Social factors may explain race gap in use of heart procedures

August 24, 2010

Past research has shown that blacks are less likely than whites to receive invasive cardiac procedures. The reasons for the disparity remain unclear. Researchers with the VA Boston Healthcare System and the Bedford (Mass.) VA Medical Center surveyed 48 black and 189 white Veterans with heart disease who had been advised by their VA physician to undergo cardiac catheterization and angiography as a diagnostic measure. Despite the physician recommendation, fewer blacks than whites (77 versus 90 percent) underwent the procedure. The researchers found three social factors that appeared to explain the trend: Blacks were less likely to know someone who had undergone the procedure, less likely to be encouraged by family to do so, and less likely to have strong social support. Senior author Nancy Kressin, PhD, says, “While solving this problem or the source of the disparity may not be within the purview of the health care system, if providers understand some of what is driving the disparity, perhaps they can use those factors to help address it." She said one way to address the issue might be through "peer educators or supporters." (Journal of General Internal Medicine, August 2010)

This article originally appeared in the September 2010 issue of VA Research Currents.