Key result
Black veterans had significantly lower unadjusted 30-day mortality than white veterans for six high-severity conditions (p<.01), but risk-adjusted mortality was only lower for those over age 65.
Why the study?
Does black race compared to white race affect 30-day mortality in veterans admitted for common high-severity conditions?
Observational (n=406,550)
Yes
Does black race compared to white race affect 30-day mortality in veterans admitted for common high-severity conditions?
p-value: p=<.01
Black veterans over age 65 have significantly lower 30-day mortality than white veterans for common high-severity conditions, suggesting the difference is unlikely driven by treatment differences by race.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Lower adjusted mortality in older Black veterans should not change practice; leaves open unmeasured factors or selection effects in observational data.
Volpp et al. (2007) conducted an observational in acute myocardial infarction, stroke, hip fracture, gastrointestinal bleeding, congestive heart failure, or pneumonia (n=406,550). Black race vs. White race was evaluated on all-location mortality within 30 days of hospital admission (p=<.01). Black veterans had significantly lower unadjusted 30-day mortality than white veterans for six high-severity conditions (p<.01), but risk-adjusted mortality was only lower for those over age 65.
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