Abstract
To determine whether racial differences exist in the time to presentation and diagnostic evaluation of women with suspected coronary artery disease. we studied 201 women older than 40 years who were admitted to the University of South Alabama Medical Center with chest pain suggestive of angina pectoris. The medical records of each subject were reviewed for clinical data, socioeconomic background and diagnostic cardiac procedures. Sixty percent of those studied were no pay or Medicaid patients. There was equal representation from urban and rural environments. The duration of symptoms prior to presentation was significantly longer in African American women (1169 hr) than in Euro-American women (759 hr, p < 0.01). Following admission, the percentage of women undergoing cardiac diagnostic evaluation of chest pain was not significantly different between the two groups: Ethnic Group N Echo- Stress Cardiac cardiogram Test Catheterization African American 135 98/135 (73%) 39/135 (29%) 76/135 (56%) Euro-American 66 50/66 (76%) 19/66 (29%) 38/ 66(58%) P N.S. N.S. N.S. The results suggest that African American women seek medical attention for chest pain significantly later than Euro-American women. Once hospitalized, diagnostic evaluation between the two groups is similar.
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