Ethnic Differences In Mortality Research Articles

7473 Mortality following Hip Fracture among Black and White Women in a Western US Healthcare System

Abstract Disclosure: J.C. Lo: None. M. Chandra: None. W. Yang: None. U. Ozomaro: None. M.D. Sharma: None. J.A. Darbinian: None. C. Lee: None. A.L. Wheeler: None. M.M. Khan: None. Background: Prior studies using US Medicare data demonstrate that Black women have higher mortality after hip fracture than White women. However, few studies have examined findings specific to the Western US. We previously found that 1-year mortality after hip fracture (in 2000-2010) was similar among Black and White women in a Western US healthcare system. We now examine 6-month and 1-year mortality in an expanded cohort of Black and White women with hip fracture in the same healthcare system. Methods: This retrospective study includes data from non-Hispanic White and Black women aged ≥65y in a Western US healthcare system who were hospitalized with hip fracture during 2000-2019. The outcome was all-cause mortality, within 6-months and 1-year after hip fracture. Covariates included age at hip fracture, femoral neck vs pertrochanteric (hip) fracture, year of fracture, prior clinical fracture (diagnosed in the prior 5 years), Charlson-Deyo Comorbidity index (CCI based on inpatient/outpatient data in the prior year and during hip fracture hospitalization) and diabetes (diagnosed in the prior 5 years or during hip fracture hospitalization). Modified Poisson regression was used to examine mortality after hip fracture (Black vs White women), adjusting for (a) age, fracture type, year and (b) age, fracture type, year, CCI, prior fracture and diabetes. Results: The cohort included 691 Black women (age 82.9 ± 8.0y; 43.4% age ≥85y) and 20,450 White women (age 82.8 ± 7.7y; 44.2% age ≥85y) with hip fracture in 2000-2019. Black women had a similar proportion with femoral neck fracture (58.2% vs 55.2%) but were more likely to have prior fracture (23.0% vs 33.5%), diabetes (35.2% vs 18.2%), and higher CCI vs White women. For Black vs White women, respectively, group differences in 6-month (18.4% [95% confidence interval 15.7-21.4%] vs 16.4% [15.9-16.9%], p=0.12) and 1-year mortality (23.2% [20.2-26.5%] vs 22.1% [21.4-22.6%], p=0.49) were not significant. In multivariable analyses, the relative risk of death at 1-year for Black (vs White) women was 1.03 [0.90-1.19] adjusting for age, year, fracture type and 0.97 [CI 0.84-1.11] adjusting for age, year, fracture type, CCI, prior fracture, and diabetes. The relative risk of death at 6-months for Black (vs White) women was 1.05 [0.89-1.23] adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: In a Western US healthcare system, differences in 6-month and 1-year mortality post-hip fracture were small and not significant for Black and White women aged ≥65y, after accounting for age and comorbidity burden. However, the number of Black women was small, and data on social factors, frailty, post-fracture morbidity, and other health factors were not available. Nonetheless, these results suggest that racial and ethnic differences in mortality after hip fracture may vary by geographic region. Hip fracture outcomes in larger populations of Black women in the Western US should be examined. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mortality and Functional Outcomes Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke incidence tends to be higher among minority racial and ethnic groups. The effect of race and ethnicity following an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains poorly understood. Thus, we aimed to explore the association between race and ethnicity and aSAH outcomes. Single-center retrospective review of patients with aSAH from January 2009 to March 2023. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included delayed cerebral ischemia, cerebral infarction, radiographic and symptomatic vasospasm, pulmonary complications, epileptic seizures, external ventricular drain placement, and modified Rankin Scale score at discharge and 3-month follow-up. Associations between race and ethnicity and outcomes were assessed using binary and ordinal regression models, with multivariable models adjusted for significant covariates. A total of 1325 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage presented to our center. Among them, 443 cases were excluded, and data from 882 patients with radiographically confirmed aSAH were analyzed. Distribution by race and ethnicity was 40.8% (n=360) White, 31.4% (n=277) Hispanic, 22.1% (n=195) Black, and 5.7% (n=50) Asian. Based on Hunt-Hess and modified Fisher grade, aSAH severity was similar among groups (P=0.269 and P=0.469, respectively). In-hospital mortality rates were highest for Asian (14.0%) and Hispanic (11.2%) patients; however, after adjusting for patient sex, age, health insurance, smoking history, alcohol and substance abuse, and aneurysm treatment, the overall likelihood was comparable to White patients. Hispanic patients had higher risks of developing cerebral infarction (adjusted odds ratio, 2.17 [1.20-3.91]) and symptomatic vasospasm (adjusted odds ratio, 1.64 [1.05-2.56]) than White patients and significantly worse discharge modified Rankin Scale scores (adjusted odds ratio, 1.44 [1.05-1.99]). Non-White patients also demonstrated a lower likelihood of 0 to 2 discharge modified Rankin Scale scores (adjusted odds ratio, 0.71 [0.50-0.98]). No significant interactions between race and ethnicity and age or sex were found for in-hospital mortality and functional outcomes. Our study identified significant differences in cerebral infarction and symptomatic vasospasm risk between Hispanic and White patients following aSAH. A higher likelihood of worse functional outcomes at discharge was found among non-White patients. These findings emphasize the need to better understand predisposing risk factors that may influence aSAH outcomes. Efforts toward risk stratification and patient-centered management should be pursued.

Predictors of Breast Cancer Outcome in a Cohort of Women Seeking Care at a Safety Net Hospital

ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify predictors associated with lower mortality in a population of women diagnosed and treated for breast cancer at a safety net hospital. MethodsFrom 2008-2014, 1,115 patients were treated for breast cancer at our academic safety net hospital. 208 were excluded due to diagnosis at an outside facility, and the remaining 907 (81%) formed the study cohort. Retrospective charts and imaging reviews looked at race, ethnicity, insurance status, social determinants of health, screening utilization, treatment regimen, and 7-13-year follow-up care, including the cause of death. Multivariable logistic regression modeling assessed mortality, and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed. ResultsOf the 907 women, the mean age was 59 years (inter-quartile range 50-68 years), with 40% White, 46% Black, 4% Asian, and 10% Other. Increasing age (aOR=1.03, p=0.001) and more advanced stage at diagnosis (aOR=6.37, p<0.0001) were associated with increased mortality. There was no significant difference in mortality based on race or ethnicity (p>0.05). Of 494 with screening prior to diagnosis, longer screening time was observed for patients with advanced stage (median 521 days) vs. early stage (median 404 days), p=0.0004. Patients with Medicaid, insurance not specified, and no insurance were less likely to undergo screening before diagnosis than privately insured (all p<0.05). Shorter screening time was associated with lower all-cause mortality (aOR=0.57, 95% CI=0.36-0.89, p=0.013). DiscussionIn a safety net population, a more advanced stage at diagnosis was associated with higher mortality and lower odds of undergoing screening mammography in the two years prior to a breast cancer diagnosis. Early screening was associated with lower mortality. Finally, given no racial or ethnic differences in mortality, the safety net infrastructure at our institution effectively provides equitable cancer care once a cancer is confirmed.

Study Reveals Persistent Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mortality.

Disparities in death rates are 'ubiquitous' across a range of diseases.

Racial and ethnic disparities in early mortality among patients with inborn errors of immunity

Racial and ethnic disparities in life expectancy in the United States have been widely documented. To date, there remains a paucity of similar data in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEIs). Our aim was to examine racial and ethnic differences in mortality due to an IEI in the United States. We analyzed National Center for Health Statistics national mortality data from 2003 to 2018. We quantified age-adjusted death rate and age-specific death rate as a result of an IEI for each major racial and ethnic group in the United States and examined the association of race and ethnicity with death at a younger age. From 2003 to 2018, IEIs were reported as the underlying or contributing cause of death in 14,970 individuals nationwide. The age-adjusted death rate was highest among Black patients (4.25 per 1,000,000 person years), compared with 2.01, 1.71, 1.50, and 0.92 per 1,000,000 person years for White, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients, respectively. The odds of death before age 65 years were greatest among Black patients (odds ratio [OR]= 5.15 [95% CI= 4.61-5.76]), followed by American Indian/Alaska Native patients (OR= 3.58 [95% CI= 2.30-5.82]), compared with White patients. The odds of death before age 24 years were greater among Hispanic patients than among non-Hispanic patients (OR= 3.60 [95% CI= 3.08-4.18]). Our study highlights racial and ethnic disparities in mortality due to an IEI and the urgent need to further identify and systematically remove barriers in care for historically marginalized patients with IEIs.

Association of race/ethnicity with mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

ObjectiveTo evaluate racial and ethnic differences in mortality among patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after adjusting for baseline characteristics and comorbidities.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study at 13 acute care facilities in the New York City metropolitan area included sequentially hospitalized patients between March 1, 2020, and April 27, 2020. Last day of follow up was July 31, 2020. Patient demographic information, including race/ethnicity and comorbidities, were collected. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.ResultsA total of 10 869 patients were included in the study (median age, 65 years [interquartile range (IQR) 54–77; range, 18–107 years]; 40.5% female). In adjusted time-to-event analysis, increased age, male sex, insurance type (Medicare and Self-Pay), unknown smoking status, and a higher score on the Charlson Comorbidity Index were significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality. Adjusted risk of hospital mortality for Black, Asian, Hispanic, multiracial/other, and unknown race/ethnicity patients were similar to risk for White patients.ConclusionsIn a large diverse cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, patients from racial/ethnic minorities experienced similar mortality risk as White patients.

Opioid-related deaths before and after COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in Los Angeles County

BackgroundOpioid-related morbidity and mortality has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet specific information about the communities most affected remains unknown. Our objective is to evaluate decedent-level associations with an opioid-related death following the implementation of stay-at-home orders in Los Angeles County. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study used data from the L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner to identify opioid-related deaths in 2019 and 2020. We used logistic regression to analyze the change in opioid-related deaths following a 30-day washout period after the start of stay-at-home orders. Independent variables included decedent age, gender, race and ethnicity, heroin or fentanyl present at the time of death, census tract-level education, and a scheduled drug prescription in the year before death. ResultsOpioid-related deaths in L.A. County are most common in census tracts where a small percentage of the population has a Bachelor’s degree. Following stay-at-home orders, Non-Hispanic Caucasian individuals had significantly more opioid-related deaths than Hispanic individuals (risk ratio (RR): 1.82 [95 % CI, 1.10–3.02]; P < 0.05) after adjusting for age, gender, and heroin or fentanyl use. Racial and ethnic differences in mortality were not explained by census tract-level education or recent scheduled drug prescriptions. DiscussionThere has been an alarming rise in opioid-related deaths in L.A. County during 2020. The increase in opioid-related overdose deaths following the onset of COVID-19 and related policies occurred most often among Non-Hispanic Caucasian individuals. Further research on this trend's underlying cause is needed to inform policy recommendations during these simultaneous public health crises.

Ethnic differences in mortality and hospital admission in a New Zealand population with type 2 diabetes

Approximately 71% of all global deaths are attributable to non-communicable diseases.1 Type 2 diabetes represents one of the largest and fastest-growing non-communicable diseases in Aotearoa New Zealand (New Zealand).2 In The Lancet Global Health, Dahai Yu and colleagues3 investigate ethnic differences in mortality and hospital admission rates in a New Zealand population with type 2 diabetes between 1994 and 2018, outlining long-term temporal trends in clinical outcomes between Māori, Pacific, and European ethnic groups.

Ethnic differences in mortality and hospital admission rates between Māori, Pacific, and European New Zealanders with type 2 diabetes between 1994 and 2018: a retrospective, population-based, longitudinal cohort study

Type 2 diabetes affects Indigenous and non-European populations disproportionately, including in New Zealand, where long-term temporal trends in cause-specific clinical outcomes between Māori, Pacific, and European people remain unclear. We aimed to compare the rates of mortality and hospital admission between Māori, Pacific, and European patients with type 2 diabetes in Auckland, New Zealand, over a period of 24 years. In this retrospective, population-based, longitudinal cohort study, we identified a cohort of patients (aged 35-84 years) with type 2 diabetes enrolled between Jan 1, 1994, and July 31, 2018, to the primary care audit programme, the Diabetes Care Support Service (DCSS) in Auckland, New Zealand. Patients with type 1 diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes were excluded. We linked data from the DCSS with national death registration, hospital admission, pharmaceutical claim, and socioeconomic status databases. Patients were followed up until death or July 31, 2018 (date of last enrolment to the DCSS). Incident clinical events (all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, cancer mortality, cardiovascular hospital admission, cancer hospital admission, and end-stage renal disease hospital admission) were identified. Event rates were stratified by ethnic group, age group, sex, socioeconomic status, and time period (<1998, 1999-2013, 2004-08, 2009-13, and 2014-18). Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and absolute risk differences were adjusted for sex, age, smoking status, obesity, socioeconomic status, and time period by use of age-period-cohort modelling. Between Jan 1, 1994, and July 31, 2018, 45 072 patients with type 2 diabetes (21 936 [48·7%] female; mean age 56·7 years [SD 13·8]) were enrolled in the DCSS and followed up for a median of 9·7 years (IQR 5·8-13·6). 16 755 (37·2%) were European, 7093 (15·7%) were Māori, and 12 044 (26·7%) were Pacific patients. Despite a similar temporal trend (decreasing mortality and increasing hospital admissions) across the three ethnic groups, Māori and Pacific patients had consistently higher hospital admission rates than European patients. Māori but not Pacific patients had higher adjusted IRRs for all-cause mortality (1·96 [95% CI 1·80-2·14]), cardiovascular mortality (1·93 [1·63-2·29]) and cancer mortality (1·64 [1·40-1·93]) rates compared with European patients. Compared with European patients, poorer health outcomes have persisted among Māori and Pacific people with type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years. New policies supporting prevention and more intensive management of type 2 diabetes are urgently needed. Research into the biological and societal mechanisms underlying these disparities, and the associated differences between Māori and Pacific patients is also needed. Counties Manukau Health and Middlemore Foundation.

Mortality of ethnic minority groups in the UK: a systematic review protocol

IntroductionGrowing ethnic diversity in the UK has made it increasingly important to determine the presence of ethnic health inequalities. There has been no systematic review that has drawn together research...

THE HEALTHY AGING INDEX AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH MORTALITY IN OLDER MEXICAN AND EUROPEAN AMERICANS

Mexican Americans (MA) have higher morbidity compared to European Americans (EA); however, the mortality rate remains lower (Hispanic Paradox). The Healthy Aging Index (HAI) captures clinical and subclinical morbidity in older adults and is useful in examining ethnic differences in mortality for a given disease burden. We assessed the association between baseline HAI and all-cause mortality over 12 years of follow-up among older MAs (n=394) and EAs (n=355) in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (SALSA) and examined differences between ethnic groups. HAI incorporates non-invasive measures (systolic blood pressure, forced vital capacity, creatinine, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), Mini-Mental State Exam). Missing baseline data for HAI components and covariates were imputed using multiple imputations. Proteinuria was used instead of creatinine due to non-availability. Scores of 0, 1, 2 were given from lowest to highest tertile HAI categories; diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, and renal failure were included in the highest tertiles. Cox proportional hazards models estimated the association between HAI and mortality, adjusting for confounders. After adjusting for age, gender, education, income, BMI, smoking and ethnicity, HAI was independently associated with mortality (HR 1.25 (1.16-1.35), p-value <0.0001). We found no interaction effect between HAI and ethnicity on mortality ((p-value for interaction = 0.78). In the SALSA sample, HAI is a predictor of mortality after adjusting for confounders in both MAs and EAs. The absence of a significant HAI*ethnicity interaction effect further demonstrated that HAI works equally well as a predictor of mortality in both MAs and EAs.

1231 Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mortality in Gastric Cancer and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in the United States

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown that the incidence of non-cardia gastric cancer (GC) has been declining in recent years, while the rate of cardia GC has been increasing, paralleling the trends of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Mortality trends in these malignancies have not been well studied, particularly for non-cardia GC. The aim of our study was to examine differences in incidence-based mortality in cardia and non-cardia GC, as well as EAC for comparison, in a representative cohort of the US population. METHODS: A total of 19,025 individuals with non-cardia GC, 14,268 with cardia GC, and 18,015 with EAC were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Age-adjusted incidence-based mortality rates and corresponding annual percent change (APC) were calculated between 2004-2016 to assess trends. Mortality analyses were stratified by race/ethnicity, age, and stage of disease at diagnosis. RESULTS: The age-adjusted incidence-based mortality rate (per 100,000 population) for non-cardia GC was 2.50, for cardia GC was 1.85, and for EAC was 2.31. Mortality in non-cardia GC was higher in blacks, Hispanics, and Asians/Pacific Islanders than non-Hispanic whites (P-value &lt; 0.01 for each group). These differences remained statistically significant across all age groups and stages of disease (P-value &lt; 0.01). From 2004-2016, mortality rates have not changed significantly over time for any racial/ethnic group. Interestingly, incidence-based mortality in EAC and cardia GC was higher in non-Hispanic whites than blacks, Hispanics, and Asians/Pacific Islanders (P-value &lt; 0.01 for each group). These differences remained statistically significant across all age groups and stages of disease (P-value &lt; 0.05). From 2004-2016 mortality has been rising in whites for EAC (APC = 3.86, P-value &lt; 0.05) and cardia GC (APC = 3.90, P-value &lt; 0.05), and in Hispanics for cardia GC (APC = 2.23, P-value &lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: Incidence-based mortality is higher in blacks, Hispanics, and Asians/Pacific Islanders in non-cardia GC, and higher in non-Hispanic whites in EAC and cardia GC. These differences persist when adjusting for age and stage of disease at diagnosis. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying causes of these differences in order to improve outcomes.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mortality Associated with Serum Potassium in Incident Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background: Abnormalities in serum potassium are risk factors for sudden cardiac death and arrhythmias among dialysis patients. Although a previous study in hemodialysis patients has shown that race/ethnicity may impact the relationship between serum potassium and mortality, the relationship remains unclear among peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients where the dynamics of serum potassium is more stable. Methods: Among 17,664 patients who started PD between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2011 in a large US dialysis organization, we evaluated the association of serum potassium levels with all-cause and arrhythmia-related deaths across race/ethnicity using time-dependent Cox models with adjustments for demographics. We also used restricted cubic spline functions for serum potassium levels to explore non-linear associations. Results: Baseline serum potassium levels were the highest among Hispanics (4.2 ± 0.7 mEq/L) and lowest among non-Hispanic blacks (4.0 ± 0.7 mEq/L). Among 2,949 deaths during the follow-up of median 2.2 (interquartile ranges 1.3–3.2) years, 683 (23%) were arrhythmia-related deaths. Overall, both hyperkalemia and hypokalemia (i.e., serum potassium levels >5.0 and <3.5 mEq/L, respectively) were associated with higher all-cause and arrhythmia-related mortality. In a stratified analysis according to race/ethnicity, the association of hypokalemia with all-cause and arrhythmia-related mortality was consistent with an attenuation for arrhythmia-related mortality in non-Hispanic blacks. Hyperkalemia was associated with all-cause and arrhythmia-related mortality in non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks, but no association was observed in Hispanics. Conclusion: Among incident PD patients, hypokalemia was consistently associated with all-cause and arrhythmia-related deaths irrespective of race/ethnicity. However, while hyperkalemia was associated with both death outcomes in non-Hispanic blacks and whites, it was not associated with either death outcome in Hispanic patients. Further studies are needed to demonstrate whether different strategies should be followed for the management of serum potassium levels according to race/ethnicity.

Ethnic-specific mortality of infants undergoing congenital heart surgery in England and Wales

PurposeTo investigate ethnic differences in mortality for infants with congenital heart defects (CHDs) undergoing cardiac surgery or interventional catheterisation.DesignObservational study of survival to age 1 year using linked records from...

Neighborhood Concentrated Disadvantage and Adult Mortality: Insights for Racial and Ethnic Differences

While racial and ethnic differences in mortality are pervasive and well documented, less is known about how mortality risk varies by neighborhood socioeconomic status across racial and ethnic identity. We conducted a prospective analysis on a sample of adults living at or below 300% poverty with 8 years of the National Health Interview Survey (N = 159,400) linked to 11,600 deaths to examine the association between neighborhood disadvantage and mortality for non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and U.S.- and foreign-born Hispanics. Using multilevel logistic regression, we find that the probability of death from any cause for lower-income adults is higher in more-disadvantaged neighborhoods, compared to less-disadvantaged neighborhoods, but only for whites. The adjusted likelihood of death for blacks and foreign-born Hispanics is not associated with neighborhood disadvantage, and the likelihood of death for U.S.-born Hispanics is lower in more-disadvantaged neighborhoods. While future research and policy should focus on improving health-promoting resources in all communities, care should be given to better understanding why race/ethnic groups have differential mortality returns with respect to area-specific socioeconomic conditions.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mortality Associated with Serum Potassium in a Large Hemodialysis Cohort

Background: Hyperkalemia is observed in chronic kidney disease patients and may be a risk factor for life-threatening arrhythmias and death. Race/ethnicity may be important modifiers of the potassium-mortality relationship in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients given that potassium intake and excretion vary among minorities. Methods: We examined racial/ethnic differences in baseline serum potassium levels and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality using Cox proportional hazard models and restricted cubic splines in a cohort of 102,241 incident MHD patients. Serum potassium was categorized into 6 groups: ≤3.6, >3.6 to ≤4.0, >4.0 to ≤4.5 (reference), >4.5 to ≤5.0, >5.0 to ≤5.5, and >5.5 mEq/L. Models were adjusted for case-mix and malnutrition-inflammation cachexia syndrome (MICS) covariates. Results: The cohort was composed of 50% whites, 34% African-Americans, and 16% Hispanics. Hispanics tended to have the highest baseline serum potassium levels (mean ± SD: 4.58 ± 0.55 mEq/L). Patients in our cohort were followed for a median of 1.3 years (interquartile range 0.6-2.5). In our cohort, associations between higher potassium (>5.5 mEq/L) and higher mortality risk were observed in African-American and whites, but not Hispanic patients in models adjusted for case-mix and MICS covariates. While in Hispanics only, lower serum potassium (<3.6 mEq/L) levels were associated with higher mortality risk. Similar trends were observed for cardiovascular mortality. Conclusions: Higher potassium levels were associated with higher mortality risk in white and African-American MHD patients, whereas lower potassium levels were associated with higher death risk in Hispanics. Further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanisms for the differential association between potassium and mortality across race/ethnicity.

Does poorer self-rated health mediate the effect of Roma ethnicity on mortality in patients with coronary artery disease after coronaro-angiography?

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the effect of Roma ethnicity and self-rated health (SRH) on 9-year all-cause mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after coronaro-angiography (CAG), and whether SRH mediates the effect of ethnicity. 623 patients (103 Roma) were included. We obtained data from medical records and patients interviews. A Cox regression model adjusted for age, gender and education was used to analyze the effect of Roma ethnicity on mortality, as well as potential mediation by SRH. Roma ethnicity and poor SRH were predictors of increased mortality in patients with CAD, with hazard rates (95% confidence intervals) 2.34 (1.24; 4.42) and 1.81 (1.02; 3.21). Adding education decreased the size of ethnic differences in mortality. The mediating effect of SRH on the association of ethnicity with mortality was not statistically significant; neither modified ethnicity the effect of SRH. Poor SRH does not mediate the higher mortality among Roma patients after CAG even though it indicates an increased risk of mortality. Roma patients with CAD have to be referred for special cardiological care earlier.

Young coronary artery disease in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESUnderstanding the nature and pattern of young coronary artery disease (CAD) is important due to the tremendous impact on these patients’ socio-economic and physical aspect. Data on young CAD in the southeast Asian region is rather patchy and limited. Hence we utilized our National Cardiovascular Disease Database (NCVD)—Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Registry to analyze young patients who underwent PCI in the year 2007 to 2009.DESIGN AND SETTINGSThis is a retrospective study of all patients who had undergone coronary angioplasty from 2007 to 2009 in 11 hospitals across Malaysia.METHODSData were obtained from the NCVD—PCI Registry, 2007 to 2009. Patients were categorized into 2 groups—young and old, where young was defined as less than 45 years for men and less than 55 years for women and old was defined as more than or equals to 45 years for men and more than or equals to 55 years for women. Patients’ baseline characteristics, risk factor profile, extent of coronary disease and outcome on discharge, and 30-day and 1-year follow-up were compared between the 2 groups.RESULTSWe analyzed 10 268 patients, and the prevalence of young CAD was 16% (1595 patients). There was a significantly low prevalence of Chinese patients compared to other major ethnic groups. Active smoking (30.2% vs 17.7%) and obesity (20.9% vs 17.3%) were the 2 risk factors more associated with young CAD. There is a preponderance toward single vessel disease in the young CAD group, and they had a favorable clinical outcome in terms of all-cause mortality at discharge (RR 0.49 [CI 0.26–0.94]) and 1-year follow-up (RR 0.47 [CI 0.19–1.15]).CONCLUSIONWe observed distinctive features of young CAD that would serve as a framework in the primary and secondary prevention of the early onset CAD.

Racial/ethnic disparities in timing of death during childhood among children with congenital heart defects

Infants with congenital heart defects (CHD) have increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Little is known about racial/ethnic differences in timing of death during childhood. Our intent was to investigate racial/ethnic differences in mortality for CHDs during specific time periods in childhood. Texas Birth Defect Registry data were used for a retrospective cohort study with 30,015 singleton infants with a CHD, born January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2007, to non-Hispanic (NH) white, NH-black, or Hispanic women. Texas Birth Defect Registry data were linked to Texas death records to ascertain death. Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities and multivariable Cox-proportional hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. NH-blacks and Hispanics with specific CHDs had increased mortality during the postneonatal period and early childhood. NH-blacks had increased postneonatal mortality compared with NH-whites for transposition of the great arteries (HR = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.5-4.0), pulmonary valve atresia without ventricular septal defect (HR = 4.1; 95% CI, 1.7-9.7), Ebstein's anomaly (HR = 8.6; 95 CI, 1.2-61.1), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.7), coarctation of the aorta (HR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.5), ventricular septal defect (HR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.6-2.8), and atrial septal defect (HR = 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8). Hispanics had increased postneonatal mortality risk for tetralogy of Fallot (HR = 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5). Racial/ethnic increases in mortality risk were also observed during infancy and childhood. Racial/ethnic differences in mortality were most notably observed during the postneonatal period and early childhood. Future studies should assess factors associated with this disparity in mortality risk for infants with CHDs.

Disparities in Outcomes for Hispanic Patients Undergoing Endovascular and Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Previous studies have demonstrated racial and ethnic disparities associated with the outcomes of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, although little is known about the influence of race and ethnicity on the costs associated with these disparities. The current study was undertaken to examine the influence of race and ethnicity on the outcomes of endovascular (EVAR) and open repair (open AAA) of unruptured AAA and its effect on costs in contemporary practice. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2005 to 2008) was queried using ICD-9-CM codes for unruptured AAA (441.4). The primary outcomes were mortality and total hospital charges. Multivariate analyses were performed adjusting for age, gender, race, comorbidities (Charlson index), year, insurance type, and hospital characteristics. A total of 62,728 patients underwent EVAR and 24,253 patients underwent open AAA. White patients (72%) were more likely to undergo EVAR than Hispanic (69%) or black patients (69%; P = 0.02). On univariate analysis, in-hospital mortality after EVAR was increased in Hispanic patients compared with white patients (1% vs 2%; P = 0.02). There were no differences in mortality after EVAR between white and black patients, and there were no racial or ethnic differences in mortality after open AAA. Hispanic ethnicity remained an independent risk factor for increased mortality after AAA repair on multivariate analysis (RR 1.64; 95% CI [1.05 to 2.57]; P = 0.03). Hispanic ethnicity was associated with increased hospital charges compared with white ethnicity after both EVAR ($108,886 vs $77,748; P < 0.001) and open AAA ($134,356 vs $85,536; P < 0.001) and for black patients after open AAA ($101,168 vs $85,536; P = 0.04). Hispanic ethnicity is an independent risk factor for mortality after AAA repair independent of insurance type or hospital characteristics. There were dramatic disparities in hospital costs for Hispanic patients undergoing either EVAR or open AAA and for black patients after open AAA compared with white patients. This observation seems unrelated to length of stay, postoperative complications, and admission status. Further studies are needed to determine whether these disparities extend beyond the primary hospitalization.