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Raskind-Hood CL, Kancherla V, Ivey LC, Rodriguez FH, Sullivan AM, Lui GK, Botto L, Feldkamp M, Li JS, D'Ottavio A, Farr SL, Glidewell J, Book WM. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care Usage and Death by Neighborhood Poverty Among Individuals With Congenital Heart Defects, 4 US Surveillance Sites, 2011 to 2013. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e033937. [PMID: 38780186 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.033937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Socioeconomic factors may lead to a disproportionate impact on health care usage and death among individuals with congenital heart defects (CHD) by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors. How neighborhood poverty affects racial and ethnic disparities in health care usage and death among individuals with CHD across the life span is not well described. METHODS AND RESULTS Individuals aged 1 to 64 years, with at least 1 CHD-related International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code were identified from health care encounters between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2013, from 4 US sites. Residence was classified into lower- or higher-poverty neighborhoods on the basis of zip code tabulation area from the 2014 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusting for site, sex, CHD anatomic severity, and insurance-evaluated associations between race and ethnicity, and health care usage and death, stratified by neighborhood poverty. Of 31 542 individuals, 22.2% were non-Hispanic Black and 17.0% Hispanic. In high-poverty neighborhoods, non-Hispanic Black (44.4%) and Hispanic (47.7%) individuals, respectively, were more likely to be hospitalized (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.2 [95% CI, 1.1-1.3]; and aOR, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.2-1.5]) and have emergency department visits (aOR, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.2-1.5] and aOR, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.5-2.0]) compared with non-Hispanic White individuals. In high poverty neighborhoods, non-Hispanic Black individuals with CHD had 1.7 times the odds of death compared with non-Hispanic White individuals in high-poverty neighborhoods (95% CI, 1.1-2.7). Racial and ethnic disparities in health care usage were similar in low-poverty neighborhoods, but disparities in death were attenuated (aOR for non-Hispanic Black, 1.2 [95% CI=0.9-1.7]). CONCLUSIONS Racial and ethnic disparities in health care usage were found among individuals with CHD in low- and high-poverty neighborhoods, but mortality disparities were larger in high-poverty neighborhoods. Understanding individual- and community-level social determinants of health, including access to health care, may help address racial and ethnic inequities in health care usage and death among individuals with CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lindsey C Ivey
- Rollins School of Public Health Emory University Atlanta GA USA
| | | | | | - George K Lui
- Divisions of Cardiovascular Medicine and Pediatric Cardiology Stanford University School of Medicine Palo Alto CA USA
| | - Lorenzo Botto
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Marcia Feldkamp
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | | | | | - Sherry L Farr
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta GA USA
| | - Jill Glidewell
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta GA USA
| | - Wendy M Book
- Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta GA USA
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Saha P, Tjoeng YL, Algaze C, Kameny R, Pinto N, Chan T. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cardiac Reintervention After Pediatric Cardiac Surgical Procedures. Ann Thorac Surg 2024; 117:1195-1202. [PMID: 37923240 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children undergoing cardiac surgical procedures may require postoperative surgical or catheter-based reintervention before discharge. We examined racial/ethnic variations in reintervention and associated in-hospital death. METHODS Children undergoing cardiac surgical procedures from 2004 to 2015 were identified in the Pediatric Health Information Systems (PHIS) database. Regression analysis measured associations between race/ethnicity, in-hospital death, and postoperative cardiac surgical or catheter-based reintervention (surgical/catheter reintervention). RESULTS Of 124,263 patients, 8265 (6.7%) had a surgical/catheter reintervention. Black patients had fewer reinterventions (5.9% vs 6.7%) and higher in-hospital mortality (3.9% vs 2.7%, P < .01) than White patients. After adjusting for sociodemographic and illness severity indicators, Black patients remained less likely to receive surgical/catheter reintervention (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.98) despite having similar risk of death after reintervention (adjusted odds ratio, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.98-1.41) compared with White patients. The risk of death without surgical/catheter reintervention was also higher for Black (aHR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.08-1.47) and other race/ethnicity (aHR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.13-1.57) patients than for White patients. Similar trends were demonstrated when mechanical circulatory support and cardiac transplantation were included as reinterventions. CONCLUSIONS Patients of Black and other race/ethnicity undergoing pediatric cardiac surgical procedures are more likely to die without postoperative cardiac reintervention than White patients. Black patients are also less likely to receive reintervention despite no significant difference in mortality with reintervention. Further studies should evaluate etiologies and methods of addressing these disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Saha
- The Heart Center, Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.
| | - Yuen Lie Tjoeng
- The Heart Center, Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Claudia Algaze
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Rebecca Kameny
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Nelangi Pinto
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Titus Chan
- The Heart Center, Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Borowsky PA, Yoon K, Eroraha A, Bonsu JM, Kington D, Lawani PE, Smith RN, Bliton JN. General surgery textbooks and surgical disparities. J Natl Med Assoc 2024; 116:145-152. [PMID: 38245468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Some academic textbooks have previously disseminated simplistic or even incorrect conceptions of race. Propagation of such ideas in General Surgery could contribute to gaps in quality of care received by minority patients. This study aims to determine whether General Surgery textbooks provide a thorough understanding of racial disparities. METHODS General Surgery texts were drawn from Doody's list, an industry-standard list of textbooks for medical education. Technical guides, atlases, and books for non-General Surgery professionals were excluded. Passages mentioning medical differences amongst racial and ethnic groups were extracted. Six binary classifications were made, based on whether passages (a) described interventions to alleviate difference; (b) addressed environmental mediators of difference; (c) described the contribution of racism or discrimination; (d) used causal language to connect race to difference; (e) referred to known, heritable genetic mechanisms; and (f) directly provided a reference. Types of intervention were also extracted. A heuristic scale was calculated granting one point each for classifications a-c and losing one point for classification d. Three authors performed classifications, and raw agreement and Cohen's kappa were used to assess inter-rater reliability. RESULTS Thirteen textbooks from Doody's list contained 511 passages discussing medical differences among racial/ethnic groups. Among passages, 25% discussed white people, 22% Black people/African Americans, 19% Asians, 9% Latinos, 4% Jewish/Ashkenazi people, 3% Native Americans, and 18% other. Fifteen passages (2.9%) used language indicating race was the cause of medical difference, and only two explicitly discussed racism or discrimination. Most passages (370, 72.3%) received a scale of 0. 120 (23.5%) received a scale of 1, eight (1.2%) received a scale of 2, and zero received a scale of 3. The mean passage scale was 0.24 and is not changing with time (regression coefficient -0.006/year, p = 0.538). Agreement was 91.2% across all categories and overall Kappa was 0.62. CONCLUSIONS General Surgery textbooks do not provide readers with scientifically thorough understanding of health disparities. Teaching more comprehensive conceptions, including systemic causes and the role of racism, may prevent reflexive association of minority patients with poor outcomes. Future editions should include these details where disparities are discussed in an independent, comprehensive section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Borowsky
- Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Marietta, GA, United States
| | | | | | - Janice M Bonsu
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of ORthopaedic Surgery, Atlanta GA, United States
| | - Daniella Kington
- Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Marietta, GA, United States
| | - Phyllis E Lawani
- NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Department of Women's Health, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Randi N Smith
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Acute Care Surgery, Atlanta GA, United States
| | - John N Bliton
- Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Queens, NY, United States.
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Tjoeng YL, Werho DK, Algaze C, Nawathe P, Benjamin S, Schumacher KR, Chan T. Development of an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee for a collaborative quality improvement network: Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium (PC 4) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee: white paper 2023. Cardiol Young 2024; 34:563-569. [PMID: 37577942 DOI: 10.1017/s1047951123002950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Racial and ethnic disparities are well described in paediatric cardiac critical care outcomes. However, understanding the mechanisms behind these outcomes and implementing interventions to reduce and eliminate disparities remain a gap in the field of paediatric cardiac critical care. The Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium (PC4) established the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee in 2020 to promote an equity lens to its aim of improving paediatric cardiac critical care quality and outcomes across North America. The PC4 EDI Committee is working to increase research, quality improvement, and programming efforts to work towards health equity. It also aims to promote health equity considerations in PC4 research. In addition to a focus on patient outcomes and research, the committee aims to increase the inclusion of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) members in the PC4 collaborative. The following manuscript outlines the development, structure, and aims of the PC4 EDI Committee and describes an analysis of social determinants of health in published PC4 research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuen Lie Tjoeng
- Division of Critical Care Medicine and the Heart Center, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David K Werho
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Claudia Algaze
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Pooja Nawathe
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Guerin Children's, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Solange Benjamin
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Levine Children's Hospital, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Kurt R Schumacher
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, C. S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Titus Chan
- Division of Critical Care Medicine and the Heart Center, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Robinson J, Sahai S, Pennacchio C, Sharew B, Chen L, Karamlou T. Effects of Sociodemographic Factors on Access to and Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease in the United States. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2024; 11:67. [PMID: 38392282 PMCID: PMC10889660 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd11020067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are complex conditions affecting the heart and/or great vessels that are present at birth. These defects occur in approximately 9 in every 1000 live births. From diagnosis to intervention, care has dramatically improved over the last several decades. Patients with CHDs are now living well into adulthood. However, there are factors that have been associated with poor outcomes across the lifespan of these patients. These factors include sociodemographic and socioeconomic positions. This commentary examined the disparities and solutions within the evolution of CHD care in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Robinson
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Siddhartha Sahai
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Caroline Pennacchio
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Betemariam Sharew
- Cleveland Clinic Learner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Lin Chen
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Tara Karamlou
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Desk M41, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
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El-Amin A, Koehlmoos T, Yue D, Chen J, Cho NY, Benharash P, Franzini L. The Association of High-Quality Hospital Use on Health Care Outcomes for Pediatric Congenital Heart Defects in a Universal Health Care System. Mil Med 2024:usae026. [PMID: 38364865 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usae026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Congenital heart disease (CHD) has an incidence of 0.8% to 1.2% worldwide, making it the most common birth defect. Researchers have compared high-volume to low-volume hospitals and found significant hospital-level variation in major complications, health resource utilization, and mortality after CHD surgery. In addition, researchers found critical CHD patients at low-volume/non-teaching facilities to be associated with higher odds of inpatient mortality when compared to CHD patients at high-volume/teaching hospitals (odds ratio 1.76). We examined the effects of high-quality hospital (HQH) use on health care outcomes and health care costs in pediatric CHD care using an instrumental variable (IV) approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using nationwide representative claim data from the United States Military Health System from 2016 to 2020, TRICARE beneficiaries with a diagnosis of CHD were tabulated based on relevant ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision) codes. We examined the relationships between annual readmissions, annual emergency room (ER) use, and mortality and HQH use. We applied both the naive linear probability model (LPM), controlling for the observed patient and hospital characteristics, and the two-stage least squares (2SLS) model, accounting for the unobserved confounding factors. The differential distance between the patient and the closest HQH at the index date and the patient and nearest non-HQH was used as the IV. This protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Maryland, College Park (Approval Number: 1576246-2). RESULTS The naive LPM indicated that HQH use was associated with a higher probability of annual readmissions (marginal effect, 18%; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.23). The naive LPM indicated that HQH use was associated with a higher probability of mortality (marginal effect, 2.2%; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.03). Using the differential distance of closest HQH and non-HQH, we identified a significant association between HQH use and annual ER use (marginal effect, -14%; 95% CI, -0.24 to -0.03). CONCLUSIONS After controlling for patient-level and facility-level covariates and adjusting for endogeneity, (1) HQH use did not increase the probability of more than one admission post 1-year CHD diagnosis, (2) HQH use lowered the probability of annual ER use post 1-year CHD diagnosis, and (3) HQH use did not increase the probability of mortality post 1-year CHD diagnosis. Patients who may have benefited from utilizing HQH for CHD care did not, alluding to potential barriers to access, such as health insurance restrictions or lack of patient awareness. Although we used hospital quality rating for congenital cardiac surgery as reported by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the contributing data span a 4-year period and may not reflect real-time changes in center performance. Since this study focused on inpatient care within the first-year post-initial CHD diagnosis, it may not reflect the full range of health system utilization. It is necessary for clinicians and patient advocacy groups to collaborate with policymakers to promote the development of an overarching HQH designation authority for CHD care. Such establishment will facilitate access to HQH for military beneficiary populations suffering from CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber El-Amin
- Center for Health Services Research, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Tracey Koehlmoos
- Center for Health Services Research, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Dahai Yue
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Laboratories (CORELAB), University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Nam Yong Cho
- Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Laboratories (CORELAB), University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Peyman Benharash
- Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Laboratories (CORELAB), University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Luisa Franzini
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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Chou FL, Donovan DJ, Weller RJ, Fremed MA, Glickstein JS, Krishnan US. Disparities in resource utilisation by families of children with cardiac conditions. Cardiol Young 2024; 34:325-333. [PMID: 37415565 DOI: 10.1017/s1047951123001634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There are limited data documenting sources of medical information that families use to learn about paediatric cardiac conditions. Our study aims to characterise these resources and to identify any disparities in resource utilisation. We hypothesise there are significant variations in the resources utilised by families from different educational and socio-economic backgrounds. METHODS A survey evaluating what resources families use (websites, healthcare professionals, social media, etc.) to better understand paediatric cardiac conditions was administered to caretakers and paediatric patients at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. Patients with a prior diagnosis of CHD, cardiac arrhythmia, and/or heart failure were included. Caretakers' levels of education (fewer than 16 years vs. 16 years or more) and patients' medical insurance types (public vs. private) were compared with regard to the utilisation of resources. RESULTS Surveys completed by 137 (91%) caretakers and 27 (90%) patients were analysed. Websites were utilised by 72% of caretakers and 56% of patients. Both private insurance and higher education were associated with greater reported utilisation of websites, healthcare professionals, and personal networks (by insurance p = 0.009, p = 0.001, p = 0.006; by education p = 0.022, p < 0.001, p = 0.018). They were also more likely to report use of electronic devices (such as a computer) compared to those with public medical insurance and fewer than 16 years of education (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION Both levels of education and insurance status are associated with the utilisation of informative resources and digital devices by families seeking to learn more about cardiac conditions in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca L Chou
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Denis J Donovan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel J Weller
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael A Fremed
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julie S Glickstein
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Usha S Krishnan
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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El-Amin A, Koehlmoos T, Yue D, Chen J, Benharash P, Franzini L. Does universal insurance influence disparities in high-quality hospital use for inpatient pediatric congenital heart defect care within the first year of diagnosis? BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:702. [PMID: 37381049 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09668-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthcare disparities are an issue in the management of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) in children. Although universal insurance may mitigate racial or socioeconomic status (SES) disparities in CHD care, prior studies have not examined these effects in the use of High-Quality Hospitals (HQH) for inpatient pediatric CHD care in the Military Healthcare System (MHS). To assess for racial and SES disparities in inpatient pediatric CHD care that may persist despite universal insurance coverage, we performed a cross-sectional study of the HQH use for children treated for CHD in the TRICARE system, a universal healthcare system for the U.S. Department of Defense. In the present work we evaluated for the presence of disparities, like those seen in the civilian U.S. healthcare system, among military ranks (SES surrogate) and races and ethnicities in HQH use for pediatric inpatient admissions for CHD care within a universal healthcare system (MHS). METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study using claims data from the U.S. MHS Data Repository from 2016 to 2020. We identified 11,748 beneficiaries aged 0 to 17 years who had an inpatient admission for CHD care from 2016 to 2020. The outcome variable was a dichotomous indicator for HQH utilization. In the sample, 42 hospitals were designated as HQH. Of the population, 82.9% did not use an HQH at any point for CHD care and 17.1% used an HQH at some point for CHD care. The primary predictor variables were race and sponsor rank. Military rank has been used as an indicator of SES status. Patient demographic information at the time of index admission post initial CHD diagnosis (age, gender, sponsor marital status, insurance type, sponsor service branch, proximity to HQH based on patient zip code centroid, and provider region) and clinical information (complexity of CHD, common comorbid conditions, genetic syndromes, and prematurity) were used as covariates in multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS After controlling for demographic and clinical factors including age, gender, sponsor marital status, insurance type, sponsor service branch, proximity to HQH based on patient zip code centroid, provider region, complexity of CHD, common comorbid conditions, genetic syndromes, and prematurity, we did not find disparities in HQH use for inpatient pediatric CHD care based upon military rank. After controlling for demographic and clinical factors, lower SES (Other rank) was less likely to use an HQH for inpatient pediatric CHD care; OR of 0.47 (95% CI of 0.31 to 0.73). CONCLUSIONS We found that for inpatient pediatric CHD care in the universally insured TRICARE system, historically reported racial disparities in care were mitigated, suggesting that this population benefitted from expanded access to care. Despite universal coverage, SES disparities persisted in the civilian care setting, suggesting that universal insurance alone cannot sufficiently address differences in SES disparities in CHD care. Future studies are needed to address the pervasiveness of SES disparities and potential interventions to mitigate these disparities such as a more comprehensive patient travel program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber El-Amin
- Center for Health Services Research, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, US.
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, US.
| | - Tracey Koehlmoos
- Center for Health Services Research, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, US
| | - Dahai Yue
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, US
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, US
| | - Peyman Benharash
- Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Laboratories (CORELAB), University of California, Los Angeles, CA, US
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Luisa Franzini
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, US
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Structural Racism, Social Determinants of Health, and Provider Bias: Impact on Brain Development in Critical Congenital Heart Disease. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39:133-143. [PMID: 36368561 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Critical congenital heart disease (cCHD) has neurodevelopmental sequelae that can carry into adulthood, which may be due to aberrant brain development or brain injury in the prenatal and perinatal/neonatal periods and beyond. Health disparities based on the intersection of sex, geography, race, and ethnicity have been identified for poorer pre- and postnatal outcomes in the general population, as well as those with cCHD. These disparities are likely driven by structural racism, disparities in social determinants of health, and provider bias, which further compound negative brain development outcomes. This review discusses how aberrant brain development in cCHD early in life is affected by reduced access to quality care (ie, prenatal care and testing, postnatal care) due to divestment in non-White neighbourhoods (eg, redlining) and food insecurity, differences in insurance status, location of residence, and perceived interpersonal racism and bias that disproportionately affects pregnant people of colour who have fewer economic resources. Suggestions are discussed for moving forward with implementing strategies in medical education, clinical care, research, and gaining insight into the communities served to combat disparities and bias while promoting cultural humility.
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Willer BL, Tobias JD, Suttle ML, Nafiu OO, Mpody C. Trends of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Pediatric Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections. Pediatrics 2022; 150:188786. [PMID: 35979730 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-054955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), eminently preventable nosocomial infections, are a substantial source of morbidity, mortality, and increased resource utilization in pediatric care. Racial or ethnic disparities in health outcomes have been demonstrated across an array of medical specialties and practices in pediatric patients. However, it is unknown whether disparities exist in the rate of CLABSIs. Our objective was to evaluate the trends in racial and ethnic disparities of CLABSIs over the past 5 years. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study using data from Pediatric Health Information System database collected from tertiary children's hospitals in the United States. Participants included 226 802 children (<18 years) admitted to the emergency department or inpatient ward between 2016 and 2021 who required central venous catheter placement. The primary outcome was risk-adjusted rate of CLABSI, occurring during the same admission, across race and ethnicity. RESULTS Of the 226 802 children, 121 156 (53.4%) were White, 40 589 (17.9%) were Black, and 43 374 (19.1%) were Hispanic. CLABSI rate decreased in all racial/ethnic groups over the study period, with the rates being consistently higher in Black (relative risk [RR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-1.37; P < .01) and Hispanic children (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.26; P < .01) than in White children. There was no statistically significant evidence that gaps in CLABSI rate between racial/ethnic groups narrowed over time. CONCLUSIONS CLABSI rate was persistently higher among Black and Hispanic children than their White peers. These findings emphasize the need for future exploration of the causes of persistent racial and ethnic disparities in pediatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany L Willer
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Joseph D Tobias
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Markita L Suttle
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Olubukola O Nafiu
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Christian Mpody
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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Inferior Clinical Outcomes for Patients with Medicaid Insurance following Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: A Prospective Registry Analysis of 608 Patients. World Neurosurg 2022; 164:e1024-e1033. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.05.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Moroni EA, Bustos SS, Mehta M, Munoz-Valencia A, Douglas NKO, Bustos VP, Evans S, Diego EJ, De La Cruz C. Disparities in Access to Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction: Does Living in a Specific ZIP Code Determine the Patient's Reconstructive Journey? Ann Plast Surg 2022; 88:S279-S283. [PMID: 35513331 DOI: 10.1097/sap.0000000000003195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postmastectomy breast reconstruction (BR) has been shown to provide long-term quality of life and psychosocial benefits. Despite the policies initiated to improve access to BR, its delivery continues to be inequitable, suggesting that barriers to access have not been fully identified and/or addressed. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of geographic location, socioeconomic status, and race in access to immediate BR (IBR). METHODS An institutional review board-approved observational study was conducted. All patients who underwent breast cancer surgery from 2014 to 2019 were queried from our institutional Breast Cancer Registry. A geographical analysis was conducted using demographic characteristics and patient's ZIP codes. Euclidean distance from patient home ZIP code to UPMC Magee Women's Hospital was calculated, and χ2, Student t test, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests was used to evaluate differences between groups, as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS Overall, 5835 patients underwent breast cancer surgery. A total of 56.7% underwent lumpectomy or segmental mastectomy, and 43.3% underwent modified, total, or radical mastectomy. From the latter group, 33.5% patients pursued BR at the time of mastectomy: 28.6% autologous, 48.1% implant-based, 19.4% a combination of autologous and implant-based, and 3.9% unspecified reconstruction. Rates of IBR varied among races: White or European (34.1%), Black or African American (27.7%), and other races (17.8%), P = 0.022. However, no difference was found between type of BR among races (P = 0.38). Moreover, patients who underwent IBR were significantly younger than those who did not pursue reconstruction (P < 0.0001). Patients who underwent reconstruction resided in ZIP codes that had approximately US $2000 more annual income, a higher percentage of White population (8% vs 11% non-White) and lower percentage of Black or African American population (1.8% vs 2.9%) than the patients who did not undergo reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS While the use of postmastectomy BR has been steadily rising in the United States, racial and socioeconomic status disparities persist. Further efforts are needed to reduce this gap and expand the benefits of IBR to the entire population without distinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Moroni
- From the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Samyd S Bustos
- From the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Meeti Mehta
- From the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | - Nerone K O Douglas
- From the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Valeria P Bustos
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Steven Evans
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Emilia J Diego
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Carolyn De La Cruz
- From the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Studying the outcomes of congenital heart disease and their associations allows paediatric cardiologists and intensivists to improve the care and health equity of their patients. This review presents the most recent literature discussing the socioeconomic and racial disparities that pervade the outcomes of patients with congenital heart disease in every facet of treatment. The outcomes of congenital heart disease discussed are prenatal detection, maintenance of care, quality of life, neurodevelopment and mortality. RECENT FINDINGS Historically, it has been documented that patients with congenital heart disease who are of racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately experience poor outcomes. Recently, the association between racial minorities and mortality has been traced to underlying socioeconomic disparities emphasizing that race and ethnicity are not independent determinants of health. SUMMARY The effect of socioeconomic status on the outcomes of congenital heart disease is profound and reaches beyond the association with racial and ethnic minorities. Changes to address these disparities in outcomes must be made at the individual, institutional, community and system levels.
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