Racial and socioeconomic disparities in congenital heart surgery: A research article

BACKGROUND: Though the modern era has proven to be reassuring with the advancement of perioperative care leading to improved survival, congenital heart disease (CHD) continues to underscore its significance in the lives of newborns and families worldwide. Particularly, CHD has disproportionately afflicted vulnerable minorities such as Black and Hispanic populations from the standpoint of ethnic disparities in mortality following heart surgery, increased resource utilization, and longer durations of stay. This study aims to identify and provide insight regarding the relationships between the aforementioned factors to develop targeted strategies of intervention to mitigate the outcomes for patients of these specific populations. METHODS: Free, current peer-reviewed literature from databases such as the American Heart Association, The European Heart Journal, Science Direct, and PubMed regarding CHD, racial disparities, and socioeconomic variances were accessed. The study was narrowed to a patient population including only infants without chromosomal anomalies or those that passed away before hospital discharge. RESULTS: Having private insurance and maternal education showed positive correlations with positive outcomes of patients post congenital heart surgery. Teaching hospitals were linked with increased mortality and complications. Male infants showed higher rates of complications. Hispanics had increased odds of complications. Black patients had increased risk for failures in being rescued. CONCLUSIONS: Race plays a major role in the disparities in CHD, it is imperative to evaluate the socioeconomic contributors, surgical efforts, and provisions in place regarding minority patients. The apparency of these disparities, and willingness to invoke changes in practice has the potential for improvements in outcomes for these patients.