pollack Jr, S. C. Smith Jr, T. B. Ferguson, and E. D. Peterson
Acute Clopidogrel Use and Outcomes in Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 18, 2006; 48(2): 281 - 286.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
R. P. Giugliano and E. Braunwald
The Year in Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 18, 2006; 48(2): 386 - 395.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JAMAHome page
E. D. Peterson, M. T. Roe, J. Mulgund, E. R. DeLong, B. L. Lytle, R. G. Brindis, S. C. Smith Jr, C. V. Pollack Jr, L. K. Newby, R. A. Harrington, et al.
Association Between Hospital Process Performance and Outcomes Among Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes
JAMA, April 26, 2006; 295(16): 1912 - 1920.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
A. H. James, M. G. Jamison, M. S. Biswas, L. R. Brancazio, G. K. Swamy, and E. R. Myers
Acute Myocardial Infarction in Pregnancy: A United States Population-Based Study
Circulation, March 28, 2006; 113(12): 1564 - 1571.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
R. P. Giugliano and E. Braunwald
The Year in Non--ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 6, 2005; 46(5): 906 - 919.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am J Health Syst PharmHome page
D. Young
Racial, ethnic minorities less likely to receive good cardiac care, studies find
Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., May 1, 2005; 62(9): 886 - 889.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
R. O. Bonow, A. O. Grant, and A. K. Jacobs
The Cardiovascular State of the Union: Confronting Healthcare Disparities
Circulation, March 15, 2005; 111(10): 1205 - 1207.
[Full Text] [PDF]