Racial and ethnic differences in the use of invasive cardiac procedures among cardiac patients in Los Angeles County, 1986 through 1988.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to compare use of invasive cardiovascular procedures among Latino, Asian, African-American, and White patients. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of hospital discharge data, multiple logistic regression was used to model use of coronary artery angiography, bypass graft surgery, and angioplasty among adult Los Angeles County residents discharged from California hospitals between 1986 and 1988 with primary diagnoses consistent with possible ischemic heart disease. RESULTS: After potential demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical confounders, including hospital procedure volume, were controlled, Latinos were less likely than Whites to undergo angiography (odds ratio OR = 0.90) and bypass graft surgery (OR = 0.87). African Americans were less likely to receive bypass graft surgery (OR = 0.62) and angioplasty (OR = 0.80). Asians were as likely as Whites to receive each procedure. The impact of adjustment for hospital procedure volume was greater for Latinos and Asians than for African Americans. CONCLUSIONS: Administrative data suggest that disparities in use of invasive cardiovascular procedures are not limited to African Americans. Hospital procedure volume appears to be an important factor related to such disparities. The causes of racial/ethnic differences in reported procedure rates remain unclear.